Biology of the eucalypt gall-forming fly, Fergusonina flavicornis Malloch (Diptera, Fergusoninidae) and its associated hymenopterans in South Australia, with a description of a new species of Bracon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

16 Pages·1996·6.1 MB·English

by  G S Taylor

TnmxurtfHisofihr tfmw/.V«Wv flfjfc /Wv/, HWrik 120/k I3J I >f>
BIOLOGY OF THE EUCALYPT GALL-FORMING FLY, FEKGUS(h\t,\A
[AVICORMS MALLOCH (DIPTERA; FERGUSONINTDAE) AND ITS ASSOCIATED
I IIYMENOPTERANS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW
SPECIES OF ttRACON (HYMENOP ERA: RKACONIUAE)
I
& Dwn
by d. S. Taylor. A. D. Acstin K. A. s1
Summary
T\siou. & S.. AUMlv.A. D & Dwirv K A. i lOj$J Biology <rfthe eucalypi gull-forming lly hi^nM>nnm
flmtiontis Mulloch (D'lpMii: l-eigiisoninidact and iis associated hvinenoptemns in Soulh Australia, with u
description ol ;i new speciesill Hiiian) iHvinenopleta I.Uaeotiidnel irons, R, S'n. A \Uiti 120(4k 13I-I4h.2*-)
November. 19%.
flails initialedby Mil* association ol Ftr^usttniitu ff<i\nt,>tnii Mallodi (Insecla; D'/pterj; 1-ergiivomuidac) ami
Ii'r#us<>hiit sp. (NoinukxIiV Sphaerulatiidac) on iuralyflHOt cmnndiuhitsis Delmh. atGoolwa. SmithAustralia
ucie mummied duonga single, laie summer generation lor emeniiuec ol fibs and associtiicd Hymenopieia.
The tnocpbulogg ofthegalls ifld^ijbed forl)\c Htai umft. A fmalfeJ 12 hymenopu-ranspecies wasaaivd ftom
pills, twice the numberpreviously recorded froni f'('r^it^fni>i'i/hi^)i.\i*hi/t ualK There was a stiong posiiue
i'•nvliiiiun hcTWCcti emergence1 ol flies, combined totals ol IHon and wasps and gall !*r*'cr HwpttH <> nmsotmtHs
<p iiuv.. a probableprimary purusUoidol £ fh<\nt*<tn:< larvae, isdescribed, Noieson the biology andtaxonomy
ol each ItymcuopU'ian species arc prcscniod along with an illustrated key in ibcii idemilieuiion
Km Whkum EuWil'wtM) gatl-lormmg, Ft'rt>ust/nino> Dipu-i.:. Icomsoiimidai', paiasitic llymcmiplern.
Uraconidai-, linn\m. /w'/^Wtfpfti Ncniatoda, Npliaetuiariidae,
Introduction biologv arid phenology oin^r^usonintt Mutloeh flics
is that of pifliic (JW7i. wlio conunented on tht*
The biology of gall-associated Hyittenopieru is possible role* t»! hymeuopterans and other gall
fundamentally complex and it is oilen cxb*einely iiK|Uilines in tile seasonal fluctuations of '!>'
difficult todetermine the ittierelationshipsol species populalioiis.Jhls study showed lhatnumerous wasps
iBoucek I9KS: Gough & MeMahon 1988; Nanmanii wereassociatedwith l-crxiiwtimui/f'rrsttstihiti Flower
Wl; Schomoggc ct uL WO), For instance, galls hud galls. Although Currie ^ 19371 exammed ihe
may contain a range ol biologically different hiolitgy of this systen% the ta.vonomic knowledge Ul
Hyrnenopteta. vizu, primary parasitoids. facultative the lime was limited and the biology ofthe species
and obligate byperparasiloids and nuiuiliiies. The involved was nol well understood.
