THE IMPORTANCE OF ICHENEUMON-FLIES IN DAM AGE AREAS OF PRISTIPHORA-ABIETINA CHRIST

The present paper deals with the cocoon parasitoid complex of Pristiph ora abietina (Christ) in damaged spruce stands situated in three disti nct regions of Austria. The spectrum of the cocoon parasites, their im portance as a mortality factor and the significance of some ecological factors for them were investigated. The polyphagous species Endasy eu xestus (Speiser) was the most important and ecologically adaptable coc oon parasite. Some showed protandry and two emergence periods. It is n ot clear whether they have two generations in 1 year or two seasonal e mergences from one generation. Facultative parthenogenesis is supposed for Oresbius bipunctatus (Schmied.) in the investigated sites. The im portance of cocoon parasites as a mortality factor was rather low. The presence of ground vegetation seems to influence the diversity of coc oon parasitoid fauna. It is presumed that a respective regulation of f orest stands' structure would have a positive impact on the cocoon par asite complex.