The Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) of Greece

Keys for the identification of genera and species of the subfamily Aphidiinae which occur in Greece as well as the observed parasitoid — aphid relations on various host plants are presented.     

A new<Emphasis Type="Italic">Aphidius</Emphasis> species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) from high-montane areas of southeastern Europe

Aphidius montenegrinus sp.n. from Serbia and Montenegro is described and illustrated. It parasitizedAcyrthosiphon daphnidis Ilharco, onDaphne alpina L. The parasitoid was described and illustrated using scanning electron microscope photographs and line drawing. The new species is a member of theAcyrthosiphon aphid parasitoid guild and was collected from Zabojsko Jezero Lake in Montenegro. The parasitoid and the hyperparasitoid spectrum ofA. daphnidis are presented for the first time. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting April 30, 2004.     

A new<Emphasis Type="Italic">Praon</Emphasis> species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of the<Emphasis Type="Italic">Uroleucon</Emphasis> parasitoid complex from the mediterranean area

A new hymenopteran aphid parasitoid species (Praon uroleucon sp. n.) fromUroleucon sp. infestingCarduus acanthoides L. is described from Yugoslavia. It is diagnosed and illustrated with scanning electron microscope photographs and line drawings. The new species is placed in thePraon dorsale species group, and a key to species of that group is provided. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 9, 2002.     

烟蚜茧蜂种内寄主识别与内部竞争

为明确寄生桃蚜Myzus persicae(Sulzer)的单性内寄生蜂烟蚜茧蜂Aphidius gifuensis Ashmead的种内识别与内部竞争,研究测定不同寄主密度对烟蚜茧蜂雌蜂卵的分布影响,以及不同产卵时间间隔对自身和同种寄主识别、种内内部竞争的影响。结果显示,烟蚜茧蜂在寄主密度为30头以下时,过寄生率高于31.16%;而寄主密度为50头以上时,过寄生率低于6.64%。在24 h以上的产卵时间间隔下,烟蚜茧蜂的自身过寄生率高于37.04%,而同种过寄生率在22.45%~25.93%之间;而且龄期较高的幼虫在种内内部竞争中获胜的概率高于72.00%。表明烟蚜茧蜂在低寄主密度下倾向于过寄生,在高寄主密度下有避免过寄生的趋势;烟蚜茧蜂倾向于自身过寄生,而对同种过寄生表现出一种产卵限制;在烟蚜茧蜂的种内内部竞争中,龄期较高的幼虫一般具有优势。     

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on citrus: Seasonal abundance, association with the species of host plant, and sampling indices

Samples were collected from southern Greece during 1996–2000 in order to investigate the presence of parasitoids onAphis gossypii Glover infesting several citrus species. The species of aphidiines found to have a significantly different preference forA. gossypii wereAphidius colemani Viereck,Aphidius matricariae Haliday,Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh),Ephedrus persicae Froggat,Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson),Binodoxys acalephae (Marshall) andBinodoxys angelicae (Haliday). In another sampling experiment, the relative abundance of aphidiine parasitoids on aphids infesting orange and tangerine trees was studied in southern Greece (Nea Kios) in 1996 and 1997.A. gossypii constituted the largest part of the aphid population and was the only species parasitized.B. angelicae andA. colemani were the most abundant parasitoid species. The parasitization rate differed among the parasitoid species.B. angelicae had the highest colonization rate in centrally located and large host (A. gossypii) groups, whereasA. colemani was found in more isolated and relatively small host groups. The percentage of parasitism byB. angelicae was high mainly in large host groups, whenB. angelicae was the only parasitoid present. However, in cases of coexistence ofB. angelicae withA. colemani with hyperparasitoids, in the same sampling unit, the percentage of parasitism was relatively low. http://www.phytoparasitica.org     

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) on weeds from Ankara, Turkey

Studies were conducted during the years 2001–2003 to determine the parasitoids of Aphidoidea (Homoptera) species on weeds in Ankara province. Six genera and ten species of aphid parasitoids belonging to Braconidae were determined. The tritrophic associations of plant/aphid/parasitoid were analyzed. Forty-four associations of aphidiinae wasps, host aphids and host plants new to the Mediterranean region and 71 new associations for Turkish fauna were reported. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2005.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dittrichia viscosa</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rubus ulmifolius</Emphasis> as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) and the role of certain Coccinellid species

