Additional Observations on the Biology of Anaphes flavipes (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with Special Reference to the EfEects of Temperature and Superparasitism on Development1,2

Abstract

The developmental stages in the life cycle of Anaphes flavipes (Foerster), a mymarid egg parasitoid of the cereal leaf beetle, Oulema melanopus (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), were characterized in detail from material reared at 21°C, and the influence of temperature on development was evaluated. Complete preimaginal development of A. flavipes required a maximum of 1089 hours at 12.8°C and a minimum of 174 hours at 32.2°C. Male A. flavipes mated an average of 3.5 times (range 0–7). Studies on the effects of superparasitism by A. flavipes on O. melanopus indicated that if fewer than 6 eggs were deposited in each host, most would develop and emerge as adult parasitoids, but as the number of eggs per host increased, the ratio of eggs laid to adults emerged was not proportionate, as a maximum of only 8 parasitoids per egg was observed. As the number of eggs per host continued to increase, the number of progeny per eggs decreased to a point where no parasitoids were produced. The eggs of Lema collaris (Say) and L. trilineata Olivier also served as suitable hosts for this parasitoid.