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A new parasitoid reared from Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Sclerodennus pupariae n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), is described from China. S. pupariae was reared from A. planipennis in China attacking velvet ash (Fraxinus velutina Tort.), a tree native to North America. Life-history studies of S. pupariae in the field and laboratory indicated it is a gregarious idiobiont ectoparasitoid of pupa and larva ofA. planipennis and has up to five generations per year. Parasitism rate in the field was 13%. Adult wasps reared from single host pupa or mature larva ranged from 24 to 56 individuals. Based on laboratory rearing, the emerging adult female to male ratio was 22:1. The new parasitoid species has a high potential as a biocontrol agent for emerald ash borer. Diagnosis of the new species with comparisons to Sclerodermus harmandi (Buysson) and a key to Sclerodermus known in China are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents information on a study related to basic ecology of a parasitoid species Spathius agrili (S. agrili) which is a predator of the emarald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis (A. planipennis). It further informs that A. planipennis is a pest of Fraximus velutina (F. velutina), velvet as plant in China, which has caused plantation damage after being accidentally introduced in North America. It also presents photographic images of the life stages and behavior of S. agrili.