The present work covers original information on the aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of Southeastern Europe. The individual parasitoid species were reared from identified host aphid and plant associations which are listed alphabetically. Twenty two aphidiine genera and 115 species from 208 aphid taxa occurring on 422 plant taxa were identified and 561 parasitoid-aphid associations are reported. The determined parasitoid fauna was divided into 9 faunal groups. Local information on some important biocontrol agents (Aphidius colemani Viereck) as well as on expansive/introduced species (Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson)) in the area are presented.
Original information on aphidiine braconids from Thailand is presented. Collections of specimens from 2006 through 2008 using Malaise traps and yellow pan traps yielded 7 new species records for the country, i.e., Binodoxys indicus Subba Rao et Sharma, Bioxys japonicus Starý et Schlinger, Diaeretus leucopterus (Haliday), Ephedrus lacertosus (Haliday), Fissicaudus thailandicus Starý et Rakshshani, Indaphidius curvicaudatus Starý and Parabioxys songbaiensis Shi et Chen. The new records demonstrate faunal connections with India, Vietnam, the eastern Palaearctic, and more interestingly disjunct connections with the western Palaearctic, i.e. Ephedrus lacertosus (Haliday), Diaeretus leucopterus (Haliday), Lipolexis gracilis Förster, and afrotropical regions, i.e. Aphidius autriquei Starý. In all, 11 species belonging to 10 genera are presented.
We have identified the following three taxa related to the Aphidius colemani species group, which are important biological control agents: Aphidius colemani, Aphidius transcaspicus and Aphidius platensis. Using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene and geometric morphometric analysis of the forewing shape, we have explored the genetic structure and morphological variability of the A. colemani group from different aphid host/plant associations covering a wide distribution area. The topology of the maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood trees were identical with 98-100% bootstrap support, clustering A. colemani, A. platensis and A. transcaspicus into separate species. The distances among the taxa ranged from 2.2 to 4.7%, which is a common rate for the between-species divergence within the subfamily Aphidiinae. Differences in the shape of the forewing investigated within the biotypes of A. colemani group are congruent with their genetic diversification. Both A. platensis and A. colemani share a common host range pattern, and it would be interesting to estimate and compare the role of these two species in future biological control strategies against aphids of economic importance. Our results indicate that 'genetic screening' is a reliable approach for identification within the A. colemani group. The high variation in the wing shape among species, including a significant divergence in the wing shape among specimens that emerged from different hosts, makes the forewing shape and wing venation less reliable for species determination. Aphidius platensis is diagnostified and redescribed, and the key for the A. colemani group is presented.
Laboratory bioassays were carried out in order to evaluate the effectiveness of two diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, Insecto and SilicoSec, against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F) in eight different grain commodities. The adherence of the two DEs to each grain was also measured. The eight grains tested were wheat, whole barley, peeled barley, oats, rye, triticale, rice and maize. These commodities were treated with the DEs at three rates, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 g DE kg(-1) grain. The mortality of R dominica adults was measured after 24 h, 48 h, 7 days and 14 days of exposure in the treated grains at 26 degrees C and 55% RH. After the 14-day mortality count, all adults were removed and the treated grains retained under the same conditions for a further 60 days. The treated grains were subsequently examined for F1 progeny. Significant differences were recorded among the eight grain types as well as between the DE formulations tested. After 14 days of exposure, even at the lowest DE rate for both formulations, adult mortality was high (>90%) in wheat and triticale. In contrast, adult mortality was significantly lower in peeled barley. Increasing the rate improved the efficacy of the DEs significantly in only some of the grains tested. Reproductive capacity in all the treated grains was significantly suppressed when compared with untreated grains. Generally, more F1 individuals of R dominica were noted in the treated peeled barley than in the other commodities. Significant differences in the percentage of DE retention were noted among the eight grains. The highest retention level was noted in rice (>87%) and the lowest in maize (<6%). However, the degree of DE adherence to a given grain was not always indicative of the effectiveness of DE against R dominica.
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