Techniques for rearing tachinid parasitoids of the European Earwig Forficula auricularia

Abstract

Two European species of the family Tachinidae (Diptera), Triarthria setipennis and Ocytata pallipes, whose larvae live as endoparasitoids of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia), were studied to develop experimental methods to improve laboratory production of the parasitoids. More than 84% parasitism was achieved by inoculating with larvae of T. setipennis when earwigs were immobilized. Lower rates of parasitism were obtained when earwigs were mobile and could fend off attacking parasitoid larvae before they could penetrate the host. For O. pallipes, where the microtype eggs have to be eaten by the host, incubation of starved earwigs with food items carrying 3–5 parasitoid eggs resulted in 60% parasitism.

Keywords:

• rearing technique
• parasitism
• Tachinidae
• natural enemies
• earwigs
• Forficula auricularia
• Ocytata pallipes
• Triarthria setipennis