An image from Java (Serang: Bulakan: Rawa lake National Park, 120-340m asl. 13.III.2011. author: Guido Bohne) found in Flickr shows a 'squid pygmy grasshopper' (Phaesticus mellerborgi, family Tetrigidae) standing on a leaf and having parasitoid hymenopteran (family Eulophidae, ID provided by @Doug Yanega) on its discus of the pronotum.
First of all, I would like to know if anybody is has any information on identity of this tiny wasp (grasshopper is 10-14 mm in length without antennae). If not, I would lke to know if experts think that the tiny wasp is P. mellerborgi specific parasitoid?
Secondly, I would like to get any information on parasitoids of Tetrigidae, published and observed.
Some further information: Phaesticus mellerborgi is species living in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Java (on Borneo there is P. insularis). Species incuded in this genus have nymphs that are squid-like in appearance, with coloration. The species live in wet habitats , on the ground, eating detritus algae and mosses.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/gbohne/6282448159
First, although many Eulophids are parasitoids (some, like Leptocybe invasa Fisher & La Salle, are phytophagous), only a screening experiment can empirically provide proof of the insect's status as a parasitoid. It may have landed on the grasshopper as it would have done on any other object in its vicinity. Second, the wasp's identity can only be determined after a taxonomic analysis of it external (sometimes internal) morphological characteristics. One has to collect a samples of the species for the taxonomic analysis sinec the picture alone can not provide sufficient information leading to its identity, even to the level of a genus.
For Indonesian Tetrigidae, please contact Josef Tumbrinck, number 1 specialist on this region
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