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BIOLOGY OF TRIARTHRIA SETIPENNIS (FALLÉN) (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE), A NATIVE PARASITOID OF THE EUROPEAN EARWIG, FORFICULA AURICULARIA L. (DERMAPTERA: FORFICULIDAE), IN EUROPE

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Ulrich Kuhlmann
Affiliation:
International Institute of Biological Control, European Station, 1, chemin des Grillons, 2800 Delémont, SwitzerlandDepartment of Ecology, University of Kiel, Germany

Abstract

Triarthria setipennis is a tachinid parasitoid of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia) and following introduction from Europe has become established in British Columbia and Newfoundland, where it provides low levels of control. Populations of T. setipennis were surveyed in central Europe during 1989–1991 and individual insects reared to identify available biotypes that may be more effective than biotypes already established in Canada. Additional information is provided on parasitoid biology; this could facilitate new introduction of T. setipennis which could be used to augment existing or introduced populations in Canada for the control of F. auricularia. Microclimatic conditions and sufficient territory space for pairs are important to elicit mating activity. Older males mated readily with newly emerged females. The gestation period of mated females is on average 19 days. Triarthria setipennis is ovolarviparous and lays its eggs close to potential hosts. Chemicals are involved in the host-finding and host-acceptance response of the females. Females lay on average 235 eggs. The oviposition period lasts 4–5 days. Once a first-instar larva contacted a host, it mounted it and tried to penetrate through the intersegmental skin between the head and thorax, or on the thorax or abdomen; this process takes less than 3 min. Only 16.7% of the parasitoids manage to penetrate the host successfully. The duration of larval development is variable, taking from 2 weeks to 2 months during June and July. Most pupae were obtained during August. Overwintering occurs in the pupal stage. In Germany and in the northwestern part of Switzerland there is one full and a partial second generation per year. The first generation of T. setipennis in southern Austria shows a long emergence period and the individuals differ markedly in colour. The highest rate of parasitism in the field was 46.9%.

Résumé

Triarthria setipennis, un tachinide parasitoïde du Perce-oreille européen (Forficula auricularia), a été importé d’Europe et est maintenant bien établi en Colombie-Britannique et à Terre-Neuve où il assure une lutte mitigée contre les perce-oreilles. Des populations de T. setipennis ont été inventoriées dans le centre de l’Europe de 1989 à 1991 et des individus ont été élevés séparément dans le but de permettre l’identification de biotypes qui pourraient être plus efficaces que les biotypes déjà établis au Canada. Des information sur la biologie du parasitoïde pourront également faciliter de nouvelles importations de T. setipennis qui viendront s’ajouter aux populations déjà établies au Canada ou aux populations importées pour lutter contre le perce-oreille. Des conditions micro-climatiques particulières et un espace territorial suffisant sont essentiels au déclenchement de l’accouplement. Les mâles plus âgés s’accouplent volontiers aux femelles fraîchement métamorphosées. La période de gestation dure 19 jours en moyenne. Triarthria setipennis est ovolarvipare et pond ses oeufs dans le voisinage d’hôtes potentiels. La détection des hôtes et la reconnaissance de leurs propriétés par les femelles se font par l’intermédiaire de substances chimiques. Les femelles pondent 235 oeufs en moyenne. La ponte dure de 4 à 5 jours. Lorsqu’une larve de premier stade entre en contact avec un hôte, elle y monte et tente d’y pénétrer en perçant le tégument intersegmentaire entre la tête et le thorax ou entre le thorax et l’abdomen. Ce processus nécessite 3 min tout au plus. Seulement 16,7% des parasitoïdes réussissent à pénétrer leur hôte. La durée du développement larvaire varie, de 2 semaines à 2 mois, en juin et en juillet. La plupart des nymphes ont été d’abord observées en août et c’est au stade de nymphe que l’insecte survit à l’hiver. En Allemagne et dans le nord-ouest de la Suisse, le parasitoïde produit une génération complète et une seconde génération partielle chaque année. Dans le sud de l’Autriche, l’émergence de la première génération de T. setipennis s’étend sur une longue période et il y a une grande variation dans la coloration des insectes. Le taux le plus élevé de parasitisme observé en nature a été de 46,9%.

[Traduit par la Rédaction]

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1995

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