Preliminary observations on the physiology and behavior of Sytretomorpha szaboi Papp

Sytretomorpha szaboi Papp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitic wasp that specializes in parasitizing the Apis cerana and is widely distributed in the Eastern Ocean region, particularly in southern China and northern India. The parasitization rate of this parasitic wasp can reach as high as 20%, which poses a significant threat to the health of bee colonies. This study reports the results of observations of S. szaboi in Chongqing, China. Current research on the physiology and behavior of S. szaboi is limited; thus, this report provides a valuable contribution to the existing body of knowledge on this type of parasitic wasp. Consequently, during the summers of 2023 and 2024, we observed the physiological and behavioral characteristics of S. szaboi and their hosts in the field at the Bee Breeding Center of Chongqing, along with additional incubated observations conducted in the laboratory.