Degree of infestation of Lasius queens (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by tachinid flies Strongygaster globula (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the town of Kungur (Perm province)

The aim of the research is to study the degree of infestation of female ants of the genus Lasius with the Tachinid flies Strongygaster globula. The study was performed in the town of Kungur (Perm Province, Russia). Overwintered queens of L. niger and L. flavus were collected in the amount of fifteen pieces of each species for four years in the spring. All this was placed in test tubes and kept for two months at a temperature of 25°C. Only queens of L. niger were infested, while all L. flavus queens bred. In 2018, out of fifteen L. niger queens caught, six individuals were infested (40%), in 2019 - nine individuals (60%), in 2020 - twelve (80%), and in 2021 - seven individuals (47%). In general, a high degree of infestation of L. niger queens with the Tahinid flies S. globula is noted in Kungur.