The introduction and recovery in the United States ofAnaphes diana [Hym.: Mymaridae], an egg parasite ofSitona weevils [Col.: Curculionidae]

Anaphes diana (Girault) (=Patasson lameerei Debauche), a mymarid egg parasite ofSitona spp., was introduced from Europe beginning in 1976 and is now tentatively established in the United States. Techniques are described for the separation of eggs ofSitona spp. from soil, using a series of fine-mesh sieves, water, and a saturated salt solution. Data from 9 years of sampling in an alfalfa field at Newark, Del. (>19,300 host eggs extracted), showed that the mean peak density of viable overwintering eggs ofSitona hispidulus (F.) was 14.6 per 100 cm³ of 1 cm deep surface soil. At the study site,Sitona egg densities consistently increased during the fall as a result of oviposition, peaked during January and February and decreased during the spring as a result of egg hatch. Although the incidence of parasitism byA. diana remained surprisingly low (0.29%), the fact that the species was recovered during 3 years and up to 7 years after the last release, indicates that it has colonized at the Delaware release site.      

Literature review ofOoencyrtus kuvanae [Hym.: Encyrtidae], an egg parasite ofLymantria dispar [Lep: Lymantriidae]

Literature onOoencyrtus kuvanae (Howard) from throughout the world is reviewed. References from Asia, Japan, Europe, Africa, and North America, covering the years 1900–1983, are included. The information is divided into the following subject areas: taxonomy, host range, distribution and introductions, biology and life history, host suitability, behavior and spatial distribution, effectiveness, and population dynamics. Suggestions for future research are presented.     

Gryon flavipes (Ashmead) [Hymenoptera,scelionidae], an egg-parasite of the rice earbugLeptocorisa oratorius (Fabricius) [Hem. Alydidae]

Gryon flavipes (Ashmead) is an egg-parasite of the rice earbug,Leptocorisa oratorius (Fabricius) in Sarawak. The life cycle is completed in 10–16 days. One larva develops per host egg, and maximum parasitism varies between 40–90%. Parasitism is at least partially density-dependent but does not prevent the build-up ofLeptocorisa numbers.     

The biology and behaviour ofIphiaulax varipalpis [Hymenoptera: Braconidae] as a parasite ofDirphya nigricornis [Coleoptera: Cerambycidae]

The ability of the braconid parasite,Iphiaulax varipalpis Cary to control the beetleDyrphya nigricornis Olivier was evaluated. Field collected samples and specimens reared in polyethylene paper tubes under laboratory conditions (23.0°C±1.0 at 70% r.h) were used. Field parasitism was low (10.72%) while laboratory parasitism was high (57.66%). The parasite detected the hosts very easily in the laboratory. This ability is minimised in thick canopies ofCoffea arabica L. Host colonization was brisk (90 seconds) and confined to a near absolute area of discovery, measuring 4.18±0.41 cm. The parasite reproduces gregariously with female lifespan being approximately double the male period. The parasites are very active at the age of 10 days. As they age their potential fecundity (232 oocytes) reduces drastically with oviposition.      

Release in Manitoba,Canada oftownesilitus bicolor [HYM.: Braconidae], an European parasite ofPhyllotreta spp. [Col.: Chrysomelidae]

Townesilitus bicolor (Wesmael), a parasite of some crucifer-infesting species ofPhyllotreta in Europe, was released in Manitoba Canada in 1978–83, in an attempt to reduce populations ofPhyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) andP. striolata (Fab.). Releases totalled 1936 adults ofT. bicolor and approximately 2639Phyllotreta collected in Manitoba and parasitized in the laboratory. No evidence of establishment was found up to 1985 at either of the 2 release sites. The small numbers of parasite released, and dispersal of the host population twice each year, have reduced the probability of the parasite becoming established and of establishment being detected. Contribution n^o 1248     

A new subgenus ofLathromeromyia [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae] an egg parasite ofTingidae [Het.] from India

SubgenusLathromeromina nov. of the genusLathromeromyia with a type speciesLathromeromyia (Lathromeromina) tingiphaga sp. nov. has been described and illustrated. Four species of Tingid hosts and their host plants are recorded.     

