Hyperparasitism by ablerus clisiocampae ashmead (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

Ablerus clisiocampae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) is known as a parasitoid both of diaspidid scale insects and lepidopteran eggs. Although it has been suspected that A. clisiocampae is a secondary (hyper) parasitoid of diaspidid scale insects, direct evidence of hyperparasitism has been lacking. We used observation and rearing data from field-collected material to demonstrate hyperparasitism of three species of diaspidid scale insects, and primary parasitism of two species of parasitoid wasps by A. clisiocampae. Ablerus clisiocampae was found feeding on Aphytis aonidiae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) attacking San Jose scale (Quadraspidiotus perniciosus) and Comperiella bifasciata (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) attacking California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii) and yellow scale (A. citrina). Ablerus Clisiocampae were associated with pupal Aphytis aonidiae and pupal and pharate adult C. bifasciata. All Ablerus clisiocampae reared for this study were females.