STUDIES ON DIPTEROUS PARASITES OF THE SPRUCE BUDWORM, CHORISTONEURA FUMIFERANA (CLEM.) (LEPIDOPTERA: TORTRICIDAE): I. SARCOPHAGA ALDRICHI PARK. (DIPTERA: SARCOPHAGIDAE)

Abstract

Sarcophaga aldrichi Park. is a native parasite which has been reared continually, though in small numbers, from Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) in British Columbia. It is also an important parasite of Malacosoma disstria Hbn. and is apparently widely distributed throughout North America. The parasite can be reared in the laboratory on pork liver, or on a mixture of liver and fish, from larvae deposited on the rearing medium by ovoviviparous females. The total time required for development from deposition of the larvae to the beginning of puparial formation was five to eight days. The puparia were formed 7 to 44 days later. No adults emerged without a period of diapause, which normally lasted throughout the winter months. The distinguishing characters of the immature stages are described. The methods used in rearing spruce budworm pupae for obtaining parasites are outlined.