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The first list of the aphidiid wasp species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) of the Russian Republic of Mordovia is provided; it includes 74 species from 12 genera. Aphidius ribi Starý, 1962, A. schimitscheki (Starý, 1960), and A. silvaticus Starý, 1962 are recorded for the first time from Russia; six species: Aphidius artemisicola Tizado et Núñez-Pérez, 1995, Areopraon rasnitsyni Davidian, 2011, Binodoxys genistae Mackauer, 1960, Pauesia salignae (Watanabe, 1939), Trioxys longicaudi Starý, 1978, and T. parauctus Starý, 1960, are recorded for the first time from the European part of Russia. The occurrence of the little-known Trioxys macroceratus Starý, 1960 in Russia has been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried our between 1982-2009 in order to determine the Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) species from agricultural lands, non-agricultural areas in the provinces of Elazığ, Erzincan, Malatya and Tunceli in East Anatolian Region. Sampling was done between May and August. In the study, a total of 121 specimens from 26 localities were examined, and 13 species belonging to 4 genera (Aphidius Nees, 1819; Binodoxys Mackauer, 1960; Diaeretiella Starý, 1960; Praon Haliday, 1833) were determined. The species of each genus are obtained Aphidius avenae Haliday, 1834; A. colemani Viereck, 1912; A. eadyi Starý, González & Hall, 1980; A. ervi Haliday, 1834; A. matricariae Haliday, 1834; A. microlophii Pennachio & Tremblay, 1987; A. urticae Haliday, 1834; Binodoxys B. acalephae (Marshall, 1896); Diaeretiella, rapae (McIntosh, 1855); Praon barbatum Mackauer, 1967; P. nonveilleri Tomanović & Kavallieratos, 2003; P. volucre (Haliday, 1833). Praon barbatum is new record for Turkish Aphidiinae fauna. In the research area and in all five different habitats, A. ervi, A. matricariae, P. barbatum are found. It has been determined that A. avenae is the most limited species in terms of habitat preferences, being found in only one habitat. In terms of the number of species, it has been determined that herbaceous plants, clover fields and fruit gardens are the richest habitats in the region, respectively. When the provinces distributions of determined species were evaluated according to provinces in East Anatolian Region; Elazığ province appears to have the highest number of species which 12 and Erzincan province has the lowest number with 3 species. With this research, new records were added to the Eastern Anatolia Region Aphidiinae fauna, and the number of Turkey Aphidiinae species was increased from 65 to 66. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sitobion miscanthi is a major wheat pest at the grain‐filling stage found in China. Identifying parasitoid species and understanding parasitism rates are keys to controlling the aphids via natural enemies in the wheat field. RESULTS: In the present study, a method based on DNA barcoding for early determination of the community composition of Aphidiinae parasitoids and parasitism on the aphid was developed. The proposed method detected Aphidius gifuensis as the predominant parasite, with parasitism rates of 40.1 ± 2.8% in 2019 and 65.7 ± 3.7% in 2022, and found that the rate varied significantly among different wheat varieties. COI primers efficiently amplified the Aphidiinae parasitoids COI fragments and amplified the aphid COI fragments derived from parasitized (mummified) S. miscanthi. Thus, the COI barcode is not sufficiently specific to unambiguously detect immature parasitoids inside their S. miscanthi hosts. However, it can be used to detect the DNA extracted from mummified aphids. In contrast, the 16S and LWRh primers effectively amplified and identified the parasitoids in parasitized aphids. The 16S primer was reliable even in the early stages of parasitism (24 h) and for DNA samples stored at −20 °C for 5 days. The three barcodes from COI, 16S, and LWRh genes could not clearly distinguish a few certain Aphidiinae species owing to relatively low intraspecific and interspecific diversity. CONCLUSION: The morphological features remain indispensable when identifying Aphidiinae species. Nonetheless, the COI and 16S primers could be used in combination for monitoring the parasitism rates on S. miscanthi in wheat fields. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trioxys longicaudi Starý, 1978 and T. ademuzi Michelena et Sanchis, 1994 are recorded from Russia for the first time. The distribution of T. iziphyae Mackauer, 1967, T. chaetosiphonis Starý, 1971, and T. microceratus Mackauer, 1968 is clarified. An amended description of T. iziphyae is given, and the differences between the closely related species T. ademuzi and T. chaetosiphonis are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estimating parasitoid abundance in the field can be difficult, even more so when attempting to quantify parasitism rates and the ecosystem service of biological control that parasitoids can provide. To understand how 'field observed' parasitism rates (in‐field mummy counts) of the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) translate to 'laboratory observed' parasitism rates (laboratory‐reared parasitoid counts), field work was undertaken in Australian canola fields, over the winter growing season. Results: Overall, laboratory observed parasitism was on average 2.4 times higher than field observed parasitism, with rates an average of four‐fold higher in fields from South Australia. Total field observed and laboratory observed parasitism rates (OPRs) of M. persicae varied considerably across regions, but less so among fields within regions. As crop growth stage progressed, the incidence of field observed mummies increased. The incidence of total parasitoids reared also increased with crop growth stage, averaging 3.4% during flowering and reaching 14.4% during podding/senescing. Although there was a greater diversity of reared parasitoid species at later crop growth stages, the laboratory OPR was unaffected by parasitoid species. Diaeretiella rapae was the most commonly reared parasitoid, increasing in absolute abundance with crop growth stage. Conclusion: These findings indicate that field mummy counts alone do not provide a clear representation of parasitism within canola fields. