Parasitoids

Comperiella calauanica sp. n., an encyrtid endoparasitoid of coconut scale insect, Aspidiotus rigidus Reyne discovered in Calauan, Laguna, Philippines is described and illustrated. This highly invasive armoured scale insect is a devastating pest of coconut trees including seedlings in three provinces on Luzon Island, namely: Batangas, Laguna and Quezon. A key to the species of Comperiella reported in the Philippines is also provided. The endoparasitoid is a promising biological control agent in the regulation of the coconut scale insect populations in the field. Survey results showed that parasitism by C. calauanica sp. n. on A. rigidus colonies in the affected areas ranged from 65-92% in the third quarter of 2014.

Parasites and other natural enemies of
poneromorph ants - Several animal groups are
able to circumvent the extensive defenses of ants
and their colonies, invading and residing within
the nests, and sometimes establishing parasitic
relationships with them. Among the organisms
classified as parasites of ants are members of the:
viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes,
platyhelminthes, mites and insects. To date,
parasitic interactions with poneromorph ants are
known with fungi, nematodes, platyhelminthes,
mites and insects. This chapter deals with all
these groups (except mites), but mainly considers
the Diptera and Hymenoptera insect orders.
In the Diptera, the Phoridae family is the most
representative in respect of the parasitic interaction
with poneromorph ants. This family is spread over
all biogeographic regions and contains over four
thousand species and 289 genera. Only the genera
Megaselia and Apocephalus have been confirmed
as direct parasitoids of poneromorph ants, they
being associated with the ant genera: Dinoponera,
Ectatomma, Gnamptogenys, Leptogenys,
Neoponera, Odontomachus, Pachycondyla and
Paraponera. Also among the Diptera, the genus
Bengalia (Calliphoridae) has been recorded
exhibiting cleptoparasitic behavior, stealing prey
from the workers of the genus Bothroponera that
were foraging outside the colony. In relation to the
Hymenoptera, members of two superfamilies have
been reported as natural enemies that establish types
of parasitic relationships with the poneromorph
ants: Chalcidoidea and Vespoidea. According
to records made up to 2012, the Chalcidoidea
superfamily includes more than 70% of all species
of wasps that parasitise ants, with three families
of parasitoids known to attack poneromorphs:
Encyrtidae, Eucharitidae and Perilampidae. In
Brazil, only one record of parasitism has been
recorded so far. Social parasitism (or parasitism
by other ants) has also been recorded between
poneromorph and other ants, and this behavior has
been reported in five subfamilies: Dolichoderinae,
Myrmicinae, Formicinae, Pseudomyrmecinae
and the poneromorph group, the Ectatomminae.
These ant groups have been observed developing
at the expense of poneromorph genera, like
Rhytidoponera, Ectatomma and Diacamma.
Studies detailing the parasitic relationship
between poneromorphs and other organisms
show that through a series of complex behaviours
and morphological and/or chemical changes, the
natural enemies of ants can circumvent the defense
mechanisms of the colonies and attack the larvae,
pupae and adults. The behaviour of parasites
can be classified in several ways, but they do not
always behave in the same ways and ecological
interactions may vary in time and space, so
classifying them accurately can be a complicated
task. Furthermore, these behaviours have not been
fully clarified, so there is clearly a need for work on
the biology of the interactions between organisms
and the poneromorph ants. As knowledge of the
interactions among the various groups increases,
this may raise questions about the co-evolution of
these organisms, their biological and behavioural
aspects and in some cases their use in biological
control.