biology v>l (he latter group is particularly difficult to This paper reports on a study of the leafgalls of
unravel. htquihnesarcspecies lhat live insidegallsof fttrgtWnittttfltlfhwWh (vtWllOCft associated with an
other ceddogenic insects and are phytophagous lor undescribed species ol l-t'i^a.snhtti Cuirif ami ihe
all or some oftheir larval development. 1'hey often associated guild ol' hymenopterans from galls on
kill the primary gall-forming-speciesatan early stage Fjttnlyputs i'umulihilfn.sis Dehnh. at Cioolwa. South
ofgall development and then increase the si/i nfthe Australia. Inlovniatiou is presented on gall
gall, thereby making itdifficulttodetermine whether morphology, the pheiiolonv ofthe fly and wasps, the
nr not tin.*speciesconcerned is indeedQfl inquilinc ur probable biology of the nymenopteran species
the primary gall former. Other ini|uiliues apparently involved, their taxonomy, and the relationship
invade galls and k-cd on their tissues without between numbers o\ fhes and wasps and gall size. A
Bnmm
disrupting the primary eecidogeuie species. new species of h, thought to be a primary
One of the M081 complex gall associations known parasitoid of Ft'/^usoni/ui. is described and an
is thai between Fcr^nsonitut M'p. tlnsccta; Dtptera: illustrated key to the 12 gall associated hymenop-
Kergiisouinidae) and Fer«tisohia spp. iNeinaloda: leums is presented, This iohirmation is compared
lylenchida: Sphaeruiariidae) in galls on Myriacc.ic wilh Cuiric\-> (1^371 Mud> and is discussed in
(Hshcrei Niekle I96X; Harris \^l: Davies& Lloyd relation to the inherentdifllcullies in determining Ihe
I'WVh However, the only detailed study of ilie biology ofgall associated wasps.
Materials and Methods
I Dte'pniivterrlsmielvnLoliHAdCerloapidPerolPeMtBlionI,fWitaeinieOsCmaomnpdusSIAhlel-sl Seven mature galls on an ornamental, 4 in high /:.
cam(tf(hil'j"sis sapling at Cioolwa, (35 31 ' S,
I
1.12 <; S 1/vMwK A |i M'STINtS; K.A. DAVIf.S
\3K 46' l;> South Auslralia were titged with muslin chserclc cavilies. These are oval m longitudinal
in eatty March. 1995, preceding emergence ofadult outline and distributed throughout the gall. The
£ fittvivomh and other gall occupants, .in. cavilies ure lined with plant cells winch aie paler in
periodically rUOftllOKCI Until after senescence ol" Ihc colour Hun ihe parenchyma cells between diem.
gull and when Hies unci wasps ceased toemerge, Any In^ustfhiu nematodes are found in the cavities with
insects thai had emerged aL each sampling time were ihe fly larvais
collected, idcntilied and counted. Gulls were dried Kirthe generation of ft jhtvitornis winch began in
and weighed to compare gall mass with loial insect late March, small, recently initiated galls wcic
emergences, For observations kw\ gull development observed, tour ofthese were collected and dissected
and morphology, young fresh galls were sliced open and Ihe development ofethers was monitored during
in waterby u series oftruitsvetse euls Abbreviations the study. Pull gall sr/c was reached on the Live in
used are: ANIt1 (Australian National Insect two to four weeU from g;i!l initiation, The followimj
Collection. CS1RO. Canberra) and WARI (Duncan obscrvalions were made on the dissected galls. The
Swan Insect Collection. Waite Campus, The smallest gall. H mm in length contained JO spindle-
University ol Adelaide). Voucher material ol F. shaped h. fhtviiornts eggs (Fig. 2) within which
jluvk-onus has been lodged at ANIC aitd WARI and developing laivac could be seen. It contained many
malcrial of all hvmenopferun specie--. is deposited in |i,iri!ienogei>etu fljjj juvenile nematodes and some
WARI nematode eggs. Al this stage of development no
c.iv'uie-. were present. Another. Ml mm long.
Results and Observations contained sever;il eggs, a few first mstnr larvae ol
fojfW&whtA arul ni,tin parthenogc-netiv n^Dfnilode^
fytstcihuuoti and hostplow h\so<htih*n and eggs. Some llv larvae were found within
f'trxti.Hotitta flavic<>rni\ was the only dipieran cavilies, ihe small cavtlies being ringed with tnanv
reared from an ornamental specimen of /.. white tells. A 12 mm long gall contained firsi ami
mntuhttilctt\L\ ai Cioolwa. Similar gulls have heen -.ec'ind insiur larvae of h't'i^/isi>nintt, all wilhin
collected by us from several other South Australian cavities, ,tm\ many purthenogcnelic nematodes .mm!
localities Irom naturally-ocvurmig /. famuhittU'ittts egg- Ihc largest gulf about 30 mm in lenglh.
