Some biological traits of the parasitoid wasp Rhopalicus tutela (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) in spruce forests of Moscow Region, Russia

Abstract

Some biological traits of Rhopalicus tutela (Walker), a parasitoid of the European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.), were studied both in forests of Moscow Region, Russia, and under laboratory conditions. Females of R. tutela have mature eggs after overwintering and thus do not need additional feeding to lay eggs. Under laboratory conditions at 8 °C, the life expectancy of males is 58 ± 44 days and that of females is 36 ± 45 days. An increase of temperature shortens the developmental period of R. tutela, which can proceed without diapause. The duration of one generation in the laboratory at 22–24 °C is 14–16 days. In spruce forests of Moscow Region, R. tutela has two or three generations per year.