DIPALTA SERPENTINA OSTEN SACKEN (DIPTERA: BOMBYLIIDAE) AS A PREDATOR ON PUPAE OF THE ANTLION MYRMELEON IMMACULATUS DEGEER (NEUROPTERA: MYRMELEONTIDAE) IN CALIFORNIA

The first record of Dipalta serpentina Osten Sacken, 1877, preying on larvae of Myrmeleon immaculatus DeGeer, 1773, was by Smith (1934: 136-137), who stated that the fly larvae were “parasitic” on the antlion larvae. Cole and Schlinger (1969: 251) stated that the fly larva of this species “…is parasitic on the larvae of Myrmeleontidae.”Although the fly larvae may prey upon the larvae of the antlion, we have established that they definitely prey upon the antlion pupae (Fig. 1). Judging from the emergence dates (early September 1988) of the flies, each had preyed upon an antlion pupa within its cocoon. Each antlion cocoon had one hole in it. An examination of the contents of each antlion cocoon revealed the cast skin of the antlion larva and the empty, clear skin of the antlion pupa. The pupal skins were not split open, which they would have been if the adult antlion had emerged. They were shrivelled, and looked much as if the contents had been sucked out.