Parasitoids and parasites of Polistes metricus say (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in Northeast Georgia

Abstract

The strepsipteran Xenos peckii Kirby, the ichneumonid Pachysomoides fulvus Cresson, the pyralid Chalcoela pegasalis Walker, and the eulophid Elasmus polistis Burks were recorded from 303 Polistes metricus Say early season colonies collected from northeast Georgia during 1997-2000. Colonies of P. metricus were significantly more likely to be infested by X. peckii than by P. fulvus, C. pegasalis, or E. polistis. Both X. peckii and C. pegasalis infested colonies more frequently when either eggs, larvae, and pupae or only larvae and pupae were present in the nest.