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives Many aphids attack cucumbers in the greenhouse and reduce their quality and quantity. Various varieties of greenhouse aphid species, particularly Aphis gossypii Glover, are responsible for considerable damage to cucurbits and vegetables, including cucumbers, tomatoes, watermelons, melons, etc. In addition, these insects can transmit many plant viruses from infected plants to healthy ones. Materials and Methods This study was conducted in the cucumber greenhouses of the three provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan, western Azerbaijan, and southern Kerman by a randomized complete block design with five treatments and four replicates. The efficiency of Emamectin benzoate 4.8% + Acetamiprid 6.4% EC at a ratio of 1.5/1000 and 2/100 was compared with Flonicamid (Teppeki 50 WG) at a ratio of 0.25/100, Primicarb (DF 50%) at a ratio of 0.7/1000, Dichlorvos (EC 50%) at a ratio of 0.5/1000, and the control (water spraying). The sampling was done one day before and 3, 7, and 14 days after treatment. The Henderson-Tilton formula was used to calculate the efficiency of the pesticides. And the means were compared by Tukey's test and SAS software. In the second part of this study, to measure the pesticide residues, 11 samples (one sample from each both different doses were collected three times: 3, 6, 8, 13, and 15 days after spraying, while one sample was taken as a control with no treatment) were collected in West Azerbaijan Province and transferred to the Pesticide Residues Reference Laboratory in the Pesticide Research Department. The samples were crushed, homogenized, and prepared. The organic phase obtained in the process was used for the cleanup stage and then centrifuged. Furthermore, residual pesticide content was identified and quantified by optimizing the operating conditions of the LC-MS/MS instrument. Finally, a comparison of the calculated levels with the national MRLs was made to determine the level of the toxin residues present in the product. Results and Discussion The results showed the following on the third day after spraying: The concentration of Emamctin benzoate + Acetamiprid treatment in Sistan and Baluchestan province was 2/1000 (77. 30 ± 4.6%). The concentration of Imamctin Benzoate + Acetamiprid insecticides in the Western Azerbaijan province was 2/1000 and 1.5/1000, and the concentration of Flonicamid was 95.02 ± 2.35, 94.42 ± 1.07, and 91.68 ± 3.65% respectively. Subsequently, Emamectin benzoate + Acetamiprid in the concentration of 2/1000 with an efficiency of 100% performed better than the others. The examination of the pesticide residues in the insecticide-treated cucumbers showed that the residues of Emamectin benzoate in all the samples sent after harvest were so low that LC-MS/MS was not able to detect it both quantitatively and qualitatively. Although the Acetamipride residue was 0.058 and 0.063 mg/kg respectively in both treatments on the third day after spraying, the level was below the permissible limit. Moreover, it was not detectable from the sixth day after spraying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Diaeretellus is a small group of Aphidiinae wasps, comprising five species from the Palaearctic so far. All members of the genus are highly specialised to semi-aquatic habitats and aphid hosts and plants that occupy them. Because they have practically no economic importance as biocontrol agents, the biology of Diaeretellus species is still somewhat unknown. We describe a new species of this genus, Diaeretellus nymphaealis sp. nov., another member of aphid-parasitoid guilds from wetland habitats and the first species of the genus to be described from the Nearctic. Wetland habitats are under considerable anthropogenic pressure and as such require intensive conservation efforts. Placing the focus of conservation strategies on hyperdiverse entomofauna, instead of only charismatic megafauna, can have positive effects on their outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Classical biological control is being attempted for the giant willow aphid, Tuberolachnus salignus (Gmelin) (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae), an invasive pest first recorded in New Zealand in 2013. Giant willow aphid (GWA) feeds primarily on species of Salix, and is also occasionally recorded on species of Populus, Malus and Pyrus in New Zealand where it is causing problems ranging from detrimental impacts on willow trees and honey bees, to honey losses, rising vespid wasp populations and risks to fruit exports. A biological control programme against GWA was initiated by importing into containment a parasitoid wasp, Pauesia nigrovaria (Provancher) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae), reared from GWA in California, USA. Host range testing was conducted using five non-target aphid species, including representatives of all aphid subfamilies and tribes in New Zealand that contain any native species (all are distantly related to the target host, GWA), as well as a closely related exotic pest species, Cinara fresai, in the same subfamily as the target host (Lachninae). No-choice tests were negative for all non-target species. A single P. nigrovaria individual attempted to attack two C. fresai during behavioural assays. However these actions did not result in reproductive success. Our results demonstrate that P. nigrovaria is a host specific parasitoid and its release into the New Zealand environment poses negligible environmental risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost all known Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoid species in New Zealand have been introduced as biological control agents (BCAs) for introduced aphids or have self‐introduced. The New Zealand endemic aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) fauna consists of a small number of species that are parasitised, on occasion, by Aphidiinae that remain unidentified. A persistent concern has been that introduced BCAs are among the parasitoids attacking the rare endemic aphids. After 14 years of collection, 66 cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences were obtained from emerged parasitoids, mummies or by specific PCR from parasitised New Zealand aphids. Parasitoid samples were from 13 aphid species (eight endemic, plus five introduced species feeding on native plants) at 20 locations. The Aphidiinae COI sequences comprised two new clades of native New Zealand parasitoids. One species‐rich clade appeared to represent a radiation after dispersal to New Zealand, whereas the second clade consisted only of parasitoids from a single endemic host. The patterns of aphid/parasitoid associations were strongly suggestive of host specificity towards the endemic aphids, while a subgroup of the newly discovered native Aphidiinae was found parasitising four introduced aphid species, despite the short time period these aphids are assumed to have been in New Zealand. We found no evidence for attack of endemic aphids by introduced BCAs or other introduced aphidiines. On the rare occasions that parasitism was detected in the most common endemic Aphidinae aphid, Aphis cottieri Carver, 1999, it was by a native Aphidiinae lineage, not by Aphidius ervi Haliday, 1834. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first ichneumonoid aphidiine wasp species from Sakhalinian amber (middle Eocene) is described. Ephedrus rasnitsyni Davidian and Kaliuzhna sp. nov. іs the oldest named aphidiine female, the first fossil aphidiine from Asia, and the oldest named species of the Ephedrus. Ephedrus rasnitsyni Davidian and Kaliuzhna sp. nov. and the two fossil species of Ephedrus, i.e., Ephedrus primordialis from Baltic amber (late Eocene) and Ephedrus mirabilis from Camoins-les-Bains (early Oligocene), presumably belong to the Ephedrus plagiator species group of the subgenus Ephedrus sensu stricto, and new species differs from them in having a longer petiole and a rather long 3M vein that does not reach the forewing margin. It additionally differs from E. primordialis by having longer ovipositor sheaths. The new species is most similar to the extant Ephedrus validus and Ephedrus carinatus, from which it differs by the less elongated F1, absence of notauli, and by ovipositor sheaths that are 3.0 times as long as wide.

