OCYTATA-PALLIPES (FALLEN) (DIPT, TACHINIDAE), A POTENTIAL AGENT FOR THE BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL OF THE EUROPEAN EARWIG

This paper presents data on the life history and an analysis of field parasitism, in central Europe, of Ocytata pallipes (Fallen), a tachini d that parasitizes the European earwig, Forficula auricularia. O. pall ipes is a species with microtype eggs that are deposited on earwig foo d plants with feeding marks of the host. In order to develop, the eggs have to be eaten by the host. The larvae hatch in the intestinal trac t from where they penetrate the haemocoel. A high reproductive potenti al with an average of 1040 eggs has been observed. In all areas of Eur ope, the parasitoid is partially bivoltine. In Northern Germany, the a dults of the first generation emerge between the end of June to mid Ju ly; the second generation emerges from September to the end of October . The winter is passed as second instar larvae in the living host. Rea red earwigs collected in a number of regions show parasitization of le ss than 1 %. This species is more common in maritime areas.