Spathius galinae

Spathius galinae is a parasitoid of emerald ash borer. The known range of S. galinae extends from the Russian Far East to South Korea. It is currently approved for release in some areas of North America as part of a biological control program against emerald ash borer.^[2]

Spathius galinae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Suborder:	Apocrita
Superfamily:	Ichneumonoidea
Family:	Braconidae
Genus:	Spathius
Species:	S. galinae
Binomial name
Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac 2012[1]

Beginning in early spring, adults lay eggs on host larvae by drilling into the tree with their ovipositor to reach the larva underneath the bark. The eggs hatch and consume the host larva. S. galinae larvae and pupae develop within the host gallery and emerge in approximately 35 days. Two to three generations occur per year. Prior to winter, pre-pupae halt development to enter diapause and overwinter within the tree.^[2][3]

References

1. Belokobylskij SA; Yurchenko GI; Strazanac JS; Zaldivar-Riveron A; Mastro V (2012). "A New Emerald Ash Borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) Parasitoid Species of Spathius Nees (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae) From the Russian Far East and South Korea". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 105 (2): 165–178. doi:10.1603/AN11140.
2. Bauer, Leah S.; Duan, Jian J.; Gould, Juli R.; van Driesche, Roy (March 8, 2015). "Progress in the classical biological control of Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera:Bupresitdae) in North America" (PDF). The Canadian Entomologist. 147 (3): 300–317. doi:10.4039/tce.2015.18. S2CID 82909547.
3. "A New Weapon in the Fight to Protect America's Ash Trees is Under Evaluation". Retrieved June 27, 2015.