PROC. ENTOMOL. SOC. WASH 99(4). 1997. pp 693- 696 BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON SPARASION LATREILLE (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE), AN EGG PARASITOID OF ATLANTICUS GIBBOSUS SCUDDER (ORTHOPTERA: TETTIGONII DA E) E. E. GRISSELL Systematic Entomology Laboratory. PSI, Agricultural Research Service. U.S. Depart­ ment of Agriculture, c/o National Museum of Natural History. MRC 168, Washington. DC 20560 U.S.A. Abstract.—The first behavioral observations for any species of Sparasion and the first report of the genus Atlanticus (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) as a host of Sparasion are pre­ sented. In Florida, a number of female wasps were observed burrowing headfirst into sandy areas. In every instance where a female burrowed into sand and the area subse­ quently was excavated, an egg of Atlanticus, oriented vertically, was found at 12 to 15 mm beneath the surface. Females emerged headfirst from the sand if they remained un­ derground for more than a few minutes. A single female was excavated from the ground while in the process of ovipositing into an egg; she was at its uppermost end with her head oriented toward the surface. Key Words: Hymenoptera, Scelionidae. Sparasion, Tettigoniidae, Atlanticus gibbosus, egg. parasitoid The genus Sparasion Latreille is repre­ except the host record itself (Cowan 1929) sented by over 100 species throughout the and subsequent citations of this record Hoi arctic and Oriental regions (Johnson (Milts 1941. Hitchcock 1942. Wakeland 1992). eight of which occur in America 1959, Muesebeck 1979). Although a few north of Mexico (Muesebeck 1979). Essen­ additional papers refer to Sparasion in re­ tially nothing is known about the biology lation to a potential host, these were merely or behavior of these wasps. Kozlov and Ko- specimens of Sparasion collected in a hab­ nonova (1990) recently described over 50 itat relative to the potential host. For ex­ new species of Sparasion, and not a single ample. Spencer (1958) reported Sparasion one had been reared. The paucity of bio­ sp. "probably parasitic upon eggs of the tet- logical or behavioral data for species in this tigoniid Anabrus longipes Caudell," and genus is doubly remarkable because it has Thorens (1991) collected Sparasion sp. in been recognized for nearly 200 years (de­ a locality containing an acridid grasshopper scribed in 1802), and its single known host {Chortbippus sp.). in the Americas is the Mormon cricket, An- In this paper I present anecdotal obser­ abrus simplex Haldeman, an insect of leg­ vations made on the behavior of an unde- endary stature in the United States. Sur­ scribed species of Sparasion in Florida that prisingly, even for this common, well- attacks eggs of Atlanticus gibbosus Scudder known host, no truly biological or behav­ (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae). This is the first ioral observations have been published for report of Atlanticus as a host for Sparasion. its parasite, Sparasion pilosum Ashmead, These observations were made in 1974 and 694 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 1975 and were to form the basis of more Field recognition of this species requires detailed studies to follow. Other obligations experience based upon preserved speci­ prevented further investigation, however, mens. The wasps are ca. 5 mm in length, and as no one has published biological in­ appear black in color, and are most easily formation for the genus in the intervening seen as they fly or walk back and forth over twenty years, my notes provide enough data a small area of soil. Females are distin­ to highlight significant aspects of the here­ guished from males by the orange legs tofore unknown behavior of a species of (black in males) and short, hidden antennae Sparasion. (elongate and easily seen in males). Determination of Atlanticus gibbosus METHODS was made by D. A. Nickle, who compared I made observations in two areas about dried eggs excavated from the Alachua site 16 km apart in Alachua County, Florida. In (21 July 1975) with eggs dissected from both areas the soil consisted of sand, which dried adult female Atlanticus in the collec­ in the absence of rain, was loose and pow­ tion of the National Museum of Natural dery dry for the top 1 or 2 cm. History. Atlanticus gibbosus is the only Alachua (0.5 km southeast). This site common shield-backed grasshopper found was a large, sandy, disturbed area formed in Florida and is particularly abundant dur­ by the intersection of a railroad track and ing the summer months when my obser­ several dirt roads. The entire area had been vations were made. bulldozed through a low hillock in recent times, probably as a barrow pit. A number OBSERVATIONS of annual and perennial plants, most nota­ Alachua. 