Seasonal and Diel Activity of Filth Fly Parasites (Hymenoptera: Pteronalidae) in Caged-layer Poultry Manure in Southern California

Abstract

Periodic exposure of laboratory-reared Musca domestica L. pupae was used to study seasonal and diel activity patterns of pteromalid pupal parasites in poultry manure. Muscidifurax zaraptor Kogan & Legner (July to October), M. raptor (Girault & Sanders (June to October), and Spalangia cameroni Perkins (May to November) were most commonly collected. Others included S. nigroaenea Curtis (July, September, November), S. endius Walker (July), and Nasonia vitripennis (Walker) (March, July). Exposure of pupae during a 12-h daytime or 12-h nighttime period indicated that M. zaraptor and probably S. cameroni were primarily diurnal in their searching activity. Some nocturnal activity was noted for S. cameroni . Predation of pupae by Solenopsis maniosa Wheeler appeared to be severe in peripheral surface manure areas during the summer. A treatment of extensive wet manure areas with dimethoate larvicide appeared to have a deleterious impact on parasite activity, particularly M. zaraptor and M. raptor , in the summer of 1984.