The role of the self-sown shrubsDittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter andRubus ulmifolius Schott as reservoirs of aphid parasitoids was investigated. In the field studies conducted,D. viscosa grew adjacent to crops of durum wheat and barley andR. ulmifolius grew adjacent to cotton. The relative abundance of the parasitoids of(a) Capitophorus inulae (Passerini) onD. viscosa, (b) Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) on durum wheat and barley,(c) Aphis ruborum (Börner) onR. ulmifolius, and(d) Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton in various parts of Greece, was assessed during the years 1996–2000. In 2000, the fluctuation of parasitization of the above four aphid species was recorded and the action of the aphidophagous predators of the family Coccinellidae was studied. It was observed thatAphidius matricariae Haliday predominated onC. inulae andR. padi in all sampling cases. In contrast,Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) was the dominant species parasitizingA. ruborum onR. ulmifolius andA. gossypii on cotton in Thessaly (central Greece) and Macedonia (northern Greece), whereasLysiphlebus confusus Tremblay et Eady andBinodoxys acalephae (Marshall) were the dominant parasitoid species in Thrace (northern Greece).Coccinella septempunctata Linnaeus was the most abundant coccinellid species on durum wheat, whereasAdonia variegata (Goeze) predominated on cotton. However, coccinellid individuals were scarce on bothD. viscosa andR. ulmifolius. The present study indicated that these two shrubs can be regarded as useful reservoirs of aphid parasitoids.     

A survey of the genera of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microgaster</Emphasis> latreille and<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hygroplitis</Emphasis> thomson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from China

The genera ofMicrogaster Latreille 1804 andHygroplitis Thomson 1895 from China are presented systematically in this paper. Thirty-two species ofMicrogaster and three species ofHygroplitis are known in China. Diagnosis, character variation, distribution and host of each species among the two genera are presented, including its host and distribution. Keys to the species ofMicrogaster andHygroplitis are given. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Dec. 19, 2006.     

Growth loss of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani) stands as related to periodic outbreaks of the cedar shoot moth (Dichelia cedricola)

An outbreak ofDichelia cedricola (Diakonoff) (Lep.: Tortricidae), the cedar shoot moth (CSM), began in spring 1998 and lasted 3 years. This was the first monitored outbreak of the CSM in Isparta, Turkey. Tree crowns recovered to near normal condition by the middle of each growing season (in early June) during the outbreak. Tree volume and volume element increments were examined throughout the outbreak cycle from 1954 to 2001. In the past, CSM activity in stands of Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) was assessed through radial increment analyses. Cedar tree ring chronologies were analyzed for evidence of the CSM. Tree-ring chronologies from nonhost cedar (nondefoliated sample trees) were used to estimate potential growth in the host cedar (defoliated sample trees) during current and past outbreaks; all trees selected were the same subspecies and varieties. Regional outbreaks of the CSM were identified by synchronous and sustained growth periods of the trees. In 2001, increment cores were collected from 17 host and 16 nonhost dominant or codominant trees and annual radial growth indices from 1954–2001 were calculated for each of two host and two nonhost sample plots. Growth functions were defined as the cumulative sum of radial, height, and volume increment, and were graphically compared between CSM host cedar and nonhost cedar trees. Tree ring evidence suggests that a large-scale outbreak occurred in 1955 (from 1955 to 1966) and a small outbreak occurred in 1985 (1985–1990) and in 1998 (1998-continued) in the study area. The average diameter growth reductions around 1955, 1985 and 1998 were 40%, 46% and 7% of potential, respectively. It was concluded that a narrow latewood band is significant indicator of defoliation by the CSM and the outbreaks appear to be associated with dry winter and spring weather prior to the autumn and winter in which wood feeding occurred. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 24, 2004.     

利用管氏肿腿蜂防治光肩星天牛技术研究

光肩星天牛Anoplophora glabripennis是我国重大的森林害虫,对我国造林绿化和林业生态工程建设造成了严重危害。由于其为蛀干害虫,隐蔽性生活,难以防治。利用天敌开展生物防治是控制天牛的重要措施,作者研究探讨了利用管氏肿腿蜂Sclerodermus guani防治光肩星天牛技术。测定了管氏肿腿蜂对光肩星天牛1~3龄幼虫的室内控制作用,研究了林间防治防治技术。结果表明,在室内试验条件下,管氏肿腿蜂由于是抑性外寄生性,其产卵之前的刺蛰可造成天牛幼虫直接死亡,对1、2、3龄幼虫的平均致死率分别为100%、92.10%和87.29%;可寄生3龄天牛幼虫。在管氏肿腿蜂防治光肩星天牛小幼虫的林间试验中,管氏肿腿蜂对光肩星天牛小幼虫的致死率为27.79%~37.87%,平均为32.51%,放蜂比例以蜂虫比8~10:1的寄生率最高。     

