PRIMARY PARASITISM, DEVELOPMENT AND ADULT BIOLOGY IN THE WASP TAENIOGONALOS-VENATORIA RIEK (HYMENOPTERA, TRIGONALYIDAE)

The biology of the Australian wasp Taeniogonalos venatoria Riek was in vestigated using populations in the Adelaide Region during 1986-90. Th is species is unusual for a trigonalyid because it is a primary parasi toid of a pergid sawfly and can act facultatively as a hyperparasitoid . The wasp oviposits onto foliage, eggs are ingested by host larvae, e ggs then hatch, and the larva penetrates the gut wall. Saline, acid sa line, cathepsin and physical manipulation were effective in triggering eclosion. Eggs were viable on foliage for up to 5 months. Larval inst ars 1-3 are endoparasitic; 4-5 are ectoparasitic. Populations are univ oltine, and adults emerge between February and April in synchrony with early-stage host larvae. Adult wasps are relatively short lived (8 da ys), but survival is increased by access to water and food. Female was ps contain over 6000 eggs at emergence. Aspects of the biology of T. v enatoria are discussed in relation to other species of trigonalyid was ps.