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

Abstract

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.