寄主密度、寄生蜂密度和寄生蜂性比对麦蛾茧蜂繁殖的影响

麦蛾茧蜂是鳞翅目昆虫的一种外寄生蜂,是仓储鳞翅目害虫的重要寄生性天敌。为提高麦蛾茧蜂的扩繁效率,本文在室内条件下研究了其寄主烟草粉螟密度、麦蛾茧蜂密度和性比对其子代出蜂数(雌蜂数、雄蜂数和总蜂数)和雌雄性比的影响。结果表明,当烟草粉螟密度为5头/盒时,麦蛾茧蜂的子代出蜂雌蜂数、雄蜂数、总蜂数和雌雄性比最高,分别为(90.71±2.01)、(51.70±2.95)、(142.00±3.88)头和(1.79±0.11);当烟草粉螟密度为50头/盒而麦蛾茧蜂密度不同时,4对寄生蜂(蜂与害虫比为1∶12.5)的平均单雌出蜂数最高;此外,增加雌蜂数显著提高子代出蜂数,而增加雄蜂数并未显著影响这些指标。因此,本文推荐在麦蛾茧蜂的大量饲养中,按寄生蜂、害虫比为1∶5~1∶12.5、寄生蜂雌雄性比为1∶1的方式接蜂且可连续使用10 d,这将有利于麦蛾茧蜂的大量饲养。该研究结果可为麦蛾茧蜂的规模化繁育和应用提供技术参数。     

The side-effects of pesticides onDiaeretiella rapae, a parasitoid of the turnip aphid (Lipaphis erysimi)

Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh.) is an endoparasite of the turnip aphid,Lipaphis erysimi (Kalt.) with a wide geographical distribution. The four Pesticides Nogos 50 EC at 600 ml per acre, Dimecron 50 WSC, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL at 500 ml per acre, used in practice for the control of this pest, were tested for their side-effects onD. rapae. The parasitoid was reared on pottedBrassica napus plants infested with aphid under laboratory conditions (22±2°C, 60–70% rel. hum., 16 h light and 8 h dark). In one test, adult female parasitoids were exposed to fresh pesticide residues on glass plates and in another test, the pupae within aphid mummies were directly sprayed. The results revealed that Dimecron 50 WSC, Nogos 50 EC and Monofos 40 WSC were harmful causing 100% mortalitv toD. rapae followed by Tamaron 600 SL (97% moderately harmful) after 24 hours of application, compared to no mortality in control, where only water was sprayed. Directly spraying of pupae with Dimecron 50 WSC and Nogos 50 EC reduced adult parasitoid emergence to 9 and 7%, respectively, Monofos 40 WSC and Tamaron 600 SL to 3% compared to 78% emergence for the control within one week of treatment. The results showed that none of the tested pesticides was safe toD. rapae and according to the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) further testing under semi-field and field conditions is recommended.     

Two new species of egg parasitoids (hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) of wood-boring beetle pests from China

Oobius agrili sp.n. andAvetianella xystrocerae sp.n. (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) are described from China. Morphological characters of the new species are illustrated.O. agrili is an egg parasitoid of the emerald ash borerAgrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) andA. xystrocerae is an egg parasitoid of the wood borerXystrocera globosa (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). The two new species are potential biocontrol agents of economically important pest insects. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (IZCAS). http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 17, 2005.     

Anselmella malacia, a new pest wasp (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) reared fromSyzygium samarangense in Malaysia

A new pest wasp,Anselmella malacia Xiao & Huang sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is described fromSyzygium samarangense Merr. & Perry. The larvae ofAnselmella are phytophagous and develop as seed-eaters of some species ofSyzygium. This is the first record of anAnselmella species reared fromSyzygium samarangense. The type specimens are deposited in the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting May 14, 2006.     