The first ichneumonoid aphidiine wasp species from Sakhalinian amber (middle Eocene) is described. Ephedrus rasnitsyni Davidian and Kaliuzhna sp. nov. іs the oldest named aphidiine female, the first fossil aphidiine from Asia, and the oldest named species of the Ephedrus. Ephedrus rasnitsyni Davidian and Kaliuzhna sp. nov. and the two fossil species of Ephedrus, i.e., Ephedrus primordialis from Baltic amber (late Eocene) and Ephedrus mirabilis from Camoins-les-Bains (early Oligocene), presumably belong to the Ephedrus plagiator species group of the subgenus Ephedrus sensu stricto, and new species differs from them in having a longer petiole and a rather long 3M vein that does not reach the forewing margin. It additionally differs from E. primordialis by having longer ovipositor sheaths. The new species is most similar to the extant Ephedrus validus and Ephedrus carinatus, from which it differs by the less elongated F1, absence of notauli, and by ovipositor sheaths that are 3.0 times as long as wide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphid parasitoids have been recorded in many countries around the globe, however records in Colombia are few. Here, five primary parasitoids species, Aphidius platensis Brèthes, 1913, Aphidius funebris Mackauer, 1961, Aphidius matricariae Haliday, 1834, Aphelinus varipes (Förster, 1841), Aphelinus paramali Zehavi & Rosen, 1989, and two hyperparasitoids species, Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr, 1876) and Pachyneuron aphidis (Bouché, 1834) are newly recorded in Colombia. Two other primary parasitoids, Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson, 1880) and Aphidius colemani Viereck, 1912 are newly recorded from the department of Valle del Cauca.

Taxonomic impediment is one of the main roadblocks to managing the current biodiversity crisis. Insect taxonomy is the biggest contributor to the taxonomic impediment, both in terms of the knowledge gap and the lack of experts. With this study, we tried to size the knowledge gap by analyzing taxonomical studies on the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) conducted from 2010 to 2021. All available taxonomic knowledge gathered in this period is critically summarized: newly described species, detection of alien species, published identification keys, etc. All findings are discussed relative to the current state of general taxonomy. Future prospects for taxonomy are also discussed.

Binodoxys angelicae (Haliday) (Hym.: Braconidae) is determined as the most common parasitoid species in the survey conducted to detect parasitoid species found in citrus trees and herbaceous species in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. In this study, it was aimed to determine some biological properties of B. angelicae on Aphis gossypii Glover (Hem.: Aphididae) which is an important pest in the citrus orchards. Totally 80±10 A. gossypii at the 2nd and/or 3rd nymphal stage were transferred with a help of brush on each cotton plants which was produced in the laboratory. Then, a couple of newly emerged parasitoids was released on A. gossypii for 24 hours. The cotton plants were kept in the same chamber the experiment were started and checked daily till end of the experiment. The development time, parasitization rate, and death ratio were determined by daily observation. The experiments were conducted at five constant temperatures (12, 17, 22, 27 and 32±1°C), 65% RH, 16 h (8-10 klux) daily artificial light in temperature cabinets. Although the mummies have been observed at 12°C, no adult was obtained, while no development was observed at 32°C. Development time of female individual from egg to adult took 34.7, 12.8 and 6.0 days at 17, 22 and 27°C, respectively. The mean longevity of female adult was determined as 6.4, 5.4 and 4.9 days, while 4.6, 4.9 and 4.4 days for male at 17, 22, and 27°C, correspondingly. The parasitization rates of B. angelicae on A. gossypii were assessed as 5.6% at 27˚C, 44.1% at 22˚C and 26.7% at 17˚C.

Diversitat de parasitoides primaris i secundaris del pugó Myzus persicae (Hemiptera, Aphididae) en la bresquillera Prunus persica (Rosales, Rosaceae) a la província de Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza és la primera productora de fruita de pinyol i la principal elaboradora de bresquilla per a indústria de l’Argentina. Myzus persicae, el “pugó verd”, és una de les principals plagues que afecta aquest conreu. Els himenòpters parasitoides de la família Braconidae destaquen com un dels enemics naturals més eficients d’aquesta plaga. Els objectius d’aquest treball van ser determinar el parasitoidisme natural d’aquest afídid a la bresquillera i conèixer la diversitat de parasitoides associats a aquesta plaga. Durant els anys 2015/2016 es van portar a terme recol·leccions setmanals de setembre a desembre de brots amb afídids que presentaven o no senyals de parasitoidisme. Es van calcular el percentatge de parasitoidisme i la freqüència i abundància relativa de parasitoides. El percentatge de parasitoidisme mitjà per brot va ser de prop del 20 %. Pel que fa a l’associació bresquillera–M. persicae, es van registrar nou espècies de parasitoides primaris i quatre espècies de parasitoides secundaris. Aphidius colemani va ser l’espècie dominant entre els parasitoides primaris.

