THE PARASITOID COMPLEX ATTACKING FINNISH POPULATIONS OF THE GLANVILLEFRITILLARY MELITAEA-CINXIA (LEP, NYMPHALIDAE), AN ENDANGERED BUTTERFLY

Ten species of parasitoids were found in association with a large meta population of the Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia (L.) in a fragm ented landscape in SW Finland. Two primary larval parasitoids, Cotesia melitaearum (Wilkinson) (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) and Hyposoter ho rticola (Gravenhorst) (Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) are considered to be specialists on M. cinxia in our study area (have no other host loc ally). These two primary parasitoids were recorded to be attacked by t hree generalist (presumed to have other hosts locally) hyperparasitoid s: Gelis agilis (Fabricius) (Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae), G. acarorum (L .), G. ruficornis (Retzius) and one possibly specialist hyperparasitoi d: Mesochorus sp. cf. stigmaticus Brischke (Ichneumonidae: Mesochorina e). Pupae were attacked by four generalist parasitoids: Ichneumon grac ilicornis Gravenhorst (Icheumonidae: Ichneumoninae), Pteromalus apum ( Retzius) (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae), P. puparum (L.), Coelopisthia c aledonica Askew (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae). We present quantitative results on the lifespan of the parasitoids under different environment al conditions. Cotesia melitaearum females have a longer lifespan than males if they are not allowed to parasitize host caterpillars.