then mine the leaves. Damage of the pest in Iran reaches to 35–40% of the leaves of
its host (Rajabi 2011). Although there were reported 27 parasitoid species of the
superfamily Ichneumonoidea and six species of the superfamily Chalcidoidea on this
pest all over the world (Yu et al. 2012), there is not enough information on the
biological control agents on the lesser bud moth in Iran. The only reported parasitoid
of the lesser bud moth in Iran is Orgilus obscurator (Nees) (Hym.: Braconidae)
(Sabzevari 1968).
The peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella (Zeller) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) is widely
distributed in Europe and North America where is believed to be introduced.
Apricot, peach, almond and plum have been recorded as main hosts of this pest in
Iran. It has two generations annually and three to four generations in North America.
The primary damage of the pest is that the larva burrows to tender shoots and kill
them. The larva also feeds on the fruits of its hosts (Rajabi 2011). There have been
recorded 25 species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea and 16 species of the
superfamily Chalcidoidea as a parasitoid of the peach twig borer in the world
(Yu et al. 2012) among them one species of Chalcidoidea, Copidosoma varicorne
(Nees) (Hym.: Encyrtidae) (Rajabi 2011) and one species of the family Braconidae
have been collected in Iran, Apanteles xanthostigma (Haliday) (Hym.: Braconidae)
(Esmaili 1983).
Several species of lepidopterous leaf miners from the family Gracillariidae occur
in the apple orchards of Iran. They also feed on pear, quince, cherry, sour cherry,
plum and hawthorn. The leaf miners have important hymenopterous natural enemies
which may effectively regulate and suppress their host populations (Esmaili 1983;
Rajabi 2011). Four species of Braconidae have been reported as parasitoids of leaf
miners of the family Gracillariidae from Iran (Table 7.6).
The cutworm, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is a
serious pest of many agricultural crops. The larva cut the young plants off near the
ground level and causes economic damage at the early stages of plant growth. Yu
et al. (2012) listed 78 species of Ichneumonoidea associated with A. segetum in the
world but in Iran, there have been reported just four species of Braconidae as
parasitoids of this pest (Table 7.6).
The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is a
polyphagous and worldwide crop pest that attacks to cotton, soybean, tomato,
sorghum and groundnut. The hatched larvae feed on leaves and in the later instars
enter to boll, square or fruits of their hosts and cause economic damage (Rafiee
Dastjerdi et al. 2008a). Yu et al. (2012) listed 182 host-parasitoid associations of
Ichneumonoidea and Chalcidoidea with the cotton bollworm. In Iran, there have
been five species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea as a parasitoid of H. armigera
(Table 7.6). It has been suggested that natural enemies especially Cotesia kazak
(Telenga) reduce the population and thus being responsible of suppresing
H. armigera in tomato fields (Ghadiri Rad and Ebrahimi 2010). Besides, the mass
rearing of H. hebetor for control of H. armigera and Ostrinia nubilalis was initiated
from 2002 in Iran (Najafi Navaei et al. 2002). The functional response of H. hebetor
is also investigated in different aspects. The type III responses have been indicated
for females of H. hebetor to Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella Hubner), flour
264
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi
its host (Rajabi 2011). Although there were reported 27 parasitoid species of the
superfamily Ichneumonoidea and six species of the superfamily Chalcidoidea on this
pest all over the world (Yu et al. 2012), there is not enough information on the
biological control agents on the lesser bud moth in Iran. The only reported parasitoid
of the lesser bud moth in Iran is Orgilus obscurator (Nees) (Hym.: Braconidae)
(Sabzevari 1968).
The peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella (Zeller) (Lep.: Gelechiidae) is widely
distributed in Europe and North America where is believed to be introduced.
Apricot, peach, almond and plum have been recorded as main hosts of this pest in
Iran. It has two generations annually and three to four generations in North America.
The primary damage of the pest is that the larva burrows to tender shoots and kill
them. The larva also feeds on the fruits of its hosts (Rajabi 2011). There have been
recorded 25 species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea and 16 species of the
superfamily Chalcidoidea as a parasitoid of the peach twig borer in the world
(Yu et al. 2012) among them one species of Chalcidoidea, Copidosoma varicorne
(Nees) (Hym.: Encyrtidae) (Rajabi 2011) and one species of the family Braconidae
have been collected in Iran, Apanteles xanthostigma (Haliday) (Hym.: Braconidae)
(Esmaili 1983).
Several species of lepidopterous leaf miners from the family Gracillariidae occur
in the apple orchards of Iran. They also feed on pear, quince, cherry, sour cherry,
plum and hawthorn. The leaf miners have important hymenopterous natural enemies
which may effectively regulate and suppress their host populations (Esmaili 1983;
Rajabi 2011). Four species of Braconidae have been reported as parasitoids of leaf
miners of the family Gracillariidae from Iran (Table 7.6).
The cutworm, Agrotis segetum (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is a
serious pest of many agricultural crops. The larva cut the young plants off near the
ground level and causes economic damage at the early stages of plant growth. Yu
et al. (2012) listed 78 species of Ichneumonoidea associated with A. segetum in the
world but in Iran, there have been reported just four species of Braconidae as
parasitoids of this pest (Table 7.6).
The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is a
polyphagous and worldwide crop pest that attacks to cotton, soybean, tomato,
sorghum and groundnut. The hatched larvae feed on leaves and in the later instars
enter to boll, square or fruits of their hosts and cause economic damage (Rafiee
Dastjerdi et al. 2008a). Yu et al. (2012) listed 182 host-parasitoid associations of
Ichneumonoidea and Chalcidoidea with the cotton bollworm. In Iran, there have
been five species of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea as a parasitoid of H. armigera
(Table 7.6). It has been suggested that natural enemies especially Cotesia kazak
(Telenga) reduce the population and thus being responsible of suppresing
H. armigera in tomato fields (Ghadiri Rad and Ebrahimi 2010). Besides, the mass
rearing of H. hebetor for control of H. armigera and Ostrinia nubilalis was initiated
from 2002 in Iran (Najafi Navaei et al. 2002). The functional response of H. hebetor
is also investigated in different aspects. The type III responses have been indicated
for females of H. hebetor to Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella Hubner), flour
264
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi