Parasitoids belonging to the genus Aphytis Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in Citrus orchards in Lattakia, Syria

Abstract

A survey of the common Aphytis spp. Howard (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) parasitoids was carried out at four citrus orchards (which were not treated with chemical pesticides) in AL‐Hanade, Stamo, Tarjano and Hmaiem in Lattakia Governorate from September 2010 to September 2011. Six parasitoid species of the genus Aphytis were reared from living armoured scale insects isolated in four states. They were Aphytis lepidosaphes (Compere), Aphytis lingnanesis (Compere), Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet), Aphytis melinus (DeBach), Aphytis maculicornis (Masi) and Aphytis hispanicus (Mercet).

Primary and secondary Hymenopteran parasitoids of scale insects (Homoptera: Coccoidea) in fruit orchards in Syria

“…In spite of the fact that high numbers of scale insects are responsible for damage to fruit trees resulting in loss of fruit production, so far there is no comprehensive work dealing with the scale insect parasitoids in Syria. Several studies involving parasitic Hymenoptera have been developed in Syria dealing with the taxonomy of Syrian Aphelinidae, parasitoids reared from armored scale hosts were described, (Basheer et al ., ), and especially regarding the relation between one parasitoid species and its host (Basheer, ; Basheer & Mahmalji, ; Abukaf et al ., ; Mohamed et al ., ). However, the knowledge of the Hymenoptera parasitoids that parasitize scale insects in Syria is scarce and outdated, with few major faunistic studies.…”