The Diversity and Abundance Of Natural Enemies: Parasitic Wasps in Urban Deciduous Forest Fragments

Abstract

This study evaluated the diversity and abundance of this important group of bio-control agents in Northern Delaware forest fragments. Parasitic wasps from six forest fragments surrounded by different types of land use were sampled using bowl traps. Collected wasps were identified down to family. The diversity was measured using Simpson’s Diversity Index. An Analysis of Variance was run to see if surrounding land use had any impact on the diversity or abundance. I found that there was an intermediate level of parasitoid diversity over all. The six most abundant families found were Ichneumonidae, Braconidae, Diapriidae, Pompilidae, Tiphiidae, and Platygastridae. Furthermore, the surrounding land use did not have an impact on the diversity and abundance. More field seasons need to be conducted and more taxonomic resolution is necessary in order to determine the diversity and abundance of parasitic wasps in Northern Delaware forest fragments.