Abstract
A laboratory study of the biology of Laelius pedatus (Say) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and its relationship to its normal host, Anthrenus verbasci (L.) (Coleoptera:Dermestidae), indicates that at room temperature and humidity conditions, the life cycle in the summer takes ca. 40 days. The avg durations of the life stages are: egg, 3.7 days; feeding larva, 4 days; spinning larva, 3 days; cocoon, 30 days. The 2nd generation passes the winter in a prepupal diapause with a mean duration of 210 days. The observed behavior patterns of L. pedatus parallel closely those of other known Laelius spp. L. pedatus displays many characteristics of a potentially useful agent of biological pest suppression.

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