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Back to List of Background & Research Materials Hobbs, G.A. & M.D. Krunic COMPARATIVE
BEHAVIOR OF THREE CHALCIDOID (HYMENOPTERA) PARASITES OF THE ALFALFA
LEAFCUTTER BEE, Megachile rotundata,
IN THE LABORATORY. The Canadian Entomologist 103(5): 674 - 685. 1971. Abstract. The following behavioral patterns of three chalcidoid parasites, Monodontomerus obscurus, Pteromalus venustus, and Melittobia chalybii, were compared in the laboratory: feeding by adults, precopulatory routines, copulating, anesthetizing the host, ovipositing, mobility of the larvae, cannibalism among larvae, overwintering, diapause, life cycle, and the ability of a host to support a parasite. Melittobia Species Mentioned: Melittobia chalybii (= M. acasta) Comments. Table 1 compares number of parasitic wasps produced per host for 4 species, including M. chalybii (= M. acasta). Throughout the text, tables compare number of days in each stage for each studied parasite. Figure 1 shows photographs of mature larvae of the studied parasitoids. Figure 2 shows a photograph of M. chalybii (=M. acasta) larvae on a prepupa of Megachile rotundata. Figure 5 shows a photograph of three parasite larvae [including M. chalybii (=M. acasta)] comparing their relative numbers and sizes supported by the same host species. |