Interactions between an eucoilid [Hymenoptera] and a staphylinid [Coleoptera] parasitoid of the cabbage root fly

The interaction betweenTrybliographa rapae andAleochara bilineata, 2 parasitoids of the cabbage root fly, is discussed. Larvae ofA. bilineata could not differentiate between cabbage root fly pupae containingT. rapae in its endoparasitic state and unparasitized pupae but could recognize pupae containingT. rapae once the latter had reached its ectoparasitic state. Attack byA. bilineata whileT. rapae was still in its endoparasitic state usually resulted in the staphylinid killing the eucoilid. IfT. rapae had reached the ectoparasitic state before the host pupa was attacked byA. bilineata larvae the eucoilid survived attack by the beetle larva. Multiparasitism, however, resulted in increased levels of mortality of both parasitoid populations.      

The consequences of egg cannibalism inAdalia bipunctata [Coleoptera: Coccinellidae]

When eggs ofAdalia bipunctata L. are offered to larvae of their own species, these larvae are able to develop to adults. Reducing the daily egg supply results in decreased larval survival and pupal weight and especially fecundity of the adult females. The duration of larval development is significantly increased, the longevity of adults is shortened.     

Parasitism ofLeptinotarsa decemlineata [Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae] byEdovum puttleri [Hymenoptera: Eulophidae] in different cultivars of eggplant

Experiments were conducted to quantify parasitism of Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), by the egg parasitoid,Edovum puttleri Grissell, on 3 different cultivars of eggplant,Solanum melongena L. Levels of parasitism were higher (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on other cultivars. The percentage of egg masses that were parasitized was 1.2-fold higher (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on ‘Harris Special’ and ‘White’. The number of eggs per mass that were parasitized was 1.3- and 1.4- fold greater (P<0.05) on ‘Black Pride’ than on ‘Harris Special’ and ‘White’, respectively. The percentage of eggs that were parasitized per mass and percentage of emerged adult parasitoids did not differ (P>0.05) among cultivars; between 2.1- to 2.6- fold more females than males emerged from eggs on all cultivars during the growing season.Edovum puttleri suppressed the 2nd generation ofL. decemlineata on ‘Black Pride’ and ‘Harris Special’, but did not suppress populations on ‘White’.      

Trichogramma semblidis [Chalcidoidea: Trichogrammatidae] as a parasite of the bark beetle eggs [Coleoptera: Scolytidae]

It has been found thatTrichogramma semblidis (Aurv.) parasitizes the eggs ofleperisinus fraxini (Panz.),L. orni (Fuchs) andHylesinus crenatus (Fabr.) in typical variant ofCircaeo-Alnetum Oberdorfer 1953 in the Laski Experimental Forestry near Kepno. Thorough studies were conducted on exposed European ash logs and split wood in 3 methodical variants. The analysis of the galleries ofLeperisinus fraxini has showed that the average egg infestation amounted to 14.1%, 13.0% and 11.1% respectively. The egg infestation of individual gallery systems in the exposed control logs and split wood ranged between 2.7–51.2%, 1.2–44.1% and 1.7–69.2%, respectively, in different variants and the average effectiveness of the parasite amounted to 12.7% of the host egg mortality in 1970. Earlier observations and analyses of the gallery systems made on the ash trunks and branches in 1967 and 1968 showed 80.0% and 98.0% infestation of the eggs ofL. fraxini and 10.0% and 1.5% infestation of the eggs ofL. orni. Separate developmental stages of the parasite, the behaviour of the latter and penetration of the gallery systems were observed too. The most important data on the host species ofT. semblidis have been compared.     

