IMPERIAL BUREAU OF ENTOMOLOGY. 



REVIEW 



OF 



APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY. 



Series B. 



Vol. X.] [1922. 



Johnston (T. H.) & Tiegs (0. W.). On the Biology and Economic 

 Significance of the Chalcid Parasites of Austrahan Sheep Maggot- 

 flies. — Proc. R. Soc. Queensland, Brisbane, xxxiii, no. 6, 17th 

 August 1921, pp. 99-128, 36 figs. [Received 31st October 1921.] 



Sheep-maggot flies are amongst the commonest and most widely 

 distributed insects in Australia, but at present their parasites are 

 comparatively few. A description in here given of each species that 

 has been recorded. Nasonia brevicornis, Ashm., commonly occurs 

 in Brisbane, and is attracted by exposed decaying meat. The authors 

 compare their observations in Brisbane with the previous worlcs on 

 the life-history of this Chalcid. Other hosts include the pupae of 

 Sarcophaga sp. Spalangia muscidarum, Richardson, was first recorded 

 from Australia in 1920 as parasitising various flies. In February 

 this Pteromalid attacked Sarcophaga impatiens in Brisbane, when the 

 life-cycle varied between 23 and 30 days ; only one adult developed 

 from each pupa. Dirhinus sarcopliagae, Froggatt, was first bred 

 in 1919 from pupae of Sarcophaga aurifrons, Macq. In Brisbane it 

 is most common in February. It parasitises any common sheep flies. 

 The pupal period is known to occupy more than seven days. The 

 total life-cycle in November 1920 was 25 days and in January 1921, 

 28 days. Froggatt believes that this Chalcid searches below the soil 

 for the pupae of Sarcophaga, but this has not been proved by further 

 experiments. Pachycrepoideus diihius, Ashm., was first described 

 from the United States, where it is a parasite of the house-fly ; it has 

 also been recorded from North Queensland [R.A.E., B, ix, 156]. 

 Hemilexomyia abrupta, Dodd, has been bred from Ophyra nigra, 

 Pollenia {Neopollenia) stygia and Musca domestica, but it has not been 

 recorded in Brisbane. Chalcis calliphorae, Froggatt, has already been 

 noticed [7?.^. £., B, iv, 179; v, 166; ix, 169]. C. dipterophaga is 

 closely allied to C. calliphorae, and was once found on blow-flies in 

 Brisbane. Australencyrtus giraulti, gen. et sp. n., was first found in 

 Brisbane in 1920. The female attacks the larvae of all common sheep 

 blow-flies, including Chrysomyia dux, Paracalliphora augur, Lucilia sp., 

 Chrysoniyia (Pycnosoma) rtififacies, C. varipes and Sarcophaga sp. 

 Experimentally several females attack a single pupa, and seven eggs 

 are usually laid at a time ; adults varjang in numbers from 10 to 29 

 have emerged from one pupa. The life-cycle in midsummer lasts 



(5232) Wt. P.3/1S4 1500 1/22 Harrow G. 75,3. A 



