FLIGHT PHENOLOGY OF PARASITIC WASPS (HYMENOPTERA, ICHNEUMONIDAE) IN GEORGIA PIEDMONT

We present monthly catches for the 22 subfamilies of Ichneumonidae (n = 16,584) collected in 5 h Malaise traps at the Hitchiti Experimental Forest, GA (33 degrees 03' N, 83 degrees 43' W) in 1993 and 1994. Alth ough average peaks of trap catches for koinobionts and idiobionts coin cided, the phenological peaks of individual taxa within these parasiti c groups often differed. The nocturnal parasitoid subfamily Ophioninae peaked in July 1993 and June 1994, whereas the nocturnal genus Neteli a (Tryphoninae) peaked in April of both years. The most frequently cau ght subfamilies with hosts in the Lepidoptera and Symphyta peaked in l ate April- early May of both years (Campopleginae, Cryptinae, Ichneumo ninae, Ctenopelmatinae, and Tryphoninae). In contrast, subfamilies wit h hosts in the Coleoptera had unsynchronized peaks in April (Tersiloch inae) and June (Acaenitinae) 1993 and in September (Tersilochinae! and Tune (Acaenitinae) 1994. The subfamily Orthocentrinae, which attacks dipteran hosts, peaked in April 1993 and November 1994. The hyperparas itic subfamily,Mesochorinae peaked in May 1993 and April and October 1 994, corresponding in time to trap catches of their potential host sub families that attack Lepidoptera and Symphyta.We hypothesize that host seasonality is more important than other environmental factors and li fe history parameters in determining peak flight activity.