OBSERVATIONS ON MERICIA AMPELUS (DIPTERA: TACHINIDAE), AN OCCASIONAL PARASITE OF BERTHA ARMYWORM, MAMESTRA CONFIGURATA (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE), IN WESTERN CANADA

Abstract

Mericia ampelus (Wlk.) was one of seven species of insect parasite reared from larvae of bertha armyworm, Mamestra configurata Wlk., that were collected in August 1972. At that time large populations of the host species were damaging plants of rape, Brassica spp., in numerous localities in western Canada (Wylie and Bucher 1977). As M. ampelus had not been reared before from M. configurata, studies were made in 1973–75 to determine the parasite's distribution and abundance, to obtain information on its biology and behaviour, and to assess its impact on populations of M. configurata.