The Relationship of Spathimeigenia spinigera Townsend (Diptera: Tachinidae) to its Host, Neodiprion swainei Midd. (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae)

Abstract

Studies on the parasites of the Swaine jack pine sawfly, Neodiprion swainei Midd., form part of an extensive program designed to assess the factors influencing population dynamics of this important defoliator of jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb. Investigations were carried out in the Province of Quebec between 1955 and 1959 near the headwaters of the Gatineau River, Abitibi County, and continued during 1960 and 1961 near the source of the Vermillion River, County Laviolette. In both areas, one of the principal parasites associated with N. swainei was the tachinid, Spathimeigenia spinigera Townsend. Descriptions of the immature stages of this parasite, and details of its behaviour were published previously (Tripp, 1960).