Biological notes on Ceranisus menes (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Entedoninae), a biological control agent of thrips, in Ukraine

Habitat association, ovipositing behaviour and early stages of development of an asexual (parthenogenetic) strain (yellow color-type) of entedonine Ceranisus menes (Walker, 1839), were studied. Ceranisus menes is an endoparasitoid species associated with thrips, likely of tropical origin. In Central Ukraine, this species is associated with flowers of knapweeds, in particular the greater knapweed, Centaurea scabiosa ssp. apiculata, where it hunts for immature thrips. The oviposition, egg and embryo of the larva of C. menes are described and illustrated. Traits of immature development are discussed.