neat Verdun and near Mil.ing. and ("torn litis sjirte contained first and second insiar lly larvae within
host in Ihe Adehiide suburbs of Hyde Park. Rose
Park. Tusmore and Crrbrac. Fi*r$ltfOtiifKljhtviforni\
was deserihed from a single female specimen from
NSW
Sydney. (Malioch 1925 Larvae, males and
1,
galls have remained undescribed to date. This is the
first host plant record ror the species and first
description o\' the gall {see below). We have also
collected all lite history stages ol /. fftt\'F<lurtf(i and
Ihe associated, uudeseribed species o[ i<'iyjt\obiu
and plan t<> discuss ihcse in ;i separate publication.
fittll ni(iif)httiit\;x aniljonmaint}
The galls of /; f(avi<<trnis are formed from
terminal leaf buds, matme galls (Fig, I) being
bulbous structures, mostly ovoid m longitudinal
cross section. IS 50 mm in length by 12-20 mm in
diameter. Mean dry weight of mature galls was 2,22
± \A5 g (range 84-5. 16 g, n = 7). Calls appear to
consist of a single leaf bud comprising a number of
leaves, with Ihe ventral surface of ihe ouleiniost
foiming the eMeinnl face Of'the gall. The growth of
these outer leaves sometimes continues unaffected
beyond Ihe gall proper, citherrunning along Ihe side
ofIhe gall or emerging as normal leaf (issue beyond
its apes. The stem supporting the gull usually
develops a bend just before its insertion m the bnsc
ogaflltehde tgiaslslu.e Tisrasnosfvt,ercsoensissetcitinognsolsphaorweenedliythrantutotnhe, f mliih'Ki,•itur,evrlrrnt:u>r.ntli\t>hlieutifonifm.dmnigu^lmln ntmii(ihhliiiiHt*rttwtt\ti\ttn.iil
tissue, ahd that h llu\n<>nti\ larvae develop in Citmlwa Souili Australia Soak bill = ^5 nun.
)
BfOLfXIY OPFtiNOUStiNtNA AND UN ANSOCIAlfD IIVMI'.MM'TrUA 131
J
-
("inii Wyig&l t£)
I ig. \, Kelaiion.ship heiwocii total numhti ol cm^r^eiK-cs
j..i 'jull fnf do ttixn\<'nnh< jta\ii tiivhi .ili<ne. and (fri /
[lmi'On>\\ plus flt^Wtilletl IFmcnnptcta v.tmix gyj|
(Vcighl fin grains), reared between 5 March and M\ Apiil
1995 from hiic,>!\i>m\ uinuthlnlrnsn nl GohlWtf Soiali
Airslraki
mosdy four d\-\\S rarely five anteriorly projecting
prongs arising from the third thoracic segment The
Fiy,2. F.gg <A ii'iilHsnntiut }lti\i<omis Irom utcrmitiiil leaf structure of the shield is similar to that depicted lor
bSuoiuithgaAlulsinFirloumi lSe.tttluenhbpamrs- Uv.t2i5mnmhmhi,fcnsh at CiutHwa, /i-,mphlvikchaittefditITnonfneOeUd"inbgyaCnUdfritChet 1e*n0l7a)r,geItmsenfutncot(iognalils
Laviiies (see Discussion). Indeed many pellets ol'
well-defined cavilie.x. none ol which was ringed wiili plain material were found ill the gall cavities often
while culls. |l contained many parlhehogenclic adhering lo the dorsal shield. Faecal matctiul within
female, juvenile and male nematodes mid egg*, The the gall cavities was nol observed.
ihicc larger gulls cadi contained brown 'atie&kin
running from Ihc centre 10 il»e amor edges. Emergence aiul Phetiolo&y of Fergnsonina and
apparently lormed by die darkening 0l fotflCt pfoft< liwotittti'd Hymctiopicii!
cell walls, these observations on the process of girll Gulls collected in late February 1095 contained
induction indicate thai /• jhivinnins nod nematodes only larval stages of h. fitivhvrriix but pupae were
arc always present together and dial both fly larvae present soon after. Galls were caged in the field on 5
and nematodes continue, lo develop, ihus increasing March (day 0) and the first tidnlt / flavicniwfo had
die si/c ol Hie cavities. We have nol been able 10 emerged by day 3. Adult flies continued lo cmetge
determine whether gall initiation requires both lor about the nexi -Id days, peaking around cl,i> Is
speciesto be present orifonly one is rci|uired. Given (23 March) (Fig. 4a). The 370 adull /. flavivtmus
dial nematodes are present in the early gall maln\ ihot emerged Irom the caged galls had a sex ratio
pljoi to hatching of fly Cggii, it is possible tbat slightly biased in favour ol males (1: 1.2). Further.
