Accidental introduction in Italy of the parasitoid Spathius vulnificus Wilkinson (Hymenoptera Braconidae Doryctinae)

This paper reports the finding of the Hymenoptera Doryctinae Spathius vulnificus Wilkinson for the first time in Europe. This is an idiobiont ectoparasitoid attacking woodborer larvae of some Bostrichidae (Coleoptera) species. Such exotic parasitoid, mainly spread in the Oriental and southeastern part of the Palaeartic Region, has been intercepted in association with the lesser auger beetle Heterobostrychus aequalis (Waterhouse) (Coleoptera, Bostrichidae), imported from the Asian Far East in wood packaging material. This report represents an updating on the worldwide distribution of the parasitoid.