First occurrence of Neralsia splendens (Borgmeier) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) as parasitoids of <i>Cyrtoneurina pararescita</i> (Couri) (Diptera: Muscidae) in a rural area in Brazil

Abstract

Figitidae behave as primary parasitoids of dipterous larvae that develop in the feces of cattle and agricultural pests such as fruit flies (Tephritidae) on fruit, Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in fig cultivations, and Dettmeria euxestae Borgmeier, 1935 (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) in Euxesta eluta Loew, 1996 (Diptera: Otitidae) in corn. Neralsia splendens (Borgmeier 1935) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), is a larval parasitoid of Diptera. The muscid genus Cyrtoneurina Giglio-Tos is one of the most abundant Phaoniine groups in the Neotropics. It may be of some hygienic importance because of the semidomestic habits of the adults of several species and the environment in which the coprophagous larvae develop. In the Neotropical region, few studies have been conducted on this group. This paper reports the first occurrence of N. splendens parasitizing C. pararescita in a rural area inBrazil. The study was conducted at the farm of the Veterinary andZootechnicsSchoolof the Federal University of Goiás, inGoiania, Brazil , next to corn and sorghum plantations. The dipterous pupae were obtained by means of the flotation method. They were individually placed in gelatin capsules until the emergence of the dipterous insects and/or their parasitoids. Two specimens were collected from 26 pupae of C. pararescita. The percentage of parasitism was 0.35%. The present study is the first in the world to report the occurrence of N. splendens parasitizing C. pararescita.