PARASITES OF THE YELLOWHEAD SPRUCE SAWFLY, PIKONEMA ALASKENSIS (HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINIDAE), IN MAINE AND NOVA SCOTIA

Abstract

AbstractThirteen species of parasites were reared from Pikonema alaskensis (Rohwer) larvae and cocoons collected in Maine and 12 species from larvae collected in Nova Scotia. Of the larval parasites, the most common species in Maine were the ichneumons Rhorus sp. 1 and Syndipnus rubiginosus Walley, and in Nova Scotia, the ichneumons Aderaeon bedardi (Provancher), Mesoleius sp., Rhorus sp. 2, and S. rubiginosus. Of the tachina flies, Palexorista bohemica (Mesnil) was more common in Maine, while it and Bessa harveyi (Townsend) were equally common in Nova Scotia. Only two cocoon parasites were reared in Maine, the ichneumon Endasys pubescens (Provancher) and the pteromalid Tritneptis diprionis Gahan. No egg parasites were reared. Parasitism totaled 12.3% in Maine larvae, 16.1% in Maine cocoons, and 46.7% in Nova Scotia larvae.