21 to 27 July 1974. -On 21 bly Cassia sp. (Fabaceae), were returning July I arrived at the site at 10:45 am and to the site. saw several female Sparasion flying slowly Gainesville (grounds of the Florida State over a small sandy area at about 2 to 5 cm Collection of Arthropods, Division of Plant above the surface. Two to 5 wasps were Industry building). This site was an un- seen walking or flying in any given area paved road that had been cut through the (approximately 30 cm2 to I ur). Once a fe­ woods around the back side of the DPI male landed on the ground she walked building. The site has been paved in the in­ about erratically over the surface with her tervening years since observations were abdomen bobbing slightly up and down, first made. wings folded and held horizontally over the Determination of the status of this Spa­ abdomen. The antennae were extended rasion as undescribed was made first by the downward in an inverted V-shaped pattern late C. F. W. Muesebeck and subsequently just above the surface. When a female was confirmed by Lubomir Masner, Agri­ found an area of interest, she touched her culture Canada. Additionally, I have com­ antennae on the sand and vibrated them; pared the species with types and other spec­ then she would plunge headfirst into the imens in the National Museum of Natural sand. As she entered, she rotated her body History. Smithsonian Institution, and it ap­ from side to side, and her antennae ap­ pears to differ from all available material. peared to play some role in excavation, but Currently no systematist in authority is this could not be confirmed. In most cases willing to describe the taxon. All voucher her body would quickly disappear beneath specimens collected in this study are the surface, and just as quickly she would housed in the Florida State Collection of back out completely and begin the probing Arthropods, Gainesville, Florida, along activity in nearby areas. Females did not with large series of material representing come out headfirst unless they had been un­ the same taxon. derground at least several minutes. VOLUME 99, NUMBER 4 695 In one instance I saw a female emerging on Cassia. The area was extremely wet. and headfirst from the sand. I excavated at the no females were seen. It rained heavily for point of emergence and found a tettigoniid the next few days as well, and I abandoned egg ca. 6 mm in length at 13 mm below the site. the surface (top of egg at 13 mm). A few Gainesville. 2 July 1975 —At 10:45 am. minutes later I saw a female wasp burrow along the edge of a sandy road, I observed headfirst into the sand. It took 40 to 50 sec­ a female burrow headfirst into nearly level, onds for her to completely disappear from loose, dry sand. In 10 minutes a female sight. Five minutes later she emerged head­ (presumed to be the same, but perhaps in­ first from the soil. Then almost immediately correctly, see below) emerged headfirst another female burrowed headfirst into the from the sand about 3 mm from where she sand in the same area. After 8 minutes I entered. Her body was covered with dust, excavated the soil and found the female and she spent several minutes cleaning her near an egg. The top of this egg was 10 abdomen and then her head. Then she mm beneath the surface. The egg was 6 mm walked away. I immediately excavated the in length. Shortly thereafter I saw another sand beginning about 10 cm away from the female burrow headfirst into the ground and emergence site. I excavated to a depth of completely disappear in ca. 45 seconds. Af­ 20 mm (the first 15 mm were dry, then be­ ter waiting 17 minutes for her to emerge. 1 came damp). At 15 mm in depth and near excavated the sand and found an egg. The where the female emerged. I found two female wasp was oriented head upwards, eggs of a tettigoniid a few cm apart. These above the tip of the egg. with her ovipositor were about 5 mm in length and placed ver­ embedded into it. When I removed the egg, tically in the moist sand with the tops at the the wasp was still attached to it. but she 15 mm level. I also found three female broke free and flew away. This egg was 12 Sparasion, heads upright, near these two mm below the surface and was 6 mm long. eggs but not in contact with them. These I placed the above eggs in gelatin capsules, females either walked or flew away quickly but nothing emerged from them. as the sand fell away from their bodies dur­ On 23 July I visited the same site from ing my excavation. I brought the eggs into 9:30 to 11:30 am and saw numerous males the lab and placed them in gelatin capsules, flying above the sand; some alighted on the but nothing emerged.