Braconiden als Schmarotzer von Staphyliniden

Summary

The endoparasitic branconidsCentistes lucidator Nees andBlacus ruficornis Nees were reared fromTachyporus-species, common staphylinids of cultivated fields in Central Europe.Centistes occured inTachyporus hypnorum, obtusus, solutus andchrysomelinus, while only oneBlacus was found inT. obtusus. In the relatively cool and humid summer 1963 in the surroundings of Kiel (Germany) the rate of parasitism ofTachyporus-species byCentistes was about 3 to 8% (table 1). — During oviposition ofCentistes the host does not show any reaction. The immature stages develop in the haemocoele of the beetle. The final-instar larva emerges from the host beetle and spins a cocoon beside of it. The beetle dies while the parasite larva is emerging from it. The first-instar larva is described and illustrated. Both species hibernate as first-instar larvae in the beetles, which have an obligatory diapause and become adults in the next summer.