Diurnal flight activity of Ichneumonidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera) in response to environmental temperature

Abstract

Data about influence of weather factors on flight activity of parasitod insects are really scant, in particular about Ichneumonidae in field conditions. The aim of this study is to know the diurnal flight activity of Ichneumonidae in a habitat of Cabañeros National Park (Spain) and how weather factors as temperature determine this activity. Results show that there is an optimum of temperature, about 26.5-27.4 ºC, which is reached in two moments a day: about early midday and late in the afternoon (near dusk). In these periods, activity is maximum, after that, activity decreases. For all caught Ichneumonidae, is statistically significant that the second maximum in the late afternoon is higher than the first maximum during the central hours in the day. Males fly more usually in the morning, while females do it usually in the afternoon.This research was supported by the Project 040/2002 from Ministerio de Medio Ambiente of Spanish Government