Studies on the mating behaviour including some biological aspects of Eudorylas subterminalis Collin (Diptera: Pipunculidae), endoparasite of cicadellid leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Mating in Eudorylas subterminalis Collin is preceded by chasing of the female by a male. It appears to be bivoltine and overwinters in the pupal stage outside the host body. Emergence of the parasitoid from the host's body takes place either in late nymphal (5th instar) or adult host. Pupation occurs in soil or inside surface rubbishes and is completed within 24 to 36 hours after emergence of the larvae from the hosts. At emergence from the pupa, the fly always ruptures the puparium along the definite lines. Pupal stadium durates on an average 19.2 days for male and 21.8 days for female. The rate of parasitism obtained in the laboratory was as great as 52.57%. Effects of parasitism become evident, when the parasitoid matures, this results in gross distortion of the host's abdomen, causing separation of sternites, tergites and pleurites. Parasitization of females may result in non-development or much shortening in length of the ovipositor. Abdomen becomes emptied due to consumption by the parasitoid.Abstract 2: Mating behaviour was studied in Eudorylas subterminalis (a parasite of cicadellids, including Psammotettix sp.) in the laboratory, and aspects of its biology were studied in the laboratory and field in West Berlin. Mating was preceded by chasing of the female by the male. The pipunculid appeared to be bivoltine, overwintering in the pupal stage. The larval parasite emerged from the 5th-instar nymph or adult of its host and pupated 24-36 h later in the soil or among surface litter. The duration of the pupal stage averaged 19.2 days in the male and 21.8 days in the female. Up to 52.57% parasitism occurred in the laboratory. As the parasite developed, it caused the host's body to become grossly distorted, with separation of the sternites, tergites and pleurites. In parasitized female hosts, the ovipositor was sometimes short or absent.