Phasgonophora

Associated with forests containing host trees for woodboring beetles; specifically documented in ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) infested with emerald ash borer. Phasgonophora sulcata parasitism has been observed in ash trees below 360 cm height, with no parasitism detected above this height.

North America; documented in Ontario, Canada, Michigan, and Wisconsin, USA. GBIF records indicate presence in South America (SA), though specific localities are not detailed in available sources.

Adults of Phasgonophora sulcata first observed in the field in early June, with peak capture occurring in late June. Adult emergence occurs approximately 20.2–23.9 days after host emergence at 21°C.

• Agrilus planipennis - parasitoidNovel host; solitary endoparasitoid of larvae
• Agrilus bilineatus - parasitoidNative host; larval parasitoid

Solitary endoparasitoid development. Adult emergence protogynous: females emerge approximately 5.4–5.8 days before males. At 21°C, adult longevity averages 23.8 days for males and 28.9 days for females. Mean potential fecundity at emergence: 55.7 eggs per female, with fecundity declining in older individuals.

Males orient toward females in olfactometer assays, suggesting courtship is mediated by female-produced volatile pheromones. Four consistent pre-copulatory behaviors observed in mating pairs. Flight capacity increases with temperature and decreases with age; walking activity is independent of flight capacity and unaffected by age or body size.

Native biological control agent providing mortality for populations of woodboring beetles, particularly Agrilus planipennis. Parasitism rates on emerald ash borer have ranged from 11.7% to 34.4% at studied sites. Shows negative association with ash density—parasitism rates decrease where ash is abundant, contrasting with exotic parasitoid species that show positive density dependence.

Evaluated for augmentative biological control of emerald ash borer in North America. Mass rearing considered challenging. Recommended release strategy involves placing pupae near EAB-infested ash trees. Putative pheromones may have utility for detection and population monitoring.

• Spathius galinaeExotic parasitoid also attacking emerald ash borer; differs in showing positive association with ash density (higher parasitism where ash is abundant), whereas Phasgonophora sulcata shows negative association. Spathius galinae is in family Braconidae, not Chalcididae.
• Tetrastichus planipennisiExotic parasitoid of emerald ash borer; differs in being an ectoparasitoid gregarious species (family Eulophidae), whereas Phasgonophora sulcata is a solitary endoparasitoid.
• Oobius agriliExotic parasitoid of emerald ash borer; differs in attacking eggs rather than larvae, and in family Encyrtidae.

• parasitoid
• biological control
• emerald ash borer
• Chalcididae
• forest entomology
• native species
• Agrilus
• woodboring beetle
• endoparasitoid
• protogyny
• height-restricted foraging

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• GBIF taxonomy match
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Catalogue of Life
• Emerald Ash Borer: Study Offers Mixed Signals on Drivers of Effective Biological Control
• ash density and parasitism - Entomology Today
• Factors influencing the dispersal of a native parasitoid, Phasgonophora sulcata, attacking the emerald ash borer: implications for biological control
• Courtship sequence and evidence of volatile pheromones inPhasgonophora sulcata(Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a North American parasitoid of the invasiveAgrilus planipennis(Coleoptera: Buprestidae)
• Observations on the life-history traits of the North American parasitoidPhasgonophora sulcataWestwood (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) attackingAgrilus planipennis(Coleoptera: Buprestidae) in Ontario, Canada
• Observations of the Biology of <i>Phasgonophora Sulcata</i> (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a Larval Parasitoid of the Twolined Chestnut Borer, <i>Agrilus Bilineatus</i> (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), in Wisconsin