Biology ofEpidinocarsis [=Apoanagyrus] lopezi [Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae] an exotic parasite of cassava mealybug,Phenacoccus manihoti [Homoptera: Pseudococcidae] in Nigeria

The biology ofEpidinocarsis (=Apoanagyrus) lopezi (DeSantis) was studied under fluctuating laboratory conditions of 24–31°C and 79–90% R.H. It is a solitary internal parasite. There are 4 tailed larval instars. The total developmental time from egg to adult ranged from 11–25 days, average 18 days. The duration of each developmental stage was: egg 2 days, 1 st instar 1 day, 2nd instar 1 day, 3rd instar 2 days, 4th instar 2 days, prepupa 4 days and pupa 6 days. Males mated several times, females mated once. Mated females produced both males and females, unmated females produced only males. Mated ovipositing females lived for 13 days while non-ovipositing mated females lived for 25 days. Parasitization decreased with increasing host density from 30% at a density of 10 hosts/plant/female to 11% at a density of 50. There was virtually no pre-oviposition period. Based on 10 females, the highest mean daily progeny production was 10. Females have an average oviposition period of 11 days and an average of 67 adult progeny. The sex-ratio was 1∶2.3 in favour of females.     

Description and field biology ofMicroctonus hyperodae Loan,n. sp. [Hymenoptera: Braconidae,Euphorinae] a parasite ofHyperodes bonariensis in South America [Coleoptera: Curculionidae]

Microctonus hyperodae Loan, new species, is a parasite of adults of the stem weevilHyperodes bonariensis Kuschel in Argentina and Uruguay. It is described and identification characters are given for the three other known Neotropical species ofMicroctonus. The life cycle, incidence and control importance ofM. hyperodae are reported.     

A new subgenus ofEpoligosita [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae] and egg parasite ofTingiae [Het.] from Southern India

SubgenusEpoligositina nov. of the genusEpoligosita with a type speciesEpoligosita (Epoligositina) duliniae sp. nov., a new record as egg parasite of the morinda Tingid,Dulinius conchatus Dist. has been described and illustrated.     

Notes onPatasson lameerei [Hym.: Mymaridae], an egg parasitoid ofSitona spp. [Col.: Curculionidae] in the mediterranean region

Patasson lameerei Debauche is the most important of three egg parasitoids found onSitona spp. attacking lucerne and annual medics in the North-Western Mediterranean. The mymarids were lacking in eggs extracted from the soil in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The biology and the behaviour of the egg parasitoid are described. In Central Europe, adults ofP. lameerei are recorded from May to September, but in the Montpellier region (Southern France), this species aestivates in the larval stage within the eggs of its hosts during the same period.     

On the adult longevity of the entomophagous parasite,Venturia canescens [Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae]

The adult longevity of the California strain ofVenturia canescens (Gravenhorst) [Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae], a larval parasite of the Mediterranean flour moth,Anagasta kuehniella (Zeller) [Lepidoptera: Phycitidae] was studied. The effects of the presence or absence of food (honey streak) in relationship to the ovipositional exertion as influenced by the presence or absence of hosts was considered. It was found that in the absence of any food, their longevity was drastically reduced and ovipositional exertion had no effect on this curtailment. However, in the presence of food, ovipositional activity was a major factor in the curtailment of adult longevity.     

Plagiprospherysa trinitatis [Dipt.: Tachinidae], A parasite ofElasmopalpus lignosellus [Lep.: Phycitidae] in Trinidad,W. I.

Increased damage to sugarcane byElasmopalpus lignosellus associated with preharvest burning in Barbados, has prompted an investigation of its natural enemies in Trinidad. Three parasitesPlagiprospherysa trinitatis Thompson,Macrocentrus sp. andAgathis rubricinctus Ashmead were reared. Laboratory techniques for breedingP. trinitatis as well as its host are described. Attempts to utilize related species for biological control are reviewed and the possibilities of utilizingp. trinitatis are discussed briefly.     

