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A faunistic survey of the genera Bracon Fabricius, 1804 and Habrobracon Ashmead, 1895 was carried out in some parts of northern (Guilan Province), northeastern (North Khorasan Province), eastern (Khorasan-e Razavi and Sistan-o Baluchestan provinces), south-central (Kerman Province), central (Isfahan Province), and western (Kermanshah Province) Iran during 2011-2014. Sampling was done in various agroecosystems and rangelands. In total, 28 species were collected and identified, of which 8 species are recorded for the fauna of Iran for the first time: Bracon alutaceus Szépligeti, 1901; B. (Osculobracon) bilgini Beyarslan, 2002; B. byurakanicus Tobias, 1976; B. marshalli Szépligeti, 1901; B. murgabensis Tobias, 1957; B. (O.) minutus Szépligeti, 1901; B. parvicornis Thomson, 1892; and B. roberti Wesmael, 1838. Bracon bipartitus Wesmael, 1838 and B. (O.) minutus Szépligeti, 1901 are revalidated as separate species. New synonymy is suggested for Bracon rozneri Papp, 1998 syn. nov. and Bracon variator var. chinensis syn. nov. with Bracon bipartitus, and for Bracon chagrinicus Beyarslan, 2002 syn. nov. with B. (O.) minutus. Brief diagnoses are presented for the newly recorded species, as well as for B. bipartitus; B. chrysostigma Greese, 1928; and B. femoralis (Brullé, 1832). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present contribution is based on the genus Bracon Fabricius, 1804 collected from the southern part of Iran during 2010-2013. A total of 10 species belonging to 6 subgenera were collected and identified, of which 2 subgenera (Ophthalmobracon Tobias, 1957, and Osculobracon) and 6 species are recorded for the first time from Iran. The newly recorded species from Iran are as follows: Bracon (Glabrobracon) ahngeri Telenga, 1936; Bracon (Habrobracon) didemie (Beyarslan, 2002); Bracon (Ophthalmobracon) ophthalmicus Telenga, 1933; Bracon (Osculobracon) erzurumiensis Beyarslan, 2002; Bracon (Osculobracon) osculator Nees 1811; and Bracon (Glabrobracon) obscurator Nees, 1811. Geographical distributions of all species and diagnostic characters of the newly recorded species from Iran are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During studies on the Braconidae fauna of the Black Sea, Central Anatolian and Eastern Anatolian regions of Turkey 2 new species, Bracon (Lucobracon) kuzguni sp. n. and Bracon (Lucobracon) breviradius sp. n., were recorded and described. Important morphological diagnostic characters are figured and they are compared with the related species, B.(L.) triangularis Nees, 1834 and B. (L.) brachycerus Thomson, 1892 respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitism of lepidopteran larvae by braconid wasps has significant effects on host hemolymph proteins and the physiology of the host insect. In this study the post-parasitism effects of a gregarious idiobiont ectoparasitoid (Bracon hebetor) on hemolymph plasma proteins in the final instar larvae of the host (Ephestia kuehniella) were investigated. Hemolymph plasma proteins were analyzed using spectrophotometry and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Total quantity of plasma proteins in the host's hemolymph decreased slightly 24 and 48 h after parasitization; however, SDS-PAGE analysis showed that the quantity of 12 proteins decreased, whereas that of 5 proteins increased in concentration in the hemolymph of parasitized host larvae 24 and 48 h post-parasitism. Therefore, we conclude that host regulation of E. kuehniella by B. hebetor involves only quantitative changes in host plasma proteins and does not lead to upregulation of novel proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the protein, lipid, and glycogen reserves in recently emerged unfed female and male Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to those in 5- and 10-day-old wasps fed honey. Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were used as host species. The mean level of protein in both sexes increased significantly from emergence to day 5, and then returned to emergence levels on day 10 in females, but remained constant in males during the same period. In honey-fed females glycogen levels increased significantly during the first 10 days of life; however, there was no significant increase in males. High levels of lipid were observed in 1-day-old females and males, and levels declined with age in wasps that were fed; the decrease in lipid levels was more pronounced in females than in males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of parasitoid age on fecundity and sex ratio in Bracon hebetor Say (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was examined at 26 ± 2 ºC and 60 ± 5% relative humidity. Galleria mellonella (L.) and Ephestia kuehniella (Zell.) were used as host species. It was found that the fecundity of the female parasitoid did not change significantly during the first 5 days of the female's lifespan but afterwards it decreased significantly. Under laboratory conditions, the offspring sex ratio was male biased on both host species. The fecundity of the female parasitoids reared on late stage larvae of G. mellonella was higher than that of those reared on E. kuehniella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]