initially, gall lissuc is produced in ivsponsc to ihc uinnber of flies that emerged had a positive
nemati'tle m\ iviionx (sec Discussion). reluliotiship with gall size (measured as dry gall
weight) (Fig. 3. line bl. However. Ihc regression
A;S'C cinJ(h'fuil \hh'IJof Ferguxouina flavicornis againsi gall size was steeper for Hies plus associated
The egg of f. /hiviituvis is spindle-shaped and Hynienopiera (Fig- 3. comparing lines a and b), and
tapers In a shod, blunt 'pedicel' at the micropylar the correlation slightly better (F = 0AM scimis 0.X7).
tautcrinr) end and to a somewhat lunger, wpwcO compared with Hies alone. The reason lor this is not
process at the other end (Fig. 2). The egg is IXfij + clear but, presumably, gall size is a reasonable
SI 0.06 mm long hy 0.2o ± SF 0.03 mm wide (n = estimate of available food and so for a given gall
4». It is larger llian die egg of 1: nteholWNfTonnw there must be a limit lo Ihc number ol Ilies it can
which was described and iMustrated bv Clltfic support. However, all jjalls surveyed (Table I
(W37). contained some Hymenoptera, and these individuals,
Second and third insLar larvae of most described whether they are phytophagous, parasitic on E
species of h-t\\n\i>hhi have a more or less elaborate jUtvicomi;\. or both (inquillncs), will have displaced
doisai shield tCumc IW). lo h. fluVHomi^ it or killed flies that otherwise would have completed
consists of a sclcrolised modification to the second development and emerged. Hence, the steeper slope
and third thoracic segments and first abdominal 0/ the regression line for flics plus IWmenoplera
segment comprising a plate with sometimes three, represents what is a closer estimate tor die carrying
134 G. S. TAYLOR,A. D.AUSTIN & K.A. DAVIES
:l Fergustminaflavicornis Mailoch e Euryioma spp.
0.5
-i
b Hmconfcrgusotiinussp. nov. 0.8- tMegastigmus spp.
0.6-
0.4-
0.2-
0.0 <
i • i ' i ' i > i i
C Ciirospilus sp. 0.5 ~| g BootiWL'Heus sp
UJ 0.4
T 1 1 1
10 20 30 40 50 60
6 8 12 17 23 13 30
I
0.5 ~i d Eiulentssr March April 1995
0.4 H
0.3
0.2-
0.1 -
0.0-cJhd-t
10 20 30 40 50 60
6 8 12 17 23 I 13 30
March April 995
1
Fig. 4. Numberofemergences per day for iergusoninu fhtv'uoruis (4a) and the six mosl abundant Hymenoplera (4b-4g)
rearedfrom galls between 5 March (day 0) and 30April 1995 (day 56) on Eucalyptus camalduiensis at Goolwa, South
Australia.Thestandarderrorsaroundthemeansaredifferent toreach species because the numberofgalls in which Ihey
occurred was alsodifferent (see Table I).
A
1
lilOl (KiV Ol- hhtiGUSOWNA AM) ITS ASSOCIATED HYMINOPTI K 155
TMil t I Total iiifti^currs (ruttt$ Xfanh SOApril, IQ95 v\ Fcrgiisonina riavieornisandax\iniahdhynH'ti<>i>unw spp
from f-ergusoninu/i'crjnisobia#alk on Eucalyptuscumul.lulensis uf fifltitwa, S. Ausf.
Gall number
Spo/lCS 1 -1 3 4 5 6 &i Total
I'.'iyjiMwiiUi jl<ni,amis Mallocli 19 2.4 !2 44 44 ISO HO
Hrthon fi'(itns<>nintts sp. nov. T 17 1 10 i 31
hwiltocivptU\ spp '1 1 1 2 r»
CnWiSpiitis sp, (> 7 1 1 :i 37 fj S^i
huU'nts JtJT. i 1 X 15 g 44
t'ctiii/hi>i.\ sp. II 1 g )i fl 1
I'mMoithi spp. 1 II 3 I i 4 25 3 71
I /'(/('( \/>(f //l\'/7/( f//(/,7 .AslllllL'inJ R 5 1 i 3 5 5 15
Dihnptnnhlit: sp U o 4 3 2 9
Mi'vjisll^UiS spp. u 1 19 12 30 ] 75
titnrfiincflciis sp, 1 s 17 2 \2 U J3
M
Tolal par.isilitHK >3 4-7 7 5<> \m 2K -VI
capacity of u pall in terms ol lout! resources. sp. emerged between davs 13 and IS 1 18-23 March).
compared with that for flics alone
The composition of ihc hymeuopletan species dial laxoiuimx tint! hiah^y uf Hyntcn"t>ura a^socian-d
emerged from caged galls varied in all eases, euvpt wiih I-ergusonilia
between jails 5 and 6 which yielded Ihc same During the study 12 species ofMvmenoptei'ii were
species {Tabic I ). (lulls contained an average "*' reared from tTrxus<>ninti/fTrxtt\ohitt galls on /.'
seven species (range s 4-9), wilh no gaJI containing uitmtfifn/fu.sis This section describes some aspects
all species (nole lhat in Table I species For each of ol the biology ot' Ihc species concerned and
/Wr//orrv/>//<v, fpnltnna iiitd Mexusltiimits have speculates on other aspects ol their assocuilion.
hceu combined). The biology uf the individual based on information available for other related
hynnmopleran species in 1liix guild is discussed species. Notes are provided on their taxonomy,
below. Ol ihesc. several were reared in sufficient including Iho description i\i' a new species, and an
nunihers t> M) individuals} lo examine their pattern illustrated key is provided lo ideniily Ihc 12 species.
ul lancojeiice (l*ig. 4b-gi. Hancn fcn*ustmintih sp.
nov.. Civmsptlus sp. and Mvftn.itlymm spp. all had a bamily Biaeoindae
pKOJfc in theiremergence prior to tbatofK.fl<i\*tcflnifa. ftrmon fergitsoninus sp. nov
Fui H, }cri>tn<mitm\, this puak occurred al ihc ' <ROS5-S>
heginning ol the study (day 3} and virtual y nil
individuals had emerged prior lo ihc peak \)\' F. ilolofyi)v: V. Soulh Australia. Cioolwa, b-K.iii.1995,
lUivuornis on about day IS. while C/WMSpf/lM sp. G. Taylor & K. Davics. reared from Fi'r^ti\(*ninii
and Mt#>asft$milS spp, eoiuimied lo emerge from galls on l:itt_ulyf>ni\ sp. (ANIC).
Halls unlil day 56, alheil in low numbers for most of fJtirui\>pc\: N ?V. IS 3$, same data a:- lutltUype
this time. /-.Wc/v/n sp.andBuryioWti N>P- bfld >' DtOftd except some with dates as follows 9-12,ui.95. 13-
range of cmeigcucc limes, beginning prior to the 17.iu.95, 24.ni -lav.95 <ANIC. WARD.
maximum in I. fU(\i<*>nns(day I8), peaking al about
>\a\ 11 and couliuuing lo, oralmost lo. day 56 when Fetnola
the study was terminated. In contrast, Bnotunrllfiis Si/e' Length 2.4-2.6 mm (excluding ovipositor).
sp_ did not start emerging from galls unlil 21 days Colour Head, senium, pronolum, legs and anioriur
alter the peak in /.' fkiviconus. b'mergence ol" this two-thirds uf metasoma yellow-brown lo orange
species reached a maximum about day $$ and some brown; aOteiuiae. eves, posterior parts of mesosoma
individuals were still emerging from galls up to dav and inetasc-ma.distal halfot hind legs, proximal, mid
S(j. Ol |lu" oilier hyuieiioplcran species lhat were and hind coxa and ovipositor sheaths black;
reared in Urn numbers <<30 individuals), Ihe sometimesarea around ocelli andposteriormargin ot
emergence ol C mgivi'incta (days 1-27) straddled scutum darker, wings evenly inliiscaie.
the peak for f; JlavUcrnis. fttecihtctvptu* spp. to Head: In anterior view face half width ot head; lvi-s
individuals from days 23-39) and Pilropiitolt'fUt sp. moderately bulbous, hairless: lace, gena and
i1* individuals fromdays 28-56)emerged well alter/' mandibles evenly covered wilh long hairs; in dorsal
f/a\i<'t>rni\. while the single spedmen of !sttii<>hiu\ view vertex, dorsal temples and lateral frons with
136 G. S.TAYLOR. A. D.AUSTIN & K. A. DAVIES
HIOUKil Ol nMilMtWNA l\ND US \SS<j( IMVMhHIl \OPT] RA i \y
l&Ug hairs; in lateral view lower temple glabrous: the genus arc parasitic on lepidopieran larvae bill
antennae slightly luflgwthan body: llngcllorociVMiH the) have also been recorded from Cok-optm.