Hymenopteran Parasitoids on Fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera) in Latin America and the Southern United States: Diversity, Distribution, Taxonomic Status and their use in Fruit Fly Biological Control

We first discuss the diversity of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of the Neotropics. Even though the emphasis is on Anastrepha parasitoids, we also review all the information available on parasitoids attacking flies in the genera Ceratitis, Rhagoletis, Rhagoletotrypeta, Toxotrypana and Zonosemata. We center our analysis in parasitoid guilds, parasitoid assemblage size and fly host profiles. We also discuss distribution patterns and the taxonomic status of all known Anastrepha parasitoids. We follow by providing a historical overview of biological control of pestiferous tephritids in Latin American and Florida (U.S.A.) and by analyzing the success or failure of classical and augmentative biological control programs implemented to date in these regions. We also discuss the lack of success of introductions of exotic fruit fly parasitoids in various Latin American countries. We finish by discussing the most pressing needs related to fruit fly biological control (classical, augmentative, and conservation modalities) in areas of the Neotropics where fruit fly populations severely restrict the development of commercial fruit growing. We also address the need for much more intensive research on the bioecology of native fruit fly parasitoids.     

Pseudomonas syringae pv. avii (pv. nov.), the Causal Agent of Bacterial Canker of Wild Cherries (Prunus avium) in France

Bacterial strains isolated from cankers of wild cherry trees (Prunus avium) in France were characterized using numerical taxonomy of biochemical tests, DNA–DNA hybridization, repeat sequence primed-PCR (rep-PCR) based on REP, ERIC and BOX sequences, heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA) of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) as well as pathogenicity on wild cherry trees and other species of Prunus. They were compared to reference strains of Pseudomonas syringae pathovars isolated from wild and sweet cherry and various host plants. Wild cherry strains were closely related to P. syringae (sensu lato) in LOPAT group Ia (+ - - - +). Wild cherry strains were pathogenic to wild cherry trees and produced symptoms similar to those observed in orchards. They were pathogenic also, but at a lesser extent, to sweet cherry trees (cv. Napoléon). The wild cherry strains were collected from five different areas in France and appeared to constitute a very homogeneous group. They showed an homogenous profile of a biochemical and physiological characteristics. They were closely related by DNA–DNA hybridization and belonged to genomospecies 3 `tomato'. Rep-PCR showed that wild cherry strains constitute a tight group distinct from P. s. pv. morsprunorum races 1 and 2 and from other P. syringae pathovars. HMA profiles indicated that the ITS of all wild cherry strains were identical but different from P. s. pv. persicae strains since the two heteroduplex bands with reduced mobility were generated by hybridization with the P. s. pv. persicae pathotype strain CFBP 1573. The 8 genomospecies of Gardan et al. (1999) have not been converted into formal species as they cannot be differentiated by biochemical tests. Therefore, the pathovar system within P. syringae was currently used. P. syringae pv. avii is proposed for this bacterium causing a wild cherry bacterial canker and strain CFBP 3846 (NCPPB 4290, ICMP 14479) is designated as the pathotype.     

Ecological Studies on the Larger Grain Borer, Prostephanus truncatus (Horn) (Col.: Bostrichidae) and their Implications for Integrated Pest Management

In this article, we review studies of the ecology of the larger grain borer, Protephanus truncatus, both outside and within the maize storage systems. Laboratory studies have shown that P. truncatus can breed on a wide range of woody substrates (branches, roots, and seeds). Pheromone trap catches in different habitats strongly suggest that P. truncatus is well-established in certain non-agricultural environments, presumably breeding in dead or dying wood. In Meso-America, West and East Africa, P. truncatus reproduction in the field has been documented in branches ring-barked by cerambycid beetles. Within a maize store, P. truncatus densities can increase from very small initial colonies of probably less than 200 individuals to densities in excess of 1000 beetles per kg after about 4–6 months of storage. Insect parasitoids are very often found in smallholders' grain stores attacked by P. truncatus, but they do not contribute significantly to population regulation. Declines in maize store population levels in Benin from 1993 to 1996, and in adult abundance in pheromone traps in the natural environment in Kenya, have been attributed to predation by the introduced predator, Teretrius nigrescens, but in recent years pheromone trap catches in West Africa suggest that the situation may be complex. Several environmental factors, notably temperature, humidity, and daylength, and their interactions, have been correlated with P. truncatus flight activity, as well as, in West Africa, the emptying of maize stores. Laboratory experiments have shown food quality also affects flight activity. Factors terminating dispersal and flight are most likely attraction to the male-released aggregation pheromone. Short range attraction to plant volatiles has also been recorded. In Africa the highest densities of P. truncatus tend to occur in humid lowlands, which contrasts with the situation in meso-America where P. truncatus tend to occur in greatest numbers in cooler upland regions. Pheromone trap catches can be significant predictors of the risk of stores becoming infested. Coupled with the development of a rule-based model of flight activity, these studies may offer the prospect of predicting the risk of store infestation based upon temperature and humidity measurements.     