In the present study, the natural enemies of aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) and their host plants including herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees were analysed to reveal their biodiversity and disclose tritrophic associations in different habitats of the South Marmara region of northwest Turkey. As a result of field surveys, 58 natural enemy species associated with 43 aphids on 58 different host plants were identified in the region between March of 2017 and November of 2018. In 173 tritrophic natural enemy-aphid-host plant interactions including association records new for Europe and Turkey, there were 21 representatives of the family Coccinellidae (Coleoptera), 14 of the family Syrphidae (Diptera) and 15 of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera), as well as eight other generalist natural enemies. In these interactions, a total of 37 aphid-natural enemy associations–including 19 associations of Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) with natural enemies, 16 associations of Therioaphis trifolii (Monell) with natural enemies and two associations of Aphis craccivora Koch with natural enemies–were detected on Medicago sativa L. during the sampling period. Similarly, 12 associations of Myzus cerasi (Fabricius) with natural enemies were revealed on Prunus avium (L.), along with five associations of Brevicoryne brassicae (Linnaeus) with natural enemies (including mostly parasitoid individuals) on Brassica oleracea L. Also in the study, reduviids of the species Zelus renardii (Kolenati) are reported for the first time as new potential aphid biocontrol agents in Turkey. The results of field surveys show that the natural enemies of aphids have high biodiversity, which should be considered in the management of biological pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reproduction of aphids depends to a great extent on their host plants, an integration that impacts on the successful expansion of overwintering populations. Therefore, a survey was conducted to evaluate the globally distributed Capsella bursa-pastoris as an overwintering host of economically important aphid species, their parasitoids and hyperparasitoids in the southern and western regions of Turkey from November to March in 2006 to 2013. During this survey, 395 samples of C. bursa-pastoris were collected with 25 aphid species recorded. Among aphids that feed on this host, Myzus persicae, Aphis gossypii, Rhopalosiphum padi, Aphis fabae, Aphis craccivora, Lipaphis erysimi, and Brevicoryne brassicae were the most frequently recorded. In total, 10,761 individual parasitoids were identified. Binodoxys angelicae, Aphidius colemani, Aphidius matricariae, Diaeretiella rapae, Ephedrus persicae, and Lysiphlebus confusus were the most abundant aphidiines that emerged from the aphids collected from C. bursa-pastoris. Alloxysta spp. (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea), Chalcidoidea (unidentified at genus level), and Dendrocerus spp. (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronoidea) were identified as hyperparasitoids on the parasitoids. These findings indicate that C. bursa-pastoris is a key non-agricultural plant that significantly contributes to the overwintering of numerous aphids and their parasitoids, which should be given serious consideration when biological control strategies are designed.

Samples were collected from eight different habitats by using either a sweeping-net and Malesian trap in Edirne province of European Turkey in the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2014. A total of six genera and 27 species have been identified. Of these, nine species (Aphidius eadyi Starý, Gonzales amp; Hall, 1980, A. rosae Haliday, 1834, A. picipes (Nees, 1811), Binodoxys acalephae (Haliday, 1833), Ephedrus persicae Frogatt, 1904, Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay amp; Eady, 1978, Praon abjectum (Haliday, 1833), P. pubescens Starý, 1961, P. yomenae Takada, 1968) are new records for the Edirne Aphidiinae fauna and seven of them (Aphidius smithii Sharma amp; Subba Rao, 1959, A. microlophii Pennachio amp; Tremblay, 1987, Lysiphlebus fritzmuelleri Mackauer, 1960, Praon athenaeum Kavallieratos amp; Lykouressis, 2000, P. flavinode (Haliday, 1833), P. nonveilleri Tomanović amp; Kavallieratos, 2003, P. uroleucon Tomanović amp; Kavallieratos, 2003) are new records for Turkish Aphidiinae fauna.

