Author
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Smith, David |
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Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/1995 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Parasitic wasps are being used in a large number of biological control projects against a variety of insect pests. Wasps of the family Aulacidae are parasites of woodboring wasps and beetles. No work has been done on the fauna of the mid-Atlantic states. Both North American genera and 15 of the 30 North American species were found to occur in this region. This study is based on collections of nearly 800 specimens from ten study sites in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. Seasonal flight activity for most species is in late spring and summer, but the peak flight period varies slightly among species. A key is given for identification, and hosts and distributions are reviewed for each species. Members of this family are potential biological control agents for woodboring insects. The identification key and associated information given for each species will be valuable, time-saving, reference that will assist forest entomologists and biological control specialists. Technical Abstract: Fifteen species of Aulacidae occur in eastern North America, all of which are found in the mid-Atlantic region, six species of Aulacus, including A. schiffi, n. sp. from Maryland, and nine species of Pristaulacus. Known hosts are wood-boring Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. A key is given for their identification; and seasonal flight activity, distributions, and hosts are reviewed for each species. This study is based on 790 specimens of 13 species collected at ten sites in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia |
