other life-history parameters of H. hebetor have been indicated (Fariborzi et al.
2018), while, absolutely opposed, it has been demonstrated that sublethal concentration of Takumi did not have any adverse effect on sex ratio and fecundity of
H. hebetor (Rostami et al. 2016). Although, the sublethal effect of thiacloprid,
azadirachtin and red pepper extract reduces life-history parameters of H. hebetor
but the last two compounds were less toxic and they could be used within IPM
programs (Rezaei et al. 2018a). The safety of BioNeem® and Neem Guard®, two
commercial formulations of azadirachtin on fecundity and sex ratio of H. hebetor
also have been proved (Abedi et al. 2012). The bioassay study of some IGRs (Match,
Calypso and Lufox) on H. hebetor adults implied that among them Match is the least
toxic for this beneficial (Hooshmandi et al. 2012). A similar study by those authors
showed that botanical insecticide, sirinol® has the least toxicity to H. hebetor among
other insecticides tested (Rezaei et al. 2018b). Moreover, these botanical insecticides
did not have a significant negative effect on functional response parameters of
H. hebetor (Asadi et al. 2018). However, the toxic effect of galbanum, Ferrula
gummosa (Umbelliferae) essential oil on H. hebetor survival has been reported
(Seyedi et al. 2012). Another study showed that sublethal concentrations of Bacillus
thuringiensis significantly reduced the intrinsic rate of increase (Sedaratian et al.
2012).
There are not few behavioural studies of H. hebetor in Iran but among others,
more attention has been paid to olfactory studies. In one of them, it has been
indicated that H. hebetor used kairomones of fifth instar larvae of H. armigera to
locate hosts (Davoudi Dehkordi et al. 2018). Additionally, fifth instar larvae and its
feces were more attractive to H. hebetor in olfactometer assay and their components
were analyzed by GC-MS (Shafaghi et al. 2018a, 2018b).
Most of the above studies about H. hebetor bounds to artificial and sophisticated
experiments in laboratories while the number of field trials about H. hebetor efficiency and parasitism rate is scarce. For instance, it has been estimated that
H. hebetor parasitized 64.44% of bollworm larvae (Helicoverpa sp.) in corn fields
of Moghan region (Northwest of Iran) after seven times of releases (Najafi Navai
et al. 2002). Accordingly, the natural parasitism rate of H. hebetor on Tuta absoluta
has been estimated as 1.2% which is too low to suppress tomato pinworm population
substantially and should be complemented with artificial releasing (Afshari et al.
2014).
The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is
an important pest of corn in Iran as well as other corn cultivating regions of the
world. The insect is polyphagous and attacks many grains such as wheat, sugar cane,
cotton and soybean (Taghizadeh and Basiri 2013). There have been reported 104 and
41 species of the superfamilies Ichneumonoidea and Chalcidoidea, respectively
associated with O. nubilalis in the world (Yu et al. 2012). Mass rearing and releasing
of egg parasitoids of Trichogramma brassicae, T. pintoi (Hym.:
Trichogrammatidae) and larval parasitoid of H. hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae) have
been recommended for controlling the ECB as a part of IPM projects against it
(Najafi Navaei et al. 2002; Taghizadeh and Basiri 2013).
268
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi
2018), while, absolutely opposed, it has been demonstrated that sublethal concentration of Takumi did not have any adverse effect on sex ratio and fecundity of
H. hebetor (Rostami et al. 2016). Although, the sublethal effect of thiacloprid,
azadirachtin and red pepper extract reduces life-history parameters of H. hebetor
but the last two compounds were less toxic and they could be used within IPM
programs (Rezaei et al. 2018a). The safety of BioNeem® and Neem Guard®, two
commercial formulations of azadirachtin on fecundity and sex ratio of H. hebetor
also have been proved (Abedi et al. 2012). The bioassay study of some IGRs (Match,
Calypso and Lufox) on H. hebetor adults implied that among them Match is the least
toxic for this beneficial (Hooshmandi et al. 2012). A similar study by those authors
showed that botanical insecticide, sirinol® has the least toxicity to H. hebetor among
other insecticides tested (Rezaei et al. 2018b). Moreover, these botanical insecticides
did not have a significant negative effect on functional response parameters of
H. hebetor (Asadi et al. 2018). However, the toxic effect of galbanum, Ferrula
gummosa (Umbelliferae) essential oil on H. hebetor survival has been reported
(Seyedi et al. 2012). Another study showed that sublethal concentrations of Bacillus
thuringiensis significantly reduced the intrinsic rate of increase (Sedaratian et al.
2012).
There are not few behavioural studies of H. hebetor in Iran but among others,
more attention has been paid to olfactory studies. In one of them, it has been
indicated that H. hebetor used kairomones of fifth instar larvae of H. armigera to
locate hosts (Davoudi Dehkordi et al. 2018). Additionally, fifth instar larvae and its
feces were more attractive to H. hebetor in olfactometer assay and their components
were analyzed by GC-MS (Shafaghi et al. 2018a, 2018b).
Most of the above studies about H. hebetor bounds to artificial and sophisticated
experiments in laboratories while the number of field trials about H. hebetor efficiency and parasitism rate is scarce. For instance, it has been estimated that
H. hebetor parasitized 64.44% of bollworm larvae (Helicoverpa sp.) in corn fields
of Moghan region (Northwest of Iran) after seven times of releases (Najafi Navai
et al. 2002). Accordingly, the natural parasitism rate of H. hebetor on Tuta absoluta
has been estimated as 1.2% which is too low to suppress tomato pinworm population
substantially and should be complemented with artificial releasing (Afshari et al.
2014).
The European corn borer (ECB), Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner) (Lep.: Noctuidae) is
an important pest of corn in Iran as well as other corn cultivating regions of the
world. The insect is polyphagous and attacks many grains such as wheat, sugar cane,
cotton and soybean (Taghizadeh and Basiri 2013). There have been reported 104 and
41 species of the superfamilies Ichneumonoidea and Chalcidoidea, respectively
associated with O. nubilalis in the world (Yu et al. 2012). Mass rearing and releasing
of egg parasitoids of Trichogramma brassicae, T. pintoi (Hym.:
Trichogrammatidae) and larval parasitoid of H. hebetor (Hym.: Braconidae) have
been recommended for controlling the ECB as a part of IPM projects against it
(Najafi Navaei et al. 2002; Taghizadeh and Basiri 2013).
268
H. Lotfalizadeh and A. Mohammadi-Khoramabadi