longer than wide, Oiplera and leal-mining pergid sawflies (QuickC
Mcsosoma. Stiit and scutcHum smooth, shmv I08S; Quicke & Ingram IW, AuMin & KttiliK
with a lew long sparse hairs on posterior parts ol l9Sni Other than one unsubstantiated record of a
each termite, senium willi sparse hairs along lateral tlntton species being reared from a gall-forming
ltfU.rg.lH and illpjlg notauli; noianli indicated by hiTnl homopteiail tChadwick (*C Khkitin l*)7M, ihi.s is the
i1ept\ssiou.s more prominent in posterioj half; first record of an Australian species heing reared
seutcllai suture £tighlty depressed and curving from a plant pall. Studieson Hie biology ol numerous
posterioily. comprising 12 14 lovcalc puiMuivs: species overseas and from Australia indicate that all
dotsal and lateral sculellum delimited by row ot i.Ki.liter-, of the gCHUS are solitary primary
loujqsh hairs. propodeum with medial longitudinal ecloparasiloids. Given this, and thai H J'n\n\f>iiiiiti.\
..i mm in posterior one-third, lainlly depressed in was reared in moderately large numbers bom five of
tii'L't'iH midline, with sparse long hairs in lateral seven gaily during the projeti (Table I ). Ilus specie-,
purl in lateral view prouoUun aild mesupleiuon is most likely to he parasitic on fcwfjltxmtltu laivae
smooth and mostly hairless: cpicnLinial area covered PivmomsIv. ( mrie (KH7) rcponed tcatiug an
with long hairs; inetapJeuron covered with long unknown braconid from galL ot icri>ti\nt}itni m the
11.in-,, shum.ih in dorsal half, faintly rugose in ( inheiia area, and this may he Ihe .same species as
poskao-vcnlral part, lees evenly ami densely setose deenbed icrc Howevet there is .ippareatly no
eu'vpi lor outer surfaces ol coxae, loic win;, wtlh w.nt Ik* maie.-iat available From Carrie's study in the
IM and I Ks+Vl laindy bowed. 2-\isstraight: '-CUI AN1C or elsesWieie. Inether, Cuirie . I'.'^7,i \hu\K\
evenly curved: 2\w\ suhmarymal cell elongate, sides this braconid "lo feed indiseriirhnalely "it gall tissues
[^Rfl and 3-M| almost parallel 1st ciiseal cell and fly larvae " We have been unable to conhnn
moderately elongate 1 1 Rs+M 2,fl * length ..I'm cm t:uMic*> obseivaiious hut. il this species is a
Melanoma Mosily smooth throughout, sclcioliscd faeoltatise icc^r on gall tissue, il will be only die
part ofTl slightly longer than wide, lateral margins lourlh record t>l phytophacy 111 Hie iiraconidac in ihe
with lung sparse hairs, posteromedial lobe ol II world (Auslin $ Oangerfield niipttb.). and the lust
broad, family longitudinally striate along posterior for the subfamily Braconmae
margin, delimited by shallot lateral luiiows Which ttnn*<m Jt'txitsiiHinits differs from other deseribed
arc peicuirent to base of Tl: \2 with bioad rncdi.il Australian $fttt*$H species in die form of the medial
longitudinal carina in anterior hall with a lew striae propodcum. shape of Tl. sculpturing on T2. length
< ahcr side, postero-mcdinl area very faintly raised of the ovinositor. and its colour pattern. )i Jn caMly
ami triangular. I? a\k\ J3 suhequal in length and iLlculified from other parasitoids associated with
comprising ahouLone-llhrdlength ofiiielasoum. wiih l't^»ustmiiiit/t-L'v^Hs<>hitt galls by its complete wing
spaise long bans in laleml parts; TV i'5 aboul three- venation il-i^. 7).ciivnlarand depressed (cycloslomc)
quarters length ol T2 T.\ with transverse row ofIon!} clypens (big. S). elongate Ov/SporflCjJ tlitu &)a mk\
hdirS <md .a latcial margins; ovipositor and sheaths cirong$ and black colourpattern.
slightly longer thai) hods, sheaths witheven covering
of Icinji hairs, slighlls longer limn diameter ot hamily lebueumomdae
sheaths. P(fr<ihnrxim{\ spp.
