The Biology and Ecology of Anaphes flavipes (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an Exotic Egg Parasite of the Cereal Leaf Beetle12

Abstract

Information acquired in France during the summer of 1965 relating to the biology and ecology of an egg parasite of Oulema melanopus (L.) is presented. Virgin females of the parasite Anaphes flavipes (Foerster) consistently produced male progeny, while both sexes emerged from eggs parasitized by mated individuals. Development occurred exclusively in pre-embryonated host eggs and required 8–9 days at 30°C and 10–11 days at 21°C. Of 87 parasitized Oulema eggs from which Anaphes were reared or dissected, an average of 3.3 parasites per egg was evidenced at an overall female:male sex ratio of 3:1. Parasitized Oulema ova, found in nearly all wheat and oats fields where significant populations of the beetle occurred, were obtained from early Alay through late July. The number of parasitized eggs gradually increased until, by the end of July, parasitization rates approaching 100% were common. Additional observations on Anaphes oviposition and mating characteristics, fecundity, development, longevity, European distribution, and progeny from parasitized eggs are included. The biology of Anaphes and other Mymaridae is discussed.