Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner)

(Insecta: Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Muscidifurax raptorellus parasitizes pupae of muscoid flies, including house fly (Musca domestica Linnaeus), stable fly [Stomoxys calcitrans (Linnaeus)], horn fly [Haematobia irritans (Linnaeus)], and black dump fly [Hydrotaea aenescens (Wiedemann)].

Adults wasps are dark brown with transparent wings, and females are significantly larger than males.

The female deposits several eggs inside one host puparium (last instar cuticle) and may lay up to 150 eggs during her lifetime. Hatching wasp larvae consume the host pupa and pupate within the host puparium. Adult wasps emerge through an exit hole, mate and search for new suitable hosts.

Native to Chile, Muscidifurax raptorellus was reported established in parts of the United States in the 1970s. This parasitoid and other Muscidifurax species are successfully used as biocontrol agents in confined livestock systems.

Images 

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Female (left) and male (right) adults of Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner)

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Dorsal view of female Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) adult

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Lateral view of Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) adult

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) adult emerged from a parasitized, dead puparium of house fly, Musca domestica

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Female Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) testing puparium of house fly, Musca domestica, by antennal drumming

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Female Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) probing puparium of house fly, Musca domestica

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Female Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) inserting her ovipositor into puparium house fly, Musca domestica

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)

Female Muscidifurax raptorellus (Kogan and Legner) ovipositing into puparium of house fly, Musca domestica

(Photographer: Lyle Buss, University of Florida)