Cephalonomia tarsalis is a idiobiont ectoparasitoid hymenopteran in the family Bethylidae. Known hosts include: Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Sitophilus granarius, Sitophilus oryzae, Sitophilus zeamais, and Tribolium castaneum.

Cephalonomia tarsalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Bethylidae
Genus: Cephalonomia
Species:
C. tarsalis
Binomial name
Cephalonomia tarsalis
(Ashmead), 1893
Synonyms

Cephalonomia carinata Kieffer, 1907

Biology

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On Oryzaephilus surinamensis, fertilized females C. tarsalis lay on average 85 eggs and non-fertilized females lay on average 50 eggs. Adult lifespan is on average 35 days for females and 6 days for males at room temperature. Adult females need to host-feed to initiate oviposition. Upon paralyzing a host (a beetle larva or pupa) the female typically lays 2 eggs (one female and one male) onto the host's body. When 2 larvae develop on the same host they develop on average in 2/3 the time required for a solitary larva to develop. The life cycle is completed in ~20 days at room temperature on Oryzaephilus surinamensis. Cocoons can overwinter. Males emerge 2 days prior to females. Males enter the cocoon of pharate females to mate. A male will mate with multiple females but females mate only once.[1]

Distribution

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Cephalonomia tarsalis has been reported from India, the US, and the United Kingdom.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Powell, D. (1938). "The biology of Cephalonomia tarsalis (Ash.), a vespoid wasp (Bethylidae: Hymenoptera) parasitic on the sawtoothed grain beetle". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 31 (1): 44–49. doi:10.1093/aesa/31.1.44.
  2. ^ "Caphalonomia tarsalis". Invasive Species Compendium. CABI. 21 November 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2020.