Radumeris tasmaniensis (Other wasps)
Unintentional Introduced species
In February 2000 a male was collected from Te Paki, Northland. Prior to the collection of this specimen, similar wasps were seen swarming over sand dunes at two sites in Northland: Cape Maria van Diemen and North Herekino Head.
In early May 2000, further specimens, including females, were collected from North Herekino Head. The following spring (November 2000) a further female specimen was collected dead on sand at Whareana Bay.
In 2005 it was found at Karekare; and 2012 at Muriawi (http://naturewatch.org.nz/observations/351311), both in the Auckland region
The larvae develop as solitary ectoparasitoids of large coleopterous larvae, usually scarabaeids. R. tasmaniensis will attack a number of different species and genera within the Melolonthinae, and that there are also records of hosts from the scarabaeid subfamilies Rutelinae and Dynastinae.
Recorded Hosts of the scoliid wasp Radumeris tasmaniensis (from Berry et al 2001)
Coleoptera
Scarabaeidae
Melolonthinae
Antitrogus consanguineus
Antitrogus parvulus
Dermolepida albohirtum
Lepidiota caudata
Lepidiota frenchi
Lepidiota negatoria
Lepidiota noxia
Lepidiota rothei
Rhopea magnicornis
Rutelinae
Anoplognathus boisduvalii
Anoplognathus porosus
Dynastinae
Dasygnathus spp
Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand (introduced)
[Modified from Berry 2001) Radumeris tasmaniensis females are powerfully built wasps which can tunnel in the soil searching for hosts in their earth cells, which they then sting and paralyse. A single egg is laid on the host which hatches in 2 to 3 days, and the larva completes its development within the cell of the host in 7 to 10 days. Pupation usually takes 35 to 42 days, but may be longer in winter. Under laboratory conditions an average of 2 eggs are laid a day, with a maximum of 95 eggs recorded laid by a captive female. Adults have been observed to live for an average of 51 days. In Queensland, four generations a year have been observed, with the last three generations overlapping. Adult wasps feed on nectar and honey-dew and pollinate flowers. Females appear to be able to detect scarab larvae below the soil surface and can burrow to depths of 1.2 m.