First Report of Tritrophic Relationships among Soft Scale Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman, 1826) (Hemiptera), Polyembryonic Parasitoid Pseudorhopus testaceus (Ratzeburg, 1848) (Hymenoptera) and the Predator Anthribus nebulosus Forster, 1770 (Coleoptera)

Abstract

The tritrophic relationships among the soft scale Physokermes hemicryphus (Dalman, 1826) (Hemiptera), the polyembryonic parasitoid Pseudorhopus testaceus (Ratzeburg, 1848) (Hymenoptera) and the predator Anthribus nebulosus Forster, 1770 (Coleoptera) is documented and reported for the first time. In Belgrade region (Serbia), in scale insects P. hemicryphus, the simultaneous presence of P. testaceus parasitoid larvae and A. nebulosus larvae has been registered. Larvae of A. nebulosus, apart from scales' eggs, also feed on larvae of parasitoids P. testaceus. Competitive interactions between these two species, which are natural enemies of P. hemicryphus, have not been known until now.