Microhimenopteran parasitoids of Chrysomya megacephala found in Brazil

Abstract

The study was carried out with the purpose of identifying the main parasitoids of Chrysomya megacephala in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, given the importance of these flies as vectors of pathogenic agents in the urban environment. Samplings were conducted every week from August 1999 to July 2000. The substrate used to grow fly pupae and to trap parasitoids was decomposing meat. It was identified three species of microhimenopterans: Tachinaephagus zealandicus (Encyrtidae), Pachycrepoideus vindemiae (Pteromalidae) and Nasonia vitripennis (Pteromalidae). Further analysis will be performed in order to show the potential of these insects as agents in biological control programs.