ir'KiS^-lu
Mule
pifl'erJDg from female as follows; Length 2 }2.(> 'tIlis genus belongs m an unusual suhf.umlv Hie
mm; body generally narrower and moo: elongate Labeniuae. in that it represents one o! rhe most
pariicularly posterior mesosoma and Tl; scape and plesiomorphie groups of iehncumonids and has a
often proximal one-quarter ofantennae brown, let's Cfondwanan distribution tCJauld I0S3, 1084; Gauld
with same colour pattern hut yellower; wings & Holloway *->S0) /'c< ihu typtttt lias been
I
nationl-i, postulated to be phytophagous on Ihe basis of the
structure of Ihe mandible (Short ll>78) and il has
('om/twfii.s previously been reared from gaWs on Aciuut and
This is a very large genus inAuslrarui ofwhich few Eucalyptus (Gauld & Holloway l°Sb) and, more
Species have been described. Primarily, members ol recently, from Ratiksiii (Auslin # Danjierlleld
( ijis5 s, lint,on (<n;uumrtm\ sp. nttv, . 5, 1)t>rsal hahittis(not showing ovipositon h. Silhonetic ofdorsal body show-
111)-' lenrlh ofoviposiioi 7 l-ore ;in<l hind wings tvein r-m .imnved in hind wineJ, ft Anienoi vh-w oflieud sIkusii^ eii
ml.ii cJypOllv Stale bars0,S mm S, I »nni7: ()_S una K
I3S O. S. TAYLOR, A. D. AUSTIN & K. A. DAVIRS
unpub.). However, only very few specimens have & Hollovvay. are here associated with FergMS-
ever been reared, as is the case here (i.e. six {>t}ifia/Feri>usobia galls. Both species have previously
specimens from four galls - Table 1 ), indicating that been collected from the eastern part ofthe continent,
the genus is more likely to be a parasitoid or Queensland to Tasmania, but both arc recorded here
inc|iiiline lhan a primary gall-Former Surprisingly. from SouthAustraliaforthefirsttime. Poecilocnplus
two ofthe four known species of Poadoaypius, P. nigronuuulatu.s has been reared from anthribid and
nignnnacttlatus Cameron and P. galliphflgus Gauld chalcid galls on Acacia hngifot'ta and eriococeid
Pigs9-14. 9-11. PocrilarryptitsnigtomactttutitsCameron. 9. Dorsal habitus, 6 (extent ofblack markings indicated by
slipplingh UK Silhouette ofdorsal body of Vshowing length ofovipositor 1 1. hore and hind wingsof 6 (vein 2rnc»
arrowed in fore wing and vein r-m arrowed in hind wing). 12-14. Ciirospilussp. 9. 12. Hind leg. 13, Fore wine. 14.
Dmomrsal headami mesosoma (extentofmetallic green markings indicated by Stippling). Scale bars= 1.25 mm 9, 1 1:0,5
12-14.
BIOLOGY OF FEROVSONINA AND ITSASSOCIATED HYMENOPTERA 139
Figs 15-20. 15, 1ft,Emlents sp. V. 15. Dorsal habilus (pr= pronotum). 16. Fore wing (postmarginal vein arrowed). 17.
20, Eurytoma sp. 17. Fore wing (sligmal vein arrowed). 20. Dorsal headand mesosoma (pr= pronotum). 18, 1°,
I'ediobitis sp, 9. 18. Fore wing. 19. Dorsal head and mesosoma. Seale bar=0.5 mm.
i KI «. s lAYJ ni\ s i) AUSTIN &.K,A, DAVtl 5
polls rui tM><thi>ttt\. white /. snitlipM^as fins ix»ii supported Ml least in part by lire tact that Jjtdrrns sp.
