More ecological studies are needed for optimum use of all biological control
agents including Trichogramma spp. Quality control measurements also are necessary in all steps of production. Unfortunately, no serious attention was paid to this
important task in Iran. Packing, storage and release methods also need to further
attention. Apparently, we are at initial steps of biological control by Trichogramma
in Iran despite two decades of application. We need to revise our past efforts once
again to set up a sufficient system.
6.9 Other Chalcids
Among Chalcids (Superfamily Chalcidoidea) there are some other families that have
members which parasitizes egg of insects. For example some members of families
Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae, Eulophidae, Torymidae, and Mymaridae attack insect eggs.
The other members of these families attack other stages of insects. The following
species were reported as egg parasitoids in Iran (Shishehbor and Rasekh 2015):
6.9.1 Family Encyrtidae
Blastothrix sericea (Dalman) and Metaphycus punctipes (Dalman) are egg parasitoids of Eulecanium coryli L. (Hem. Coccidae) (Ebrahimi 1993). The former species
has a wider range of distribution. Northern and central provinces are the regions in
which this species was reported (Radjabi 1989). This species was the most abundant
parasitoid on E. coryli with 1/3 of the collected specimens (Davoodi et al. 2004).
Ooencyrtus spp. egg parasitoids of bugs and moths: One species was reported as
Ooencyrtus sp. near to masii Mercet upon Ocneria terebinthina Stgr (Lep.
Lymantridae) in Fars province in southern Iran (Sabahi 1996). In addition, three
species of O. telenomicida (Vassiljev), O. nigerrimus Ferriere & Voegele and
O. fecundus Ferriere & Voegele was reported on common sunn pest Eurygaster
integriceps Puton (Hem. Scutelleridae). All these species are gregarious parasitoids
and up to four wasps can emerge from a single host egg (Iranipour 1996). In the case
of Ooencyrtus sp. egg parasitoid of Ocneria, it is three wasps per a single host
(Sabahi 1996). The recent species is active on all generations of the target host but
parasitism rate of the first generation was very low (less than 6%). Therefor Sabahi
(1996) suggested that supplementary release should be carried out at peak of the first
generation of the host. Negative geotaxis, positive phototaxis, tendency to RH’s
around 30–40% and temperatures around 24–26
C and finally host aggregation
causes the wasps tend to crowd on upper canopy.
In a laboratory study, Safavi (1970) described oviposition and mating behaviors
of O. telenomicida and O. pityocampae. He showed that O. telenomicida is a
gregarious arrhenotokous parasitoid. Up to nine parasitoid eggs, four nymphs and
three adult wasps were counted in a single host egg. Iranipour (1996) and
6 Egg Parasitoids: Chalcidoidea with Particular Emphasis on Trichogrammatidae
219
agents including Trichogramma spp. Quality control measurements also are necessary in all steps of production. Unfortunately, no serious attention was paid to this
important task in Iran. Packing, storage and release methods also need to further
attention. Apparently, we are at initial steps of biological control by Trichogramma
in Iran despite two decades of application. We need to revise our past efforts once
again to set up a sufficient system.
6.9 Other Chalcids
Among Chalcids (Superfamily Chalcidoidea) there are some other families that have
members which parasitizes egg of insects. For example some members of families
Encyrtidae, Eupelmidae, Eulophidae, Torymidae, and Mymaridae attack insect eggs.
The other members of these families attack other stages of insects. The following
species were reported as egg parasitoids in Iran (Shishehbor and Rasekh 2015):
6.9.1 Family Encyrtidae
Blastothrix sericea (Dalman) and Metaphycus punctipes (Dalman) are egg parasitoids of Eulecanium coryli L. (Hem. Coccidae) (Ebrahimi 1993). The former species
has a wider range of distribution. Northern and central provinces are the regions in
which this species was reported (Radjabi 1989). This species was the most abundant
parasitoid on E. coryli with 1/3 of the collected specimens (Davoodi et al. 2004).
Ooencyrtus spp. egg parasitoids of bugs and moths: One species was reported as
Ooencyrtus sp. near to masii Mercet upon Ocneria terebinthina Stgr (Lep.
Lymantridae) in Fars province in southern Iran (Sabahi 1996). In addition, three
species of O. telenomicida (Vassiljev), O. nigerrimus Ferriere & Voegele and
O. fecundus Ferriere & Voegele was reported on common sunn pest Eurygaster
integriceps Puton (Hem. Scutelleridae). All these species are gregarious parasitoids
and up to four wasps can emerge from a single host egg (Iranipour 1996). In the case
of Ooencyrtus sp. egg parasitoid of Ocneria, it is three wasps per a single host
(Sabahi 1996). The recent species is active on all generations of the target host but
parasitism rate of the first generation was very low (less than 6%). Therefor Sabahi
(1996) suggested that supplementary release should be carried out at peak of the first
generation of the host. Negative geotaxis, positive phototaxis, tendency to RH’s
around 30–40% and temperatures around 24–26
C and finally host aggregation
causes the wasps tend to crowd on upper canopy.
In a laboratory study, Safavi (1970) described oviposition and mating behaviors
of O. telenomicida and O. pityocampae. He showed that O. telenomicida is a
gregarious arrhenotokous parasitoid. Up to nine parasitoid eggs, four nymphs and
three adult wasps were counted in a single host egg. Iranipour (1996) and
6 Egg Parasitoids: Chalcidoidea with Particular Emphasis on Trichogrammatidae
219