Hassan Ghahari ¹, Shaaban Abd-Rabou ², Karl Johan Hedqvist ³, Jian Huang ⁴, Hadi Ostovan ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Shahre Rey Branch, Tehran, IR
2 Plant Protection Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki-Giza, EG
3 Hostvagen 1, SE-186 31, Vallentuna, SE
4 Plant Protection College, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, CN
5 Department of Entomology, Islamic Azad University, Fars Science and Research Branch, IR

Abstract

The fauna of Iranian Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is dealt with in this paper. A total of 43 aphelinid species from five genera (Aphelinus Dalman, Aphytis Howard, Coccobius Ratzeburg, Coccophagus Westwood and Pteroptrix Westwood) are listed in this paper. Additionally the hosts of some species are given.

Keywords

Aphelinidae, Fauna, New Record, Host, Iran.

Full Text

   

Hassan Ghahari ¹, Shaaban Abd-Rabou ², Hamid Sakenin ³, Karl Johan Hedqvist ⁴, Hadi Ostovan ⁵

Affiliations
1 Department of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Shahre Rey Branch, Tehran, IR
2 Plant Protection Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Dokki-Giza, EG
3 College of Agriculture, Ghaemshahr Islamic Azad University, Mazandaran, IR
4 Hostvagen 1, SE-186 31, Vallentuna, SE
5 Department of Entomology, Islamic Azad University, Fars Science and Research Branch, IR

Abstract

Parasitic wasps operate at a high trophic level and, because of their biology, tend to be highly specialized, sometimes having very narrow host ranges with at least local monophagy a frequent outcome. With attention to the high importance of superfamily Chalcidoidea in biological control programs of most ecosystems, the fauna of these beneficial insects was studied. A total of 69 species from 7 families including Eurytomidae, Torymidae, Ormyridae, Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae and Signiphoridae was identified. In this paper, the hosts of some parasitoids are given too.

Keywords

Hymenoptera, Parasitoid, Fauna, Iran.

Full Text

   

Shaaban Abd-Rabou ¹

Affiliations
1 Plant Protection Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, EG

Abstract

The black parlatoria scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Coccoidea: Diaspididae), is one of the most important pests attacking citrus trees in different parts of the world including Egypt. This work deals with rearing, release and evaluation of the parasitoid, Aphytis melinus De Bach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) to control P. ziziphi biologically. In all, 250000 adult parasitoid individuals were released monthly on citrus at five locations in Cairo, Giza and Qalyubiya governorates during 2006 and 2007. At Heliopolis (Cairo), where A. melinus was present prior to the augmentative release, the per cent parasitism in the control block was 15 and 75% while it was 73 and 87% in the treatment block during the two years under consideration. At Dokki (Giza) also, A. melinus was present prior to the augmentative releases and the peak of parasitism reached 18 and 82% in the control block, compared to 86 and 91% in the treatment block. At El-Qanater El-Khriya and Tukh in Qalyubiya, A. melinus was present prior to the augmentative releases. In El-Qanater El-Khriya, the peak of parasitism reached 41 and 67% in the treatment block, compared to 8 and 46% in the control block. In Tukh, the peak of parasitism reached 31 and 65% in the treatment block, compared to 4 and 35% in the check block. At Qalub, where the parasitoid was not present prior to the augmentative releases, the peak of parasitism reached 22 and 36% in the treatment block, compared to 0 and 22% in the control block during the two years, respectively.

Keywords

Aphytis melinus, Citrus, Evaluation, Orchards and Parlatoria ziziphi.

Full Text

   

Shaaban Abd-rabou ¹

Affiliations
1 Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, EG

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the biological control of the green shield scale, Pulvinaria psidii Maskell (Hemiptera: Coccidae), on guava trees in Gahrbiya, Egypt, by the release of two of its natural enemies. For this purpose, 12 releases of larval Exochomus flavipes (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Coccophagus scutellaris (Dalman) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) were carried out on guava trees between May 2007 and April 2008. These two beneficials were reared under defined climatic conditions (25-27°C and 65-75%) in a laboratory. A significant reduction in the number of P. psidii populations was recorded as compared with control plots. Six months after the release of E. flavipes, the average populations of P. psidii decreased from 1897/30 to 475/30 leaves in the treated plot. With regard to C. scutellaris, the number of parasitized P. psidii nymphs in the treated plots increased from 2% to 54% as compared to the control plots. The present study indicated that C. scutellaris and E. flavipes are potential biocontrol agents of P. psidii on guava.

Keywords

Biocontrol, Field Efficacy, Pulvinaria Psidii, Egypt, Coccophagus scutellaris, Exochomus flavipes.

Full Text

   

Shaaban Abd-Rabou ¹

Affiliations
1 Plant Protection Research institute, Agriculture Research Center, Dokki, Giza, EG

Abstract

The green lacewing, Chrysoperla carnea (Stephens) (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) is one of the most effective bioagents for the control of aphids. The present work deals with mass production, release and evaluation of this predator on different aphid pests including Aphis craccivora Koch on potato, Aphis nerii (Boyer de Fonscolombe) on oleander, Aphis gossypii Glover on cotton, Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) on cabbage, Myztus persicae (Sulzer) on apple, and Pterochloroides persica Chlod. on peach. Experiments were done at four different locations of Egypt including Qalubiya, Demmyate, North Sinai and Giza. About one million larvae were released at the rate of 100 larvae per tree and 50 larvae per individual plant, biweekly, during 2005-2006. The results showed that the populations of the aphid species decreased from 2110 to 77, 2851 to 5, 5142 to 2, 1741 to 110, 1410 to 11 and 2210 to 15 individuals/10 leaves, on potato, cotton, oleander, cabbage, apple, peach, respectively, after releasing C. carnea.

Keywords

Aphids, Biological Control, Chrysoperla carnea, Egypt.

Full Text