The simultaneous use of multiple biological control agents requires sufficient information of intraguild predation (IGP). In this work, the prey preferences of immature stages of the ladybird beetle Hippodamia variegata (Goeze) (Coleoptera Coccinellidae) for non-parasitized and parasitized adults of Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera Aphididae) by the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera Braconidae) were investigated at the laboratory choice experiments. Moreover, the effects of these different feeding regimes of the immature stages were determined for the life history traits of emerging H. variegata and its progeny. Results revealed that the second and third instar larvae of H. variegata revealed no preference for the non-parasitized and parasitized aphids. The immature developmental time of H. variegata fed on the parasitized aphids was significantly shorter than those fed on the non-parasitized aphids; however, the weight of the emerged adults did not differ significantly. Contrary to this, in the next generation, the egg and hatched larval size of H. variegata fed on the parasitized aphids were significantly larger than those fed on the non-parasitized aphids, whereas the mean and total number of eggs laid by H. variegata fed on the parasitized aphids was significantly smaller than for those fed on the non-parasitized aphids. The feeding regimes at maternal rearing conditions revealed a significant effect on the progeny, as the weight of the emerging male and female adults increased. Combined with the simultaneous application of the two biological control agents, the negative effects resulting from feeding on the IG prey, L. fabarum, may be compensated by the fitness gained by the IG predator, H. variegata, and its progeny. Hence, the asymmetric IGP may not have a negative impact on the biological control of A. gossypii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Landscape had a lower effect on aphids and their parasitoids than fertilisation. • Fertilisation affected plants positively. • Fertilisation affected aphids and primary parasitism rate negatively. • Fertilisation had no effect on secondary parasitism rate. • H 2 ' and generality between parasitoids are affected by landscape and fertilisation. Agricultural intensification can impact agrobiodiversity in several ways such as in terms of population densities, community composition and food web interactions across all trophic levels. This effect can be investigated at two scales: field-scale and landscape scale. Here it was assessed how the impact of fertilisation (within field) and landscape complexity (within landscape) impact cereal aphid-primary parasitoid-secondary parasitoid systems in winter wheat in Germany. A newly developed molecular technique was used to quantify species-specific linkages between aphids, primary parasitoids and secondary parasitoids sampled in fertilised and unfertilised plots in either simple or complex structured landscapes. The results show a stronger effect of fertilisation than landscape complexity on the groups: fertilisation positively affected the crop plants while it negatively affected both the density of the cereal aphid Sitobion avenae and its primary parasitism rates whereas no effect on the level of secondary parasitism rates was observed. Landscape complexity had no effect on plants, aphids, as well as on primary parasitism rate. In case of secondary parasitism rate there was an effect in interaction with sampling date. Field identity accounted for the strongest effect on parasitoid community composition (10.6% of the variance) from all tested variables, while fertilisation and landscape complexity had almost no effect (1.1% and no effect). Nevertheless, a weak cascading effect of both environmental factors could be observed as the primary-secondary parasitoid network structure responded to both. However, these observed effects on food webs strongly depended on species identity, highlighting the need of species-level food web assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bird cherry‐oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi is a major cereal pest with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. As one of the main groups of biocontrol agents for aphids, numerous Aphidiinae are associated with R. padi, including the genera Binodoxys and Trioxys.As a recently described species parasitizing R. padi, Trioxys sunnysidensis is recorded from Europe for the first time based on morphological and molecular data. Specimens from North America, Europe and New Zealand were used in the analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I to explore genetic variation among populations. The analysis revealed one of the highest haplotype diversities in Aphidiinae so far, with 25 haplotypes detected. The two most common haplotypes are shared across groups of populations, whereas all of the others are found either in North America or Europe.Because the genetic structure of populations is an important factor to consider when choosing a biocontrol agent, the results obtained in the present study may be helpful in guiding potential biocontrol attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to investigate the seasonal biodiversity of braconid parasitoids in citrus orchards of Sargodha, Pakistan. Surveys were done during January 2014 to December 2015 from various citrus growing localities. A total of 3,176 parasitoids belonging to five subfamilies (Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Microgastrinae and Opiinae), 12 genera and 16 species were collected. Out of them, two genera and 12 species were recorded for the first time from this area. Aphidiinae contains 1,107 individuals which showed that it's a dominant braconid subfamily while Opiinae (209) was the least dominant. The richness of braconid parasitoids in different localities of Sargodha was also investigated. Braconid parasitoid populations were higher in the months of February to April and October to December, while less abundant in the remaining months of the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In grain crops, aphids are important pests, but they can be suppressed by hymenopteran parasitoids. A challenge in incorporating parasitoids into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, however, is that parasitoid numbers can be low during periods within the season when aphids are most damaging. Understanding the population dynamics of key aphid species and their parasitoids is central to ameliorating this problem. To examine the composition and seasonal trends of both aphid and parasitoid populations in south-eastern Australia, samples were taken throughout the winter growing seasons of 2017 and 2018 in 28 fields of wheat and canola. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) was the most abundant aphid species, particularly within canola crops. Across all fields, aphid populations remained relatively low during the early stages of crop growth and increased as the season progressed. Seasonal patterns were consistent across sites, due to climate, crop growth stage, and interactions between these factors. For canola, field edges did not appear to act as reservoirs for either aphids or parasitoids, as there was little overlap in the community composition of either, but for wheat there was much similarity. This is likely due to the presence of similar host plants within field edges and the neighbouring crop, enabling the same aphid species to persist within both areas. Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) was the most common parasitoid across our study, particularly in canola, yet was present only in low abundance at field edges. The most common parasitoid in wheat fields was Aphidius matricariae (Haliday), with field edges likely acting as a reservoir for this species. Secondary parasitoid numbers were consistently low across our study. Differences in parasitoid species composition are discussed in relation to crop type, inter-field variation, and aphid host. The results highlight potential focal management areas and parasitoids that could help control aphid pests within grain crops.

Aphis fabae and Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are insect pests that damage sugar beet and bean crops. Both are responsible for losses in yield and transmission of viral diseases, and may be present on the same host at the same time. Three parasitoid species, Aphidius colemani, Lysiphlebus testaceipes and Lysiphlebus fabarum (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) have the potential to be used as biological control agents against at least one of these species of aphids. As a first step prior to the implementation of a biological control program, our aim was to understand the host selection behaviour of the parasitoids, particularly when both aphids are present. We recorded the host acceptance (number of insertions of the ovipositor / number of antennal contacts), suitability (number of mummies / the number of insertions of the ovipositor) and emergence (number of adults emerging from mummies) of these three aphid parasitoids when parasitizing the two aphids. We also analyzed the effect of the host plant on the host preference of the parasitoid. Females of each parasitoid species (n = 15) were exposed to 20 aphids of A. fabae or M. persicae, or a mixture of these two species of aphids, for 15 min, on a leaf disc of each of the two host plants, sugar beet and bean. Higher host acceptance and suitability were recorded for A. colemani attacking both species of aphid: A. fabae (43 and 46%) and M. persicae (43 and 46%) on beet and bean plants respectively, compared to L. testaceipes and L. fabarum. L. testaceipes and L. fabarum showed a clear preference for A. fabae. L. fabarum accepted M. persicae on both plants only when it was mixed with A. fabae, probably due to a confusion effect. We found that the host plant played a significant role in host acceptance, host suitability. We conclude that A. colemani is the better of the three parasitoids studied for the biological control in bean, and particularly, sugar beet crops.

