DESCRIPTION OF FEMALE AND BIOLOGY OF BLAESOXIPHA-RAGG PAPE (DIPTERA, SARCOPHAGIDAE), A PARASITOID OF SCIARASAGA-QUADRATA RENTZ (ORTHOPTERA,TETTIGONIIDAE) IN WESTERN-AUSTRALIA

Blaesoxipha ragg was recorded parasitising both sexes of the bushcrick et, Sciarasaga quadrata, at Cape Naturaliste in Western Australia. Thi s is the first host record for B. ragg. Parasitism rates recorded over three successive seasons ranged from 0 to 11.1%. Parasite development within the host was 6 d. Parasitised male S. quadrata were frequently multiparasitised with the ormiine tachinid fly Homotrixa alleni Barra clough. From 6 to 24 B. ragg developed in each host, with pupal size s ignificantly affected by the number of larvae per host. The duration o f the pupal stage at 15-25 degrees C ranged from 13 to 35 d. The sex r atio of emerged flies was 50:50. The previously unknown adult female f ly and third-instar larva of B. ragg are described.