Habitat abundances of a cricket-parasitizing wasp Rhopalosoma nearcticum (Hymenoptera: Rhopalosomatidae) in a United States mid-Atlantic park

Abstract

Adults of the nocturnal, cricket-parasitizing wasp Rhopalosoma nearcticum flew in Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve (DMWP) from late June through late September, based on a 2-year, Malaise-trap sample of 617 individuals from three habitats. These wasps were significantly more abundant in the floodplain forest compared to the tidal, freshwater marsh and forest-marsh ecotone. Females were more likely to be in the ecotone and marsh than males. The pooled sample from all three habitats was significantly male biased. This study provides baseline information on R. nearcticum that can be used in assessing the health of the DMWP entomofauna in view of glo-bal change, accelerating DMWP erosion and marsh loss, invasive species, and other threats to this fragile preserve.