BEHAVIORAL OBSERVATIONS ON THE ADULTS AND LARVAE OF LEUCOPIS-NINAE AND LEUCOPIS-GAIMARII (DIPTERA, CHAMAEMYIIDAE), PREDATORS OF RUSSIAN WHEAT APHID, DIURAPHIS-NOXIA (HOMOPTERA, APHIDIDAE)

Behavior was observed on the immature and adult stages of Leucopis nin ae and L. gaimarii (Diptera: Chamaemyiidae). The searching and feeding behavior of each larval instar is discussed. The first instars usuall y attacked aphids that walked over them, while second and third instar s more actively searched out prey. Larvae were observed to hunt diurna lly, becoming inactive at night. Cannibalism was found to be quite com mon, even within large aphid populations. The molting and pupariation processes are described including methods for adhering molting larvae and puparia to their substrata. Courtship behavior was observed, inclu ding male wing fluttering, wing extension, and touching, and female re sponses, such as wing fluttering and pushups in front of the male. Ovi position behavior seemed consistent with published accounts, but we fo und that females could oviposit directly into the fold of a wheat leaf rolled by feeding of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Homopt era: Aphididae).