Hyperparasitism by Ablerus clisiocampae Ashmead (Hymenoptera : Aphelinidae)

Ablerus clisiocampe (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is known as a parasitoid bot h of diaspidid scale insects and lepidopteran eggs. Although it has been su spected that A. clisiocampae is a secondary (hyper) parasitoid of diaspidid scale insects, direct evidence of hyperparasitism has been lacking. We use d observation and rearing data from field-collected material to demonstrate hyperparasitism of three species of diaspidid scale insects, and primary p arasitism of two species of parasitoid wasps by A. clisiocampae. Ablerus cl isiocampae was found feeding on Aphytis aonidiae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) attacking San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) and Comperiella bif asciata (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) attacking California red scale (Aonidiell a aurantii) and yellow scale (A. citrina). Ablerus clisiocampae were associ ated with pupal Aphytis aonidiae and pupal and pharate adult C. bifasciata. All Ablerus clisiocampae reared for this study were females.