A chalcid wasp acts chiefly as a hyperparasitoid by mostly using small uncommon hosts

Although ovipositing insects may predominantly use resources that lead to high offspring quality, exceptions to this rule have considerably aided understanding of oviposition decisions. We report the frequency of host species use by a solitary facultative hyperparasitoid, Brachymeria subrugosa Blanchard (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). In our samples, the wasp attacks the large pupae of the moth Gonioterma indecora Zeller (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae), as well as the considerably smaller, and rarer, pupae of two of its other parasitoids. Consistent with conditional sex allocation models, the wasp produced mainly female offspring on the largest (moth) host, an unbiased sex ratio on the middle‐sized (parasitoid) host, and only males on the smallest (parasitoid) host. Adult offspring size was correlated with the size of the host attacked. These features strongly suggest that the two smaller, primary parasitoid, hosts produce lower‐quality offspring. Despite being more common, the proportion of hosts from which parasitoids emerged was lowest (14%) on the largest host species, and highest on the rarer middle‐sized (34%) and smallest (30%) hosts. This suggests that costs or constraints on attacking high‐quality primary hosts may be a selective force favouring the evolution of hyperparasitism.     

The hymenopteran parasitoids of light brown apple moth, Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in Australia

Abstract  Epiphyas postvittana (Walker) is a serious pest of a number of horticultural crops including grapes in Australia and New Zealand. This study brings together information on the parasitoid complex associated with E. postvittana that previously was fragmented and largely inaccessible. We include species reared during a 3-year study of the parasitoids of E. postvittana in the vineyards of the Coonawarra region, South Australia, material from several Australian agricultural insect collections and records from the literature. An illustrated key is presented for 25 species of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids associated with E. postvittana , along with information on the taxonomy, identification, distribution and biology of each species. Taxa newly recorded from this host are Perilampus sp. (Perilampidae), and six species of Ichneumonidae: Euceros sp., Labium sp., Netelia sp., Plectochorus sp., Temalucha minuta (Morley) and Eriborus epiphyas sp. n., the latter species being described in full.     

中国泊卡小蜂属(膜翅目:小蜂科)及一新种和一新记录种记述(英文)

本文记述了中国泊卡小蜂属ProconuraDodd共 4种 ,包括新种阔颊泊卡小蜂ProconuraeurygenaLiu ,sp .nov.,新记录种豆象泊卡小蜂P .caryobori (Hanna) ,其余两种为亚洲泊卡小蜂P .asiaticaNarendran和石井泊卡小蜂P .ishiii(Habu)。新种阔颊泊卡小蜂采自海南 ,其主要特征为 :触角和后足腿节褐色 ;头顶较长 ;OOL∶POL为 1∶3;触角柄节达中单眼 ,约为梗节长的 3倍 ;柄后腹基部具向后会聚的一对短脊 ;第 1腹节背板光滑 ,无刻点。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所标本馆     

中国小蜂科属间系统发育关系分析(膜翅目:小蜂科)

利用Hennig86程序的nelsen合意和Phylip程序的多数规则合意2种支序分析方法,探讨了中国小蜂科的系统发育关系。基于中国21属的30个性状,计算得到2个合意树,其分类系统与传统分类系统基本保持一致。在进化关系和亲缘关系上表现为:小蜂属(Chalcis)、卡诺小蜂属(Conura)、大腿小蜂属(Brachymeria)和脊柄小蜂属(Epitranus)相对最为原始,而泰内小蜂属(Tainaniella)和背突小蜂属(Oxycoryphe)相对最为进化,前者和后者之间的亲缘关系最远;亲缘关系最近的有:泰内小蜂属(Tainaniella)和背突小蜂属(Oxycoryphe),泊卡小蜂属(Proconura)和日本小蜂属(Nipponochalcidia),小蜂属(Chalcis)和卡诺小蜂属(Conura)以及细尾小蜂属(Megalocolus)和三角小蜂属(Trigonura),它们分别构成姊妹群关系。     

