New Zealand Journal of Zoology abstracts

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Description, phenology and biology of Zelostemma chionochloae Buhl sp. nov., a platygastrid parasitoid of Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in New Zealand

Peter Neerup Buhl¹

Michal S. Sarfati²

Eckehard G. Brockerhoff³

Dave Kelly^2,*

¹Zoological Museum
University of Copenhagen
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
pnbuhl@hotmail.com

²Biological Sciences
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch, New Zealand
michalsarfati@yahoo.co.nz

³Scion/NZ Forest Research Institute
PO Box 29237
Christchurch 8540, New Zealand
eckehard.brockerhoff@scionresearch.com

*Author for correspondence: dave.kelly@canterbury.ac.nz

Abstract A platygastrid wasp that feeds on the snow tussock flower midge in the inflorescences of New Zealand snow tussock grasses (Chionochloa spp.) is formally described. Zelostemma chionochloae is a specialist natural enemy of Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae Kolesik which is the most ubiquitous and sophisticated seed predator of Chionochloa. Z. chionochloae is a koinobiont parasitoid and some larvae enter prolonged diapause inside their host for at least 2 years. Methods for adult rearing are described. The phenology of Z. chionochloae is highly synchronised with its host even after 2 years in diapause. Parasitism levels were found to differ between years and elevations, while sex ratios differed among years. Z. chionochloae probably suffers inter-specific competition with another host-specific hymenopteran parasitoid (Gastrancistrus sp.) which also parasitises E. chionochloae.

Keywords Cecidomyiidae; Chionochloa; Eucalyptodiplosis chionochloae; gall midge; mast seeding; Platygastridae; Poaceae; snow tussock flower midge wasp; tussock grass

Z08003; Online publication date 18 July 2008; Received 9 January 2008; accepted 8 March 2008

New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 2008, Vol. 35: 255–264
0301–4223/08/3503–0255 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2008

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