松毛虫赤眼蜂对三种农田常用杀虫剂的敏感性

为明确常用杀虫剂对松毛虫赤眼蜂Trichogramma dendrolimi的安全性,室内评估了高效氯氰菊酯、阿维菌素和氯虫苯甲酰胺3种药剂对其成蜂的急性毒力以及田间推荐使用剂量对赤眼蜂各发育阶段的间接影响,并模拟自然情况,测定了不同残留期的3种药剂对赤眼蜂存活和寄生能力的影响.结果表明:以LC₅₀进行评估,对松毛虫赤眼蜂毒力最高的为阿维菌素,其次是高效氯氰菊酯,氯虫苯甲酰胺毒力最小;在田间推荐使用剂量下,阿维菌素、高效氯氰菊酯和氯虫苯甲酰胺的安全系数分别为0.017、0.066和69.175;在推荐使用剂量下,氯虫苯甲酰胺处理含有不同发育阶段赤眼蜂的米蛾Corcyra cephalonica卵后,平均羽化率最高为90.43%,其次是高效氯氰菊酯为56.46%,阿维菌素仅为9.84%;接触0~7 d残留期阿维菌素的玉米叶片24 h,松毛虫赤眼蜂全部死亡,无米蛾卵被寄生,但接触3~7 d残留期氯虫苯甲酰胺的玉米叶片,赤眼蜂的死亡率和寄生米蛾卵数量与清水对照无明显差异.表明在实施释放赤眼蜂的害虫综合治理方案中,应尽量避免使用阿维菌素,而氯虫苯甲酰胺对赤眼蜂风险性极低,具有很好的相容性,可以推广使用.     

Entomopathogenic nematodes (Nematoda: Steinernematidae, heterorhabditidae) as control agents forParahypopta caestrum, a pest in the culture ofAsparagus officinalis

The entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs)Steinernema feltiae (under the trade name Entonem) andHeterorhabditis bacteriophora (under the trade name Larvanem) were evaluated as potential control agents ofParahypopta caestrum, the major pest of the asparagus crop in Greece. In laboratory experiments the two nematodes provided equal insect suppression, but significant differences were found in the time it took them to kill the larvae.S. feltiae caused high levels of mortality within 24 h and the highest level at 48 h. In contrast,H. bacteriophora required 96 h to achieve the highest level of mortality. In field experiments, the nematodes provided equal insect suppression as compared with the insecticide cadusaphos and the mixture teflubenzuron +Bacillus thuringiensis var.kurstaki. No significant differences were found in the effectiveness of the insecticides used, but there were significant differences between the control and treatments. The findings showed thatS. feltiae andH. bacteriophora could be used to control the insectP. caestrum in asparagus culture. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Jan. 10, 2007.     

Parasitoid community of the loreyi leaf wormMythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi: Novel host-parasitoid associations and their efficiency in the eastern mediterranean region of Turkey

The loreyi leaf worm,Mythimna (Acantholeucania) loreyi Duponchel (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), is a pest of gramineous crops and causes significant economic damage to maize. In field surveys on maize to determine the parasitoid community and its impact on the pest in the eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey, nine parasitoid species were found associated with immature stages ofM. loreyi: The hymenopteran (Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) parasitoidsCotesia (=Apanteles) ruficrus (Haliday),Chelonus oculator Panzer,Meteorus ictericus Nees,Hyposoter didymator (Thunberg),Sinophorus sp.; and the dipteran (Tachinidae) parasitoidsPseudogonia rufifrons Wiedeman,Exorista rossica Mesnil,Gonia picea (Robineau-Desvoidy) andLinnaemya vulpina (Fallen) — the last three recorded for the first time as parasitoids ofM. loreyi in Turkey.C. ruficrus was the dominant parasitoid species, being recovered from 38.5% of the larvae collected and was also the most prevalent species, existing in 91.0% of the fields in whichM. loreyi was found. Total parasitism levels achieved by braconid species was 41.4%, by ichneumonid parasitoids 4.8%, and by tachinid parasitoids 1.9%. In a separate field experiment, seasonal population fluctuations and natural efficiency ofC. ruficrus onM. loreyi were found to be 35.1% and 42.4%, respectively. Population levels ofC. ruficrus were closely related to fluctuations in the population ofM. loreyi, with parasitism ranging between 0 and 77.3% during the study. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Aug. 28, 2005.