Dr. Murai Éva - Gubányi András szerk.: Parasitologia Hungarica 31. (Budapest, 1998)

Pyemotes muraiae sp. IL (Acait Heterostigmata: Pyemotidae) parasitizing a Hymenoptera larva Sándor MAHUNKA and Luise MAHUNKA-PAPP Zoological Department, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1088 Budapest, Baross u. 13, Hungary (Received 30 September, 1998) Abstract: Description of a new Pyemotes species, parasitzing Eurytoma amygdali (Hym.: Chalcidoidea), from Hungary. With 9 figures. Key words: Acari, Pyemotidae, Pyemotes muraiae sp. n., parasite of Hymenoptera. INTRODUCTION The research workers of the Entomological Department of the University for Horticulture and Food Industry, Budapest, Dr. A. Haltrich and Dr. V. Marko, bred specimens of Eurytomoa amygdali (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Large number of specimens of Pyemotes species was present in this breeding. The acari were sent to us for identification. A close inspection revealed a species new to science, whose description is given hereunder. The species of Pyemotes are unequivocally leading a parazitoid mode of life, particularly favouring the various developmental stages of mostly insects. The attachment is explained by their capability for easily piercing the cuticle with their chelicerae in order to suck the larvae. Owing to their parazitoid mode of life and aggressive attack on their prey they might be considered as potential tools in biological control. A rather profuse explanation of this mode of life was given by Krczal in 1959. He listed all the literature references complemented with his own observations. Consequently, we well know that there is a long list of host animals, among them the members of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Heteroptera, Hymenoptera. Recently the larvae of Scolytidae came in focus (Moser et al. 1987, Cross et al. 1981). A particular feature of their mode of life is polymorphism, which question has been tackled by various authors. However, this phenomenon could not be ascertained in the present case. When describing the new species we use the terminology nearly of Lindquist et al. (1990).