RATES OF PARASITISM AND SEX RATIOS OF ABLERUS CLISIOCAMPAE¹ AND OOENCYRTUS CLISIOCAMPAE² EGG PARASITES OF THE FOREST TENT CATERPILLAR, MALACOSOMA DISSTRIA³ IN SOUTHERN LOUISIANA

Populations of egg parasites, Ablerus clisiocampae Ashmead and Ooencyrtus clisiocampae Ashmead, of the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria Hbn., were found to be 73% and 55% females, respectively. These parasities emerged a mean of 31 days after the beginning of forest tent caterpillar eclosion under controlled laboratory conditions. Percent parasitism was highest in the upper tree crowns, in 1980 – 81 averaging 33.6%, and was highest at the middle crown levels in 1981 – 82, averaging 20.3%.