Aerial dispersal ofScelio fulgidus [Hym.: Scelionidae], parasite of eggs of locusts and grasshoppers [Ort.: Acrididae]

Scelio fulgidus Crawford, a hymenopterous parasite of eggs ofAcrididae, was discovered in samples of the aerial fauna, collected at 100–300 m altitude over grassland at a site in central western New South Wales at 2 sampling periods in October/November 1979. The parasite was recorded throughout the day in conditions of convective uplift suggesting that extensive diurnal dispersal occurred on the prevailing wind at distances varying from 100 to 300 km per day. Take-off at dusk of its major host, the Australian plague locust (Chortoicetes terminifera Walker), was observed in one period and direct aerial sampling at 100–300 m altitude subsequently confirmed the presence of this locust in the upper airflow at night. The mean wind vector did not differ greatly between day or night during this sampling period, suggesting that parasite and host were dispersed independently over the same general area by prevailing winds. Aerial dispersal provides a new explanation of the parasitism byScelio of egg beds of immigrant swarms of the plague locust in areas where hosts were previously absent.     

Effect of hosts and parasite density on the egg parasiteTrichogramma pretiosum [Hym.: Trichogrammatidae]

When females ofTrichogramma pretiosum Riley were confined with host eggs at a density of 2/150 eggs, they produced 12 times more female progeny on eggs of potato tuber moth than on eggs ofHeliothis armigera (Hübner) and 13,6 times more on eggs ofSitotroga cerealella (Olivier) than on eggs ofHeliothis. At a density of 4/150 eggs, the correspondent figures were 13 and 8 times. The percentage emergence fromHeliothis eggs was from 0,29 to 0,14 times as great as from tuber moth orSitotroga. From 15 to 140 times more runts were observed amongTrichogramma fromHeliothis eggs than among those from tuber moth eggs and 8 times more thant among those fromSitotroga eggs. This may explain the low recoveries in South Africa ofT. pretiosum in eggs ofH. armigera collected in cotton fields after mass liberation of the parasite. An increase in parasite density from 1/300 eggs to 16/300 eggs resulted in a decrease from 29 to 14 in the hosts parasitised per female, a decrease in the proportion of female progeny from 72 to 39%, a decrease in the female progeny per female from 18 to 4,8, and an increase in the proportion of runts from 2,4 to 12,4%. It is suggested that in mass culture ofTrichogramma unduly high parasite densities should be avoided in order to reduce the effect of mutual interference and raise the output of female progeny.     

New techniques of rearingAnagrus flaveolus [Hym.: Mymaridae], an egg parasitoid of the brown planthopper

A small cage was designed to study the biology and behavior ofAnagrus flaveolus Waterhouse, an important egg parasitoid of the brown planthopper,Nilaparvata lugens (Stal), a pest of rice. A method of rearing moderate numbers of parasitoids on planthopper eggs in the laboratory was developed. Though the mymaridAnagrus flaveolus Waterhouse, a common egg parasitoid of rice planthoppers and leafhoppers all over Asia, reduces pest populations, its biological control potential has largely been overlooked because of its minute size and the lack of suitable techniques to study and rear it in the laboratory.Ôtake (1968, 1969) described some techniques to study the development, longevity and fecundity of a related speciesAnagrus nr.flaveolus Waterhouse. The cages described herein are much simpler to build and more efficient to use compared with those developed earlier. Rearing this important parasitoid in large numbers in the laboratory has not been done before.     

Intrinsic competition between the gregarious parasite,Cotesia glomeratus and the solitary parasite.Cotesia rubecula [Hymenoptera: Braconidae] for their host.Artogeia rapae [Lepidoptera: Pieridae]

The solitary endoparasite,Cotesia rubecula, was superior to the gregarious endoparasite,Cotesia glomeratus, in tests of intrinsic competition for their hostArtogeia rapae. When an egg ofC. rubecula was oviposited in the host prior to those ofC. glomeratus, C. rubecula always won the ensuing competition. When an egg ofC. rubecula was laid in the same host within 48 h after oviposition byC. glomeratus, C. rubecula was successful in more than 90% of the interactions. Even when the egg ofC. rubecula was oviposited in the same host 72 to 96 h after oviposition byC. glomeratus, C. rubecula won the competition approximately 33% of the time. The implications of intrinsic competition are discussed in relation to the establishment ofC. rubecula in an ecosystem containingA. rapae andC. glomeratus.