Distribution and diversity of wheat aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Iran

Abstract

Abstract. Eleven species of parasitoids were found to attack 7 species of wheat aphids in Iran. The Simpson's Index of diversity (D) used to compare the aphidiine diversity in various cereal crop systems in geographically different regions of Iran ranged from 0.197 to 0.488, depending on locality. There were significant differences among species diversities at different altitudes. The central highlands (1000-1500 meters above mean sea level) were the areas with the most diverse aphid parasitoid complex, differing significantly from that at lower and higher altitudes. We found that altitude explained about 10% of the cereal aphid parasitoid distribution pattern in Iran. Species of the genus Aphidius Nees were the most abundant and widely distributed. These were Aphidius rhopalosiphi De Stefani, Aphidius uzbekistanicus Luzhetski, Aphidius colemani Viereck and Aphidius matricariae Haliday. A. uzbekistanicus, Ephedrus plagiator (Nees) and Ephedrus persicae Froggat were encountered mainly on the plains at lower altitudes. Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) was mainly recorded at higher altitudes in Iran along with its dominant parasitoid species, Diaeretiella rapae (MIntosh). The fact that Iran is close to the presumed area of D. noxia origin (Central Asian submountains) could be very important in further biological control efforts against this pest aphid. According to our results, Aphidius ervi Haliday is a very rare parasitoid of cereal aphids in Iran, which contrast with its high abundance in Europe and North America.

Distribution, parasitoids and cyclic appearance of Russian wheat aphid Diuraphis noxia (Mordvilko, 1913) (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Algeria

“…It is considered to be the most important parasitoid of the Russian aphid in central Asia, east and western Europe, the Mediterranean region and Northern and Southern Africa (Kovalev et al 1991;Bernal and Gonzalez 1997). Even in Iran, Rakhshani et al (2008) indicates that the parasitoid D. rapae is mostly associated with D. noxia. These authors also mention that this parasitoid is used as a biological control agent against this pest in Iran.…”

Parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) of Northeastern Iran: Aphidiine-Aphid-Plant Associations, Key and Description of a New Species

“…A. colemani is a common parasitoid of different aphids in Iran (Rakhshani et al 2008b,c) and other countries (Starý 1975; Kavallieratos et al 2004, 2010), but its taxonomic status is still considered problematic, due to character overlap with A. transcaspicus (Mescheloff and Rosen 1990; Takada 1998; Kavallieratos and Lykouressis 1999). The host range pattern is supposed to be the important biological border between the two related species.…”

Aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in cultivated and non-cultivated areas of Markazi Province, Iran

“…On the other hand, Acyrthosiphon and Urolecuon species were attacked by the specific parasitoid guilds which comprise both groups of parasitoids (Rakhshani et al 2006(Rakhshani et al , 2007bGonzález et al 1978). In addition, the cereal aphids had a similar model of parasitoid guild, which was at least locally specific, as indicated by Rakhshani et al (2008b).…”