associated wilh unknown galls on £ th'li-t>titc/i\i\ was reared fiom galls that alsoyielded individuals|>l
antl £ {Mm ///<"</ fGautd & Holioway 19X6). ft. frrL',n.\i>ninn\ (table I), and iha* no other
r<n( ihu rvputs spp. affi distinctive compared with hymenopferans m the same galls aie large enough m
OlHcP parashoids in the iniiM IjCCiUQjC Of ihch laiyc body si/c to provide sufficient food fur Ihe
si/e lappomman-lv 10 excluding ovipositor) devclopmcnl ol Ltui.tH.s larvae iw'uh the cvcepliuu
and winy venation (*7*g, II). Although the fwil of rti<ith>ri\iHNy which was too tare), In "he
species arc very similar to each other they can he parasitoid guild associated with FW'gMVfVli
separated In the colour <»J the hind fcmui and l&rjgrh lin:u\nhiti >mII\, l.thlriu) sp. t-, easily separated
ill lite ovipositor Imhii oilier species by its metallic blue-green colour
elongate body fFig, IS), nicsosoma with very Jute
1 a(m'ihirvosfBtui/tidipshisdp.flc lpeotsiMeoualaitceu-upluncvteaiineahsocuuilpatstn|u0uM:j aansd\tlioermeJwwinien 1W1ileli
il-UiS 12-I4» 141
ft/Ht>hitt\ \/>,
Members of this very Urge ami laKonnmicrdly (FIGS IK. 19)
difficult cosmopolitan gcflllfi are relatively small in
size and arc ohm hnyhily coloured whit metallic Membcfs of tins feints are known n> be afV
|
niatkings, as is the species heie Uilfetent species and hyperparasiloids of eggs, pupae rind sometime-,
have been icaied as primary parasiloids ov a* larvae ol' various iuseeis. mainlv I rpidoptcm
lacultnlivc or obligate hyperparasiloids Irom leal t'.dcopicia, Ntpleia and Hymcnoptera (Boucek
mining and gJilMtomlns insects, Thumleri and IVKNt. Several spettcs have been reared trOftl It I
Austin i I9k>4> avoided four species associated with leediny insects on eucalvpts lc,e.. Cruhn lu^nn
ihe Mimes of I'lnhn Mtipkifict on cueulypts m South Walker ami fhylfU'W/ipho^ttJ\Wf$f?tti Kiek - AtKti'i
Australia which, in the case ol the donunanl species Ik Mien I9W: Thmnleil --V Austin 1'HM) ahd varnMis
(' muri>ttit\ii)in\ (jiraull. was shown tit be a lealanining, Piplera ( Boucck lc>£8). bul apparenlly
lauillative hvperpaiasilotd ol Ihvnm and othei none has been reared from ^all-assm.iated host*,. The
chalcidoids. The biology ol" the species here \$ species here was teeorded by only a suiele speemuti
unclearand it CGtUld he eithei a piunary parasiloid on (Tabic 1 1. Although Us biology is not known, iln*.
f <ytt\onimt larvae or facultatively hyperparasilic on very low abundance would indicate thai il is
one or more til lite gall associated Hymcnoptera. h probably a hypctpaiasiloid on anotherhymenoplerari
wasthe mostabundant parasitoid encountered dining in the hi,ry,LiM>ninti/hfi\>tt\nhia gulh] Ptrftohms sp.
Ihe study mid it was recorded Irom sill seven gfllls can be easily scparatctl Inttrt the oilier parasitoi-.K
< Table I \, Ihe species is close to C \H ri()iii.\ Guaull recorded by its relatively ^huri ittnipact body H i
bul differs in the coloui pattern of the dois.il IsU. blaeK coltatr. \ei> finely relieulale dorsal
mesosoma, and tints may tepreseul a new species mcNosoma, andeloucaie posimarginal vein (Flgr IH>
Withm the parasitoid guild associated wilh
h'n;nvo»itni/h< rxHvnhia .ualls, it can he easily fanuly f.uryiouudac
identified based on the form of the fore wing / 'uryfnmu spp.
seiiiilini) <hiv- rJfc colour pattern and shape ol Ihe HK1S I12TI)
both (fig. |4K
this is a veiy large yenus in Australia containing
ItuLnts spm. species with divergent hioloyies S^CCJC^ -an be
IFIGS 15. phytophaguus. facultative!) parasitic, obli^atonlv
parasitic ot hvpeiparasitic (Botieek r>HS). In
I.ike tVr/v'v/>/7//A, this is a large geflUR whose Australia, the niajoril> pi species are postulated to
members are difficult to identify. Hxtralimilal hosl (all into the laltcr rwo ealCiiorics, bill the eeuetie
iccords indicate thai Undents are parasiioids of .las' itiealion is not well understood and specie
Icpidopteran larvae or arc hypcrpurnsitoiils. belonging Uiapparently ckisely related generaand/or
parlienhirlv of Uracomdac (Boucek 1988% The spectes groups are known to be cither phytophagous
association of the species reared here Irom or parasitic. A number is known to be eeloparasitie
ri'tgnxtinitui/l-t'r%n.sobiti galls is ihe first biological on ^all-foiiiunji; insects ku hyperparasitic l|ii(>uj.,h
information recorded for the genus in Australasia, icIiueuiiHMiid and bracomd cocoons (Boncek I988J
GiVcB dial species overseas have been reared from Currie 1937) reported one species of Lmytnnm, II
{
Bracouulac, it is possible Ibat this species is "vurirnjifrK" lo he phytoplui^iMis m Irr^usoniua
h.vperparasihc tin &•fitffitwminiu This proposal is .walls neat C auberra tvtirirnjipr\ )s an unpublishcxl.