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.

Members of the Monoctonina subtribe have long been neglected in applied studies of the subfamily Aphidiinae, due to their low economic importance, as they do not parasitize pests of cultivated plants. Consequently, data about this group are scarce, including its taxonomy and phylogeny. In the present study, we explore inter- and intraspecific genetic variation of Monoctonina species, including genera Monoctonus Haliday 1833, Monoctonia Starý 1962, Falciconus Mackauer 1959 and Harkeria Cameron 1900. We employ two molecular markers, the barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the D2 region of the 28S nuclear gene (28S rDNA), to analyze genetic structuring and phylogeny of all available Monoctonina species, and combine them with morphological data for an integrative approach. We report one new species, and three potentially new species which can be formally described when further specimens are available. Analysis of phylogenetic relationships within the subtribe shows a basal position for the genera Falciconus and Monoctonia, and the close relatedness of Harkeria and Monoctonus.

The black bean aphid is widely spread aphid species in the Palaearctic, known to attack over 1150 plant species. Because some of the host plants are of great agricultural interest, Aphis fabae represent a very important pest. We assembled all data concerning the presence of this pest and connected it in tritrophic associations. In the period of 24 years investigation on the territory of Serbia it has been recorded in 107 trophic associations. In total there are 145 findings of A. fabae parasitized by 19 taxa of Aphidiinae (Brackonidae) from seven genera. The most suitable biocontrol agents for the black bean aphid are Lysiphlebus fabarum, Binodoxys angelicae, Lipolesis gracilis and the introduced species Lysiphlebus testaceipes.

Abstract Three species of the Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are reported for the first time in Korea: Aphidius rhopalosiphi de Stefani-Perez, 1902, Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetzki, 1960 and Lysiphlebus orientalis Starý and Rakhshani, 2010. Their diagnosis, photographs and host list are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects on population development of damson-hop aphid Phorodon humuli and two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae from planting drive rows with grass (2002-3 only), Brassica juncea , Phacelia tanacetifolia (2004-6 only), a meadow-mix of grass and flowering plants were compared with a bare soil control on aphid-susceptible low trellis hop (Humulus lupulus L.) cultivars First Gold (FGO) and Herald (HER) in 2002-4 and on partially aphid-resistant cultivar Boadicea (BOA) in 2004-6. Aphid and mite natural enemies were monitored from beat and foliage samples. Irrespective of ground cover treatment, generalist predators prevented damaging aphid populations from developing on BOA each year, and a combination of aphid–specific and generalists on FGO/HER in two of the three years experiments. Fewest migrant aphids settled, and lower aphid populations ensued, on FGO/HER with meadow-mix than other treatments, but the difference was insufficient to prevent peak populations of ca 1000 per leaf in 2004. Numbers of aphidiid parasitoids reflected aphid population densities on leaves with the highest numbers on FGO/HER in 2004, and none on BOA in any year. Seven species of primary parasitoids were recorded, dominated by Aphidius matricariae and A. picipes (95%), and eight species of hyperparasitoids which became increasingly prevalent as the season progressed. Spider mite population densities remained below ten actives per leaf in all but one year. They were regulated by a combination of phytoseiid mites (six species dominated by Typhlodromus pyri) and insect predators. Hops with meadow-mix had the highest population densities of spider mites, but also the highest numbers of phytoseiids. Although companion plants depressed average cone weight by ca 18% compared with the bare soil control, that loss may be preventable by using additional fertilizers, in which case permanent meadow-mix would provide a suitable companion plant treatment for biological control of both P. humuli and T. urticae on aphid-resistant low trellis cultivars such as BOA, but used alone is unreliable on aphid-susceptible cultivars. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Inter-row meadow mix reduces aphid colonisation of low-trellis hop plants. • Companion planting does not prevent aphid damage on susceptible cultivars. • Aphid control on a partially resistant cv is not enhanced by companion plants. • Meadow mix boosts phytoseiid populations on a partially aphid-resistant cv. • Companion planting reduced mean hop cone wet-weight by ca. 18%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-aphid-parasitoid associations in urban green areas of the north-eastern Iberian Peninsula were analysed to identify the diversity of aphid parasitoid species, their trophic relationships and to improve the results of biological control efforts. In 245 tritrophic plant-aphid-parasitoid associations, 33 Aphidiinae species belonging to 13 genera were identified. Only two species, Pseudopraon mindariphagum and Trioxys phyllaphidis, can be considered to be monophagous. Most of the species were narrow, moderate or broad oligophagous but an as-native species, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, was recorded to be associated with 39 aphid species and with seven subfamilies/tribes of aphids in 81 tritrophic associations. The potential role of L. testaceipes and other native and commercialised parasitoid species is discussed. Our results point out that the conservation and enhancement of the both native and as-native local parasitoids is crucial for an aphid biological control strategy in urban green areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two genera, Areopraon Mackauer, 1959 and Pseudopraon Starý, 1975, are newly recorded from China in this paper. Two new species, namely A. chui Tian & Chen, sp. n. and P. hei Tian & Chen, sp. n., are described and illustrated. Keys to the known species of these two genera are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are solitary endoparasitoids and koinobionts which are frequently used as biological control agents against aphids. Six aphidiine genera and 15 parasitoid species from 18 aphid taxa occurring on 42 plant taxa belonging to 18 botanic families were identified and 49 parasitoid–aphid associations are reported. In addition, this survey exhibits two species which are Aphidius platensis (Brethes, 1913) and Praon barbatum (Mackauer, 1967) and they are reported for the first time in Tunisia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad-spectrum insecticides greatly influence the control of cotton aphids; however, due to frequent chemical control, Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) has developed resistance against several classes of synthetic insecticides. In this study, we explored the sub-lethal effects of imidacloprid and pirimicarb, two commonly used insecticides for aphid control, on a parasitoid wasp, Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Braconidae: Aphidiinae), when simultaneously used to control melon aphid on cucumber plants, as part of a comprehensive study for integrated pest management. Bioassays of imidacloprid and pirimicarb were performed to calculate LC 50 with third instars of A . gossypii . The LC 50 of these insecticides (110.55 and 250.89 μg/lit, respectively) were used to expose the wasp larvae, pupae, and adult parasitoids on a cucumber leaf. The percent mortality, percent adult emergence, and sex ratio were calculated during each exposure test. Moreover, the body size, egg load, and mature egg size of wasps surviving the insecticide treatments, as well as the sex ratio of the second generation was evaluated. Regardless of the host aphid mortality, none of the insecticides caused mortality of larval stage of the parasitoid. The insecticide application on pupal stage revealed that the percentage of mortality, sex ratio, body size, and egg load of surviving wasps, as well as the sex ratio of their offspring was adversely affected by imidacloprid, but not by pirimicarb. The present study suggests pirimicarb as a preferred insecticide, with less harmful effects on the fitness components of L . fabarum , for integrated pest management of cotton aphids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Maternal rearing conditions are expected to affect fitness components of progeny so that maternal effects effectively protect offspring from environmental stressors. The objective of this study was to elucidate the interaction between maternal rearing condition, age, and offspring rearing condition in the parasitoid wasp Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae). The effects of maternal age, body size, and host instar used for development on fitness components of progeny were evaluated. Host was the black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Results indicated that small and young mothers (developing in first‐instar hosts) produced progeny with a longer developmental time compared to large and old mothers (developing in second‐instar hosts). Progeny that hatched from larger eggs also had a larger body size. There were, however, no significant differences in the size of progeny that developed in different host instars. Progeny that hatched from large eggs had a higher initial egg load, and progeny produced by younger mothers had larger eggs. These differences were significant only when progeny developed in the first host instar, whereas in the second and fourth instar no differences were observed. Our findings indicate that progeny with larger size at the egg stage had superior fitness. Age‐specific maternal effects were not as strong as the effect of the mother's body size. Although the interaction between host instar of progeny development and maternal rearing condition was not statistically significant, developing in suboptimal instars led to trade‐offs between fitness components in progeny. The ecological significance of these findings is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitoid wasps of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) specialize on aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) as hosts. The diversity of known and probable aphidiine wasps from South Dakota is itemized, with representation by 13 genera and 42 species, 43% of which are probably adventitious. The wasps and aphids are central to various combinations of multitrophic relationships involving host plants and secondary parasitoids. Selected native and introduced aphid host taxa were quantitatively and qualitatively collected from diverse native and crop host plants in eastern South Dakota and western Iowa. Wasps were reared to confirm plant association, host aphid association, taxonomic diversity, and native or introduced status of the wasps. Acanthocaudus tissoti (Smith) and Aphidius (Aphidius) ohioensis (Smith) were found together on the native aphid Uroleucon (Uroleucon) nigrotuberculatum (Olive), a new host aphid species for both wasps on Solidago canadensis L. (Asterales: Asteraceae). The native wasp Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) was repeatedly reared in massive numbers from mummies of invasive Aphis glycines Matsumura on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. This wasp was also reared from the non-native Aphis nerii Boyer de Fonscolombe and the native Aphis asclepiadis Fitch, both on Asclepias syriaca L. The introduced wasp Binodoxys communis (Gahan) was not recovered from any Aphis glycines population. Hyperparasitoids from the genus Dendrocerus Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), and the pteromalid (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) genera Asaphes Walker, and Pachyneuron Walker were reared from mummies of Uroleucon (Uroleucon) nigrotuberculatum parasitized by either Acanthocaudus tissoti or Aphidius (Aphidius) ohioensis. Hyperparasitoids of the genus Alloxysta (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) were reared from mummies of Aphis glycines and A. nerii parasitized by Lysiphlebus testaceipes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Los áfidos representan una problemática para muchas especies de plantas, debido a que son vectores de múltiples patógenos; el control biológico mediante el uso de parasitoides es una opción permanente de control de sus poblaciones. El objetivo de esta investigación fue elaborar una clave dicotómica para identificar parasitoides e hiperparasitoides de áfidos recolectados en Costa Rica. Se obtuvo desde el año 2008 hasta 2015 un total de 3009 parasitoides himenópteros de 25 especies de áfidos, de los cuales 2832 (94%) se clasificaron como parasitoides primarios y 175 (6%) como hiperparasitoides. Se elaboró una clave de identificación para nueve especies de parasitoides primarios Braconidae-Aphidiinae, Aphelinidae, Eulophidae y cinco familias de hiperparasitoides comprendidos en seis especies. Además, se incluye en la clave el género Quadrictonus (Aphidiinae), el cual se registró por primera vez para Costa Rica en este estudio.