Parasitoid complex of the pistachio twig borer moth,Kermania pistaciella,in Iran

The parasitoid complex of the pistachio twig borer moth, Kermania pistaciella Amsel (Lepidoptera: Tineidae), a native pest of pistachio trees, was investigated at 27 pistachio plantation sites in Kerman province, the major pistachio growing area of Iran. The present study was conducted to document the naturally established parasitoid complex and to assess the need for improving the biological control of this species. In total, 22,390 moth cocoons were collected from 186 samples collected from commercial orchards during 2006–2008 and kept singly in controlled conditions to rear immature insects. An average of 2.8% of moth cocoons had been attacked by predators at time of sampling. Of the collected cocoons, on average 46.7% completed development and emerged as adult moths, no insects emerged from 8%, suggesting that the moth or wasp died before maturing, and parasitoids emerged from the remaining 42.5%. The overall percentage of host cocoons from which wasps emerged ranged from 25.6 to 59%. Fifteen hymenopterous parasitoid species were recovered from cocoons, of which three species were primary parasitoids, two were obligatory hyperparasitoids and the remaining 10 species were facultative hyperparasitoids. The primary parasitoid, Chelonus kermakiae (Tobias) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), was the most abundant comprising almost 85% of the total emerging parasitoids. In addition, a further four species of larval parasitoid developed within the PTBM's larval tunnels in pistachio fruit cluster-stem tissue. Conservation of these parasitoids in the pistachio growing areas is recommended since a high level of parasitized moths’ cocoons was found at the majority of experimental sites.     

金黄角头小蜂及寄主新纪录(膜翅目:小蜂科)

金黄角头小蜂Dirhinus auratus Ashmead(小蜂科:角头小蜂亚科)在中国大陆首次纪录,研究标本均由家蝇蛹放于室外诱集后饲养获得;家蝇蛹为金黄角头小蜂的寄主新记录.本文提供了金黄角头金小蜂形态描述、分布及形态特征图.研究标本保存在中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆及安徽师范大学标本馆.     

中国毛缘小蜂属Lasiochalcidia Masi及二新种记述（膜翅目：小蜂科）

首次报道了中国毛缘小蜂属Lasiochalcidia Masi种类,描述了该属细角毛缘小蜂L. gracilantenna sp. Nov.和赤亮毛缘小蜂L. rufipolita sp. Nov.2个新种,并记述1新记录种披绒毛缘小蜂L. pilosella。文中提供了毛缘小蜂属中国已知种检索表。     

Rearing of the pupal parasitoid Brachymeria intermedia on veal homogenate-based artificial diets: evaluation of factors affecting effectiveness

The pupal parasitoid Brachymeria intermedia (Nees) was reared from egg to fecund adult on various veal homogenate-based artificial diets. For every replicate 12.12 ml of each diet were used. Four diets were tested first. Two media, one devoid of and one supplemented with 1 ml Galleria mellonella pupal extract, contained 0.19 g wheat germ and 0.19 g yeast extract each. The other two, one added with and the other devoid of host extract, contained 0.38 g yeast extract each and no wheat germ. All diets also contained chicken egg yolk (1.1 and 0.8 ml in the diets without and with host extract, respectively). The amount of yeast extract was seen to have no significant effect on any of the developmental parameters considered. The replacement of wheat germ with yeast extract was therefore not convenient, considering that the former is far more economical than the latter. Pupal extract was instead found to have a significant effect on pupal and adult yields. The highest adult yield (= 53.2%) was obtained on the diet supplemented with 0.38 g yeast extract and containing host pupal extract. A further four media, each comprising a different kind of material derived from G. mellonella, were subsequently tested. Adult yields were such as to suggest the possibility of replacing pupal with larval extract in the diets as the latter is easier to prepare since there are no cocoons to be removed. In contrast, when the diets were supplemented with larval or pupal homogenate, adult yields dramatically dropped. When B. intermedia was reared in groups rather than individually, most larvae died before attaining maturity. Only two parasitoids, in two different replicates, emerged as adults.     

中国细尾小蜂属一新种(膜翅目:小蜂科)

首次报道了小蜂科细尾小蜂属Megalocolus Kriby,1883在中国的分布,描述采自云南、广西、重庆及上海的1新种,中华细尾小蜂Mealocolus chinensis sp.nov.。模式标本保存于中国科学院动物研究所动物标本馆。