Introduced into Hawaii for control of
C. capitata and to various localities in the New World against
Anastrepha spp. (
Purcell 1998); also released in Costa Rica for the control of
C. capitata (
Ovruski et al. 2000).
In laboratory studies, Wang and Messing (2004) found that P. vindemmiae readily parasitized 4 other tephritid fruit fly parasitoids commonly used in biological control programs Fopius arisanus (Sonan), Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead), Diachasmimorpha kraussii (Fullaway), and Psytallia concolor (Szépligeti)] and, at least in the case of Fopius arisanus, P. vindemmiae did not show a preference for nonparasitized over parasitized tephritid hosts. The offspring of P. vindemmiae faired equally well in small, non-tephritid fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) and larger tephritid fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata) with the adult females showing a preference for the smaller host but investing more female offspring on the larger host. The authors caution against the use of P. vindemmiae in traditional biological control applications due to its generalist tendencies and flexible body growth which may lead to an expansion of its host range to include nontarget species, echoing recommendations made by others (e.g. Wharton 1989).