A Survey of Itoplectis melanocephala (Grav.) - A New Ichneumonid Endoparasite on Wax Moth Galleria mellonella L.

Abstract

Itoplectis melanocephala (Gravenhorst, 1829) (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae), a solitary idiobiont endoparasite, is redescribed. Investigations on the development of the parasite on the newly discovered host wax moth Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were made. Under the laboratory conditions longevity of Itoplectis melanocephala females is between 24 ^st -40 ^th days, while in males it is 20 ^st –30 ^th days. The egg productivity and the hatching of eggs between maximum 6 ^st -20 ^th days. Durations of male wasp egg to pupal periods last for 7 ^st –15 ^th days, while it is found between 13 ^st -18 ^th days for females. On average of adult (male:female) sex ratio is 2:1.