Abstract. 1Parasitoid wasps are species-rich and likely to be sensitive indicators of environmental change. Malaise traps are widely used for sampling certain taxa of parasitic Hymenoptera, but little is known about how they should best be used to monitor the community at an individual site.2To investigate the effects of sample duration, trap location and replication on the parasitoid assemblage, we sampled four ichneumonid subfamilies (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) intensively using Malaise traps in two farm woods in the Vale of York, UK.3Species accumulation curves showed that even with 16 Malaise traps per wood, the community is incompletely sampled. Despite this, we caught up to 28% of all UK species in a single wood, implying that local parasitoid diversity may be very high.4Abundance and species richness of parasitoids differed significantly between sample periods (fortnights) and between traps, but did not differ overall between core and edge locations.5Parasitoid community composition differed between core and edge traps, but differences were much stronger in one wood than the other. One subfamily, the Poemeniinae, was found predominantly in edge locations. Catch differences became greater with increasing distance between traps.6The previous year, two traps in each of the same woods caught only half as many species, but species abundance was positively correlated between years.7Our results suggest that a small number of traps can contain useful information about the parasitoid community but is likely to seriously underestimate total species richness. To achieve extensive species coverage, sampling should continue over several weeks, with widely separated traps sampling both core and edge locations. Our focal taxa should prove excellent for monitoring the effects of environmental change on biodiversity.Parasitoid wasps are species-rich and likely to be sensitive indicators of environmental change. Malaise traps are widely used for sampling certain taxa of parasitic Hymenoptera, but little is known about how they should best be used to monitor the community at an individual site.To investigate the effects of sample duration, trap location and replication on the parasitoid assemblage, we sampled four ichneumonid subfamilies (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) intensively using Malaise traps in two farm woods in the Vale of York, UK.Species accumulation curves showed that even with 16 Malaise traps per wood, the community is incompletely sampled. Despite this, we caught up to 28% of all UK species in a single wood, implying that local parasitoid diversity may be very high.Abundance and species richness of parasitoids differed significantly between sample periods (fortnights) and between traps, but did not differ overall between core and edge locations.Parasitoid community composition differed between core and edge traps, but differences were much stronger in one wood than the other. One subfamily, the Poemeniinae, was found predominantly in edge locations. Catch differences became greater with increasing distance between traps.The previous year, two traps in each of the same woods caught only half as many species, but species abundance was positively correlated between years.Our results suggest that a small number of traps can contain useful information about the parasitoid community but is likely to seriously underestimate total species richness. To achieve extensive species coverage, sampling should continue over several weeks, with widely separated traps sampling both core and edge locations. Our focal taxa should prove excellent for monitoring the effects of environmental change on biodiversity.

Classical biological control of insects has a long history of success, with high benefit-cost ratios. However, most attempts to introduce a biological control agent have been unsuccessful, largely because the agent does not establish in the new environment. This perspectives paper discusses the possibility that even successful biological control may eventually fail, although records show that this is far from a common event. A documented example of eventual biological control failure is discussed and the prospect for future failures analyzed. Part of this analysis is based on an introduced weevil pest in New Zealand and its successful parasitoid biological control agent. The potential fragility of this host-parasitoid relationship is considered as well as why it may indeed be starting to show signs of instability; this is particularly from the point of view of New Zealand’s often species-poor agricultural ecosystems.

The subfamily Cryptinae Kirby, 1837 is considered the largest group in the Ichneumonidae with more than 400 described genera including around 4500 species. The subfamily has a worldwide distribution and its members play a key role in the biological control as parasitoids of many important pests. The study provides a new and updated overview of the Slovakian ichneumonid fauna after 28 years. So far over 750 species of Ichneumonidae have been reported from Slovakia, including around 150 species in the subfamily Cryptinae. Our study presents a complete checklist of Cryptinae and adds 32 species to the Slovakian fauna.

The aims of this study were to identify the Hymenoptera fauna
associated with watermelon crops and assess the influence of Pitfall,
Moericke and McPhail traps in capturing these insects in the semiarid
environment of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The survey
was conducted between the months of August and September, 2011,
in a commercial watermelon cv Crimson Sweet production area.
The collection of the Hymenoptera was conducted weekly during
the crop cycle. To capture the insects, three types of traps were
used, Pitfall, Moericke and McPhail, in densities 20, 20 and 1 trap
per hectare, respectively. The traps were installed seven days after
seeding and maintained in the area until harvest. A total of 3,123
Hymenoptera were collected, belonging to 10 superfamilies, and 24
families. Formicidae was the most representative, with a total relative
abundance of 54.43%, followed by Apidae with 17.96%. The presence
of 18 families of parasitoids (18.89%) was also observed, notably
Platygastridae (6.60%), Encyrtidae (2.79%), Chalcididae (2.56%),
Mymaridae (2.56%), Pompilidae (1.15%) and Trichogrammatidae
(1.09%). The occurrence of predators from the families Crabronidae
(6.34 %), Vespidae (2.24 %) and Sphecidae (0.10%) is noteworthy.
Among the traps, Moericke captured the greatest diversity of
Hymenoptera (24 families), followed by Pitfall (11 families) and
McPhail (seven families) traps.