Aphids are a serious pest for peach crops. They have traditionally been managed with insecticides, but there is increasing concern about the risk that insecticides pose to both humans and the environment. As a first step to use biological control in aphid management, we conducted a 3-year field survey in northeastern Spain to determine which parasitoids and hyperparasitoids were most prevalent on two aphids, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and Hyalopterus spp. Koch, the most harmful to peach trees. We collected 11 parasitoid species from M. persicae, with Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) being the most abundant. Two parasitoid species were also collected from Hyalopterus spp., Aphidius transcaspicus Telenga and Praon volucre (Haliday). Hyperparasitoid species overlapped between these aphids but their relative abundances differed. We also discuss the possible impacts of hyperparasitoids on parasitoid populations. Our results suggest that it would be feasible to implement biocontrol methods for aphids in integrated pest management programmes in peach orchards. There are a number of primary parasitoid species associated with these aphids, and the nearby crops and wild vegetation in the vicinity and within the orchards may provide a suitable habitat for them. Additionally, some of them are commercially available and might be usable in augmentative releases.

Aphids represent a major problem for many plant species, due to their ability to serve as pathogen vectors; the use of parasitoids as biological control agents might be a suitable option for long term control of their populations. The objective of this study was to prepare a taxonomic key in order to identify parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of aphids obtained in Costa Rica. In total, during 2008 to 2015, 3009 hymenopteran parasitoids were reared from 25 species of aphids, 2832 (94%) were primary parasitoids and 175 (6%) were hyperparasitoids. A taxonomic key was made for the identification of nine species of primary parasitoids, Braconidae-Aphidiinae, Aphelinidae, Eulophidae, and six species of hyperparasitoids in five families. In addition, the genus Quadrictonus (Aphidiinae), was included in the key and was reported for the first time in this study in Costa Rica. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samples were collected from eight different habitats by using either a sweeping-net and Malesian trap in Edirne province of European Turkey in the Spring, Summer and Autumn of 2014. A total of six genera and 27 species have been identified. Of these, nine species (Aphidius eadyi Starý, Gonzales & Hall, 1980, A. rosae Haliday, 1834, A. picipes (Nees, 1811), Binodoxys acalephae (Haliday, 1833), Ephedrus persicae Frogatt, 1904, Lysiphlebus confusus Tremblay & Eady, 1978, Praon abjectum (Haliday, 1833), P. pubescens Starý, 1961, P. yomenae Takada, 1968) are new records for the Edirne Aphidiinae fauna and seven of them (Aphidius smithii Sharma & Subba Rao, 1959, A. microlophii Pennachio & Tremblay, 1987, Lysiphlebus fritzmuelleri Mackauer, 1960, Praon athenaeum Kavallieratos & Lykouressis, 2000, P. flavinode (Haliday, 1833), P. nonveilleri Tomanović & Kavallieratos, 2003, P. uroleucon Tomanović & Kavallieratos, 2003) are new records for Turkish Aphidiinae fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aphidiinae (Braconidae: Aphidiinae) is a subfamily of endoparasitic wasps specialized in parasitizing aphids. Although, to date, different methods have been used to measure parasitism level, obtaining an accurate estimate remains challenging due to several limiting factors. This study was set to: 1) Compare efficiency of conventional and molecular-based methods in estimating parasitism level of the pomegranate aphid Aphis punicae (Passerini; Hemiptera: Aphididae), and 2) Estimate seasonal activity of the Aphidiinae parasitoids of the pomegranate aphid. The molecular approach (polymerase chain reaction [PCR]) detected the presence of three main parasitoids Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshal; Hymenoptra: Braconidae), Binodoxys angelicae (Haliday; Hymenoptra: Braconidae), and Ephedrus persicae (Frogatt; Hymenoptra: Braconidae). The presence of hyperparasitoid and aphid DNAs did not interfere with the outcome, indicating specificity of the selected primers. Minimum concentrations of DNA needed for successful amplifications were 16.33, 28.65, and 22.65 ng μl-1, for L. fabarum, B. angelicae, and E. persicae, respectively. The level of parasitism was significantly higher in spring (28.42%) than both summer and fall; parasitism level during summer (11.89%) and fall (5.86%) formed a homogeneous statistical subset. Although the overall level of parasitism estimated by PCR (22.7%) was more than twofold higher than those estimated by a conventional counting method (10.5%), there was a strong positive correlation between the two approaches. Provided the potential limitations of either method, simultaneous use of both methods was recommended for an objective estimate of the effectiveness of the Aphidiinae parasitoids as biological control agents of A. punicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors of the article used literature data to present the species diversity of the Aphidiinae (Braconidae) subfamily in agricultural crops, forests and urban green space in Poland. In total, 83 species of parasitoids were found in all the environments. Aphidiinae preferred forests most: 61 species of the parasitoids were found there. The agricultural and urban environments did not attract so many Aphidiinae parasitoid species as forests. There were 41 species found in the agricultural environment and 38 species in the urban green space. All the environments were infested by the following 15 species: Aphidius ervi, A. matricariae, A. picipes, A. salicis, A. setiger, A. sonchi, Diaeretiella rapae, Ephedrus persicae, E. plagiator, Lysiphlebus ambiguous, L. fabarum, Praon abjectum, P. volucre, Trioxys acalephae and T. angelicae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]