The performance of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae (Haliday), against Aphis gossypii Glover on greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) and Myzus persicae (Sulzer) on sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) were evaluated at various constant temperatures. Biological parameters of both parasitoids including developmental time, pupal survivorship, percentage of parasitism, and sex ratio of the progeny were studied at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 degrees C. At 25 degrees C, an average of 10.0 +/- 1.1 and 9.8 +/- 1.1 d was needed for A. colemani to complete its development from oviposition to adult eclosion on A. gossypii and M. persicae, respectively. The corresponding average times needed for A. matricariae were 11.9 +/- 0.9 and 11.5 +/- 1.1 d, respectively. The lower developmental thresholds for A. colemani reared on A. gossypii and M. persicae were estimated from linear regression equations to be 2.97 and 2.65 degrees C, respectively, whereas these values for A. matricariae were 3.37 and 3.51 degrees C, respectively. Parasitization rate of both parasitoid species, recorded as percent aphids mummified, increased almost linearly with increasing temperature to reach a maximum at 25 degrees C and decreased at 30 degrees C. The optimal temperatures for development of A. colemani and A. matricariae were approximately 30 and 25 degrees C, respectively, and high mortality occurred at higher temperatures. The Lactin 2 and Briere 1 developmental models were accepted based on their excellent goodness-of-fit to the data (residual sum of square and coefficient of determination) and estimable temperature thresholds and are strongly recommended for the description of temperature-dependent development of A. colemani and A. matricariae.

The functional response of two aphid parasitoids, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae), on the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae), was examined. Five constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, and 30°C) and six host densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64) were used during a 24-h period. At each temperature, 2-64 third-instar nymphs of A. gossypii were exposed to individual wasp mating pairs. A type II functional response model for both parasitoid wasps was fit separately for each temperature. The results showed that instantaneous attack rate (a) in A. colemani increased linearly as the temperature increases from 10 to 30°C, but in A. matricariae, (a) increased almost linearly with temperature to reach a maximum at 25°C, and then decreased at 30°C, displaying an asymmetrical domeshaped pattern. The highest instantaneous attack rate for A. colemani and A. matricariae were calculated 0.940 ± 0.144 day À1 at 30°C and 0.687 ± 0.157 day À1 at 25°C, respectively. Handling time (T h ) for A. colemani was inversely proportional to temperature and ranged from 0.093 ± 0.026 day at 10°C to 0.032 ± 0.004 day at 30°C, but in A. matricariae, (T h ) was between 0.078 ± 0.015 day at 10°C and 0.036 ± 0.014 day at 20°C. A. colemani achieved higher parasitism rate than A. matricariae at higher temperatures. This observation suggests that A. colemani maybe more effective for biological control of the cotton aphid during warmer periods.

Temperature-dependent development, survivorship and reproduction of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii on Cucumis sativus L. were evaluated at six constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C). Developmental periods of immature stages varied from 20.70 days at 10°C to 3.81 days at 30°C. The population failed to survive at 35°C. As temperature increased, the intrinsic rate of increase (r m ) followed a typical asymmetrical dome-shape pattern, with maximum value of 0.419/day at 25°C. Survival of immature stages differed from 55.97% to 93.14% within the range of 10-30°C. The average adult longevity ranged from 8.56 days at 30°C to 17.00 days at 25°C. Three mathematical models were compared for accuracy in predicting the developmental rate of A. gossypii, and estimating its temperature thresholds and optima. The developmental threshold was estimated to be 6.19°C, and the thermal constant was 97.09 degree-days, using the linear model. The Briere 2 and Lactin 2 models were accepted for success to satisfy criteria of goodness-of-fit (residual sum of square and coefficient of determination) and estimable temperature threshold parameters and highly recommended for the description of temperature-dependent development of A. gossypii. No other data are available in using nonlinear models to describe the relationship between temperature and A. gossypii development.

The development of Diglyphus isaea (Walker), a parasitoid of leafminers, was studied under laboratory conditions at seven constant temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40°C) on Liriomyza sativae Blanchard reared on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The total development period (oviposition to adult emergence) decreased with increasing temperature between 15 and 35°C. In 10 and 40°C no development rate was found in D. isaea, so that it may be claimed that these temperatures fall outside the temperature range for development. Linear regression was used to describe the relationship between development rate and temperature. For egg to adult development, males of D. isaea required 153.8 degree-days (DD) above the theoretical threshold of 9.2°C and females required 161.3 DD above 9.4°C. Data were fitted to four nonlinear temperature-dependent models. Evaluation of the models took place based on the following criteria: fit to data, number and biological value of the fitted coefficient, and accuracy on the estimation of the thresholds. It could be concluded that the Briere-1 and Briere-2 models are suitable for estimating the minimum, maximum and optimal temperature thresholds of D. isaea. Thermal requirements and temperature thresholds can be used to predict the occurrence, number of generations and population dynamics of D. isaea.

In Iran, the tomato growing area is about 150 000 ha, mostly located in the south of the country. The Iranian Plant Protection Organization and inspection service in Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (IRIPP) prepared a monitoring program for this pest in 2009 and 2010. A technical guideline was issued and distributed among PPO inspectors. For the first time in November 2010, samples were collected by Uromiyeh PPO on tomato from Uromiyeh in Azarbaijan province in North West Iran. The specimens found in these samples were identified as Tuta absoluta. Three months later in January 2011, pheromone traps were placed in tomato growing areas in Borazjan, Busher province, to detect and monitor this pest. T. absoluta was identified, based on adult morphology and on male genitalia from moths collected in 5 of these traps during January 2011. More pheromone traps were put into place covering the entire tomato growing area throughout the country. As of June 2011, the pest was detected in 24 different locations. This is the first report of T. absoluta in Iran. T. absoluta is a very serious pest for tomato, and an outbreak of this pest is expected during the crop cycle in autumn and winter 2011–2012 in the south of Iran. Thus, based on experiences in other countries an IPM program according to available tools and materials was developed.