1Insect parasitoids comprise a large fraction of terrestrial biodiversity. Because of this diversity, species-level conservation of most parasitoid species is impractical and habitat conservation must substitute. However, habitat indicators of parasitoid abundance and diversity are poorly known.2To identify such habitat indicators, parasitoid wasps in four ichneumonid subfamilies were sampled in the field herb layer of 15 woodlands in the Vale of York, UK, using Malaise traps. The catch was related to vegetation characteristics.3A total of 1543 individuals in 60 species was recorded, representing 36% of UK species in the taxa sampled. Parasitoids tended to be more abundant and species rich in woodlands with a high broadleaf content and tree species richness. This pattern was observed in the ichneumonid subfamilies Pimplinae, Poemeniinae and Diacritinae.4However, the ichneumonid subfamily Diplazontinae was found to vary in abundance and richness within rather than between woodlands and showed no association with measured habitat variables.5Reserve selection analyses indicated that coniferous woodlands, and woodlands with a low abundance and richness of parasitoids, none the less can contribute to maximizing parasitoid diversity at the landscape scale.6Synthesis and applications. At the individual woodland scale, broadleaved woodlands with high tree species richness appear best for conserving parasitoid abundance and diversity. At a landscape scale however, a variety of woodland habitat types can maximize diversity of all parasitoid taxa. We hypothesize that the degree of association between parasitoid abundance and diversity, and characteristics of the vegetation within habitats will decrease with an increase in the number of trophic links that separate them.Insect parasitoids comprise a large fraction of terrestrial biodiversity. Because of this diversity, species-level conservation of most parasitoid species is impractical and habitat conservation must substitute. However, habitat indicators of parasitoid abundance and diversity are poorly known.To identify such habitat indicators, parasitoid wasps in four ichneumonid subfamilies were sampled in the field herb layer of 15 woodlands in the Vale of York, UK, using Malaise traps. The catch was related to vegetation characteristics.A total of 1543 individuals in 60 species was recorded, representing 36% of UK species in the taxa sampled. Parasitoids tended to be more abundant and species rich in woodlands with a high broadleaf content and tree species richness. This pattern was observed in the ichneumonid subfamilies Pimplinae, Poemeniinae and Diacritinae.However, the ichneumonid subfamily Diplazontinae was found to vary in abundance and richness within rather than between woodlands and showed no association with measured habitat variables.Reserve selection analyses indicated that coniferous woodlands, and woodlands with a low abundance and richness of parasitoids, none the less can contribute to maximizing parasitoid diversity at the landscape scale.Synthesis and applications. At the individual woodland scale, broadleaved woodlands with high tree species richness appear best for conserving parasitoid abundance and diversity. At a landscape scale however, a variety of woodland habitat types can maximize diversity of all parasitoid taxa. We hypothesize that the degree of association between parasitoid abundance and diversity, and characteristics of the vegetation within habitats will decrease with an increase in the number of trophic links that separate them.

The aim of this work was to assess the diversity of Hymenoptera in an orange orchard / Brazilian Savannah fragment interface in
Descalvado, State of São Paulo, Brazil, using Moericke, Malaise and pitfall traps. The sampling was carried out from February to June 2006, when
5,148 specimens of Hymenoptera, from 12 superfamilies and 36 families, were caught: Chalcidoidea (1,885 specimens; 36.6% out of the total; 14
families), Ichneumonoidea (715; 13.9%; 2), Vespoidea (554; 10.8%; 5), Apoidea (444; 8.6%; 2), Diaprioidea (430; 8.4%; 2), Chrysidoidea (366; 7.1%;
3), Platygastroidea (340; 6.6%; 2), Ceraphronoidea (211; 4.1%; 2), Cynipoidea (107; 2.1%; 1), Evanioidea (83; 1.6%; 1), Tenthredinoidea (7; 0.1%;
1) and Trigonaloidea (6; 0.1%; 1). The Moericke and Malaise traps installed in the Brazilian Savannah fragment were responsible for capturing the
highest number of Hymenoptera (2,158 specimens; 41.9% out of the total collected and 1,739; 33.8%, respectively), followed by the Moericke traps
placed in the orange orchard (1,123; 21.8%) and by the pitfall traps (128; 2.5%). The results indicate that the diversity of families of Hymenoptera in
the Brazilian Savannah fragment is greater than in the culture of citrus and expresses the greatest diversity of hosts existing in that environment. The
study made clear that the combined use of different kinds of traps allows the capture of a large diversity of Hymenoptera.

We report the first record of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) infesting laboratory stocks of the praying mantis (Parastagmatoptera tessellata, Saussure). M. scalaris, the scuttle fly, is a cosmopolitan species with a broad niche as it performs as detritivore, facultative parasite, and parasitoid. M. scalaris larvae were found feeding inside adult mantids and, when development was completed, pupae were found inside the abdominal cavity and around the body. We discuss the presence of colonies of crickets bred as prey for the mantids as a facilitator of M. scalaris infestation.