ARS | Publication request: A NEW PEDIOBIUS (HYMENOPTERA: EULOPHIDAE) ATTACKING CHYLIZA APICALIS LOEW (DIPTERA: PSILIDAE) ASSOCIATED WITH REARINGS OF AGRILUS PLANIPENNIS FAIRMAIRE (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE).

Submitted to: Great Lakes Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: February 22, 2006
Publication Date: May 25, 2006
Citation: Gates, M.W., Liu, H., Bauer, L.S., Schauff, M.E. 2006. A new Pediobius (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) attacking Chyliza apicalis loew (Diptera: Psilidae) associated with rearings of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). Great Lakes Entomologist. 38:76-82.

Interpretive Summary: Many small wasps parasitize eggs, larvae or pupae of flies. A species of fly was discovered that consumes and accelerates death of trees damaged by the emerald ash borer. The emerald ash borer is an invasive beetle that has killed over 15 million ash trees in Michigan and surrounding states and provinces with losses to date estimated to exceed two billion dollars. This paper describes a new species of wasp that parasitizes the larvae or pupae of this fly. The wasp may be an important natural enemy of the emerald ash borer and may indirectly slow the mortality rate of infested trees. This information will be useful to foresters, nurserymen, biological control workers, pest managers, and regulatory agencies.

Technical Abstract: Pediobius chylizae Gates, spec. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is described as new and illustrated. This parasitoid has been reared from the puparia of Chyliza apicalis Loew (Diptera: Psilidae) associated with ash trees (Oleaceae: Fraxinus spp.) attacked by the Emerald Ash Borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae). This species is compared to related species of Pediobius from the Holarctic region.