Author(s): Martinovich, V.
Title: Életmódtani vizsgálatok az Iris-levéldarázson
Title: Rhadinoceras reitteri Konow (Hym., Tetrnthr.) a parasite of Iris ornamented plant growing in Hungary
Year: 1967
Volume: 20
Pages: 221-246.
Abstract: Rhadinoveraea reitteri Konow parasites invaded in Hungary (Budatétény) in 1961 and 1963the grown ornamental Iris germanica and Iris pumila in numbers as to damage by feeding 25 per cent of the plantation. Their injury caused a weakening of Iris stocks, which reduced the crop in consequence. The recent paper deals with the morfology and biology of larvae and adults. The flight time of Rhadinoceraea reitteri Konow begins in the first decade of April in Hungary if there is an early spring. It is a stenochron species of short flight time. At spring first the males and subsequently the females appear. On an average of several years males were in plurality. their flight is only intensive by sunny, warmweather over 20 ºC. Pairing begins with the appearence of females. Copulation lasts 20-30 minutes. One male may copulate several times. Beginning of oviposition is observer 2-3 days after pairing. The period of oviposition lasts on an average temperature of 24,5 ºC, 2-4 days. Eachfemale may lay 23-47 eggs, 1-26 eggs one day. This species breeds also parthenogenetically, the progeny consists then only of males. Females oviposit in rows of 6-10 on Iris leaves, between two leafveins. Their embrional development lasts at a temperature of 20 ºC 7-9 days, Eggs increase on the fifth day by the intake of water 24 per cent in leght and 109 per cent in width. Larvae are peeling in the early stages of their development in Iris leaves, then in the third larval stage they are masticating. They exuviate five, respectively six times during their development. Male wasps grow from larvae stages. The colour of larvae is ash-grey, changing after the last exuviation into loam-yellow. Larvae develop on an average temperature of 23 ºC from the first until the fifth larval instar within 27,2 days. The consumption of larvae is highest at the last stage of development, which makes 67-69 per cent of the leaf quantity in relation to the total consumption. After the last exuviation larvae do not feed anymore, but withdraw 2-5 cm deeply into the soil after a superficial stay of 1/2-1 day, and prepare in cacoon within 24-48 hours. Overwintering takes place in cacoons in praepupa stage. Cacoon stage lasts 316-320 days. They pupate only at spring. Pupa stage is 7-10 days long. A diapausa occured in the stage of praepupa during their development. That is probably a case of obligate diapausa determined by inheritence and independent from enviromental factors. Until now any natural parasites of Rhadinoceraea reitteri Konow have not been found.
Journal: Folia entomologica hungarica
Journal abbreviation: Folia ent. hung.
ISSN: 0373-9465
Publisher: ,
Editor(s): Steinmann, H.