Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) aphid parasitoids of Malta : review and key to species

This paper brings an annotated list of the 16 aphid parasitoids detected up to 2015 in Malta. All the species were reared from identified aphid-plant associations. An illustrated key to the identification of the recorded species from Malta is provided. Taxonomy and peculiarities of the individual taxa are discussed and research outlines are also presented. Two species, Aphidius absinthii and Trioxys pallidus are newly recorded for the Maltese fauna, in association with Uroleucon inulae and Hoplocallis picta, respectively. The first host association has never been reported so far. The documented aphid fauna of the Maltese Islands indicates the probable existence of other species of aphid parasitoids that may be present in the archipelago, especially those already known in nearby Mediterranean territories.peer-reviewe

The foraging behavior of Diaeretiella rapae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on Diuraphis noxia (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Host stage preference, functional response and mutual interference of Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were investigated under defined laboratory conditions (20±1°C; 60±5% relative humidity; 16 h light/8 h dark photoperiod). Nicholson’s model and linear regression were used to determine per capita search-efficiency and the interference coefficient, respectively. There was a significant difference between the rates of parasitism on different stages of D. noxia. The highest parasitism percentage was observed on the third instar nymphs of D. noxia in both choice and no-choice preference tests. Results of logistic regression revealed a type II functional response. The estimated values of search-efficiency (a) and handling time (Th) were 0.072 h-1 and 0.723 h, respectively. The maximum attack rate was calculated to be 33.22. The per capita search-efficiency decreased from 0.011 to 0.004 (h-1) as parasitoid densities increased from 1 to 8. Therefore, different host-parasitoid ratios can affect the efficacy of D. rapae

FIRST RECORD OF DISEPYRIS KIEFFER (HYMENOPTERA: BETHYLIDAE) FROM IRAN

Disepyris Kieffer, a small genus of Bethylidae (Hymenoptera), is recorded for the first time from Iran, represented by D. niveus Lim & Azevedo. Members of this genus can be easily recognized by the protarsi of females with delicate long spines and forewing with short 2r-rs&Rs vein. The diagnostic characters of species are briefly presented according to the newly collected specimens with reference to the respective illustrations

New records of Cheloninae (Förster, 1862) and Braconinae (Nees, 1811) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Iran

The occurrences of Chelonus erythrogaster Lucas, 1848 (Braconidae, Cheloninae) and Glyptomorpha nachitshevanica Tobias, 1976 (Braconidae, Braconinae) are noted here for the first time as members of the fauna of Iran. The specimens were collected from Fars province (Southern Iran). Morphological characters of both species are briefly described together with brief diagnostic comments and discussion about their distribution

An Upgrade Pinning Block: A Mechanical Practical Aid for Fast Labelling of the Insect Specimens

A new mechanical innovation is described to deal with standard labelling of dried specimens on triangular cards and/or pinned specimens in personal and public collections. It works quickly, precisely, and easily and is very useful for maintaining label uniformity in collections. The tools accurately sets the position of labels in the shortest possible time. This tools has advantages including rapid processing, cost effectiveness, light weight, and high accuracy, compared to conventional methods. It is fully customisable, compact, and does not require specialist equipment to assemble. Conventional methods generally require locating holes on the pinning block surface when labelling with a resulting risk to damage of the specimens. Insects of different orders can be labelled by this simple and effective tool

Checklist of eulophid wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) of Iran

In the pesent paper a list of the Eulophidae species (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) and their associated hosts in Iran is provided. A total of 106 species belonging to 37 genera and to the following subfamilies are listed: Entedoninae (seven genera/19 species), Entiinae (one genus/one species), Eulophinae (16 genera/45 species), Tetrastichinae (13 genera/41 species)

First record of Homolobus infumator (Lyle, 1914) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Homolobinae) from Iran

Species of the genus Homolobus Förster, 1862 in northern Iran were taxonomically studied. The specimens were collected using Malaise traps from March to November of 2010 and 2011. Two species, Homolobus infumator (Lyle, 1914) and Homolobus truncator (Say, 1829) were collected and identified. The former was recorded for the first time in Iran. Diagnostic characters and geographical distribution of the species are briefly discussed. An illustrated key is provided for identification of the Iranian species

Interference of Field Evidence, Morphology, and DNA Analyses of Three Related Lysiphlebus Aphid Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae)

This study provides evidence on integrating the morphological, field, and laboratory data, and application of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) barcoding gene to the three asexual or sexual Lysiphlebus spp., i.e., Lysiphlebus cardui (Marshall), Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay and Eady and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). New aphid-invasive plant association, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemipreta: Aphididae) on Impatiens glandulifera Royle, has been used in the same model area in the Czech Republic under the same sampling and rearing method for several consecutive years and throughout the season. For molecular identification of these three species, we used DNA sequences of the barcoding region of the mitochondrial COI gene. Although our results confirmed ecological and morphological differences among L. cardui, L. confusus, and L. fabarum, genetic analysis on the basis of COI mitochondrial barcoding gene does not support species status of the mentioned Lysiphlebus taxa. The level of morphological differentiation in these Lysiphlebus Forster species is in accordance with the usual species variability within subfamily Aphidiinae. However, it should be examined how appearance of asexual lineages affects the morphological or genetical variability

The subfamily Pteromalinae (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) in South-Eastern Iran

A faunistic survey on the parasitic wasps of the subfamily Pteromalinae Dalman, 1820 (Hym., Chalcidoidea, Pteromalidae) of South-Eastern Iran (Kerman province) was done. In total 46 specimens representing 10 genera and 16 species are identified, among them, Dinarmus altifrons (Walker, 1862) and Syntomopus incurvus Walker, 1833 are recorded for the first time for the fauna of Iran. Previously recorded species of Pteromalinae from this area are also reviewed and listed. Faunistic analysis of the known species according to their distribution both in Iran and in a broader biogeographical sense is also discussed

Resolving the taxonomic status of potential biocontrol agents belonging to the neglected genus lipolexis Förster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) with descriptions of six new species

Lipolexis is a small genus in the subfamily Aphidiinae represented by one species in Europe (Lipolexis gracilis Förster) and by four in Asia (Lipolexis wuyiensis Chen, L. oregmae Gahan, L. myzakkaiae Pramanik and Raychaudhuri and L. pseudoscutellaris Pramanik and Raychaudhuri). Although L. oregmae is employed in biological control programs against pest aphids, the last morphological study on the genus was completed over 50 years ago. This study employs an integrative approach (morphology and molecular analysis (COI barcode region)), to examine Lipolexis specimens that were sampled worldwide, including specimens from BOLD database. These results establish that two currently recognized species of Lipolexis (L. gracilis, L. oregmae) are actually a species complex and also reveal phylogenetic relationships within the genus. Six new species are described and a global key for the identification of Lipolexis species is provided.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio