INSECT PEST SURVEY BULLETIN 
Vol. 21 
Supplement to No. 3 
May 15 , 1941 
SUMARY OE JAPANESE BEETLE PARASITE LIBERATIONS, 
INCLUDING THE YEAR. 1940 
By J. L. King, senior entomologist , and 
L. B. Parker, assistant entomologist , 
D ivision of Fruit' Insect Investigations , 
United States Department of Agriculture 
The object of this report is to "bring together data on releasements 
of the more important parasites of the Japanese "beetle for the "benefit 
of the various State workers who have cooperated in this work and others 
who may "be interested. 
Although five parasite species and two racial forms are known to be 
established, only four of these, namely, Tiphia vernal is Rohw. , T. popil- 
liavora Rohw., T_. popilliavora (Korean strain) , and Centeter cinerea Aid., 
have received consideration in recent years. The status of Kexia ventralis 
Aid. and Prosena sibirita E. remains about the same as recorded at the close 
of the 193S seasoni/. 
Tiphia vernalis, the spring Tiphia . — This parasite, first released in 
1926, is now well established generally throughout the area of intense 
beetle infestation.' Many of' the early colony centers have now coalesced 
so that large areas' of continuous distribution of the parasite now occur. 
As may be expected, the abundance of the parasite is varied over these 
areas, owing to differences in ecological conditions. However, in areas 
of short-cropped grass, such as golf courses, pastures, large estates, 
and cemeteries, which are also most favorable for beetle development, this 
parasite is often found in such abundance as to be an important controlling 
factor of the Japanese beetle; in fact this parasite is now more abundant 
in this country under favorable conditions than it is in its native land 
under similar conditions. An idea of the abundance of T. vernalis females 
at some of the older colonies may be obtained from the following data on 
collections of females for recolonizing purposes (table l). 
3 ^ 
J. L. King: Colonization of Japanese Beetle Parasites in the 
Eastern States in 1938 . (insect Pest Survey Bull. V. 19, sup. to No. 1. 
March 15,' 1939). 
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