area of pistachio plantations in Iran. The larva of this moth feeds on pistachio fruit
hull and causes the dropping of young fruits. The moth has 3–4 generations annually
(Basirat et al. 2015). The main control method of this pest currently based on the
application of insecticides. However, some studies have been recently conducted to
find natural enemies of the pest and to evaluate the potential of natural enemies in
natural biological control of PFHBM (Mehrnejad and Speidel 2011; Mehrnejad
2010, 2012). Table 7.6 presented the known parasitoids of PFHBM in Iran.
The pistachio twig borer moth (PTBM), Kermania pistaciella (Amsel) (Lep.:
Tineidae) is an important pest of pistachio in Iran (Mehrnejad 2001). The pest is
univoltine. The adult moth lays their eggs in flower and fruit clusters in early spring
and then the newly hatched larva bores into the flower tissue and continue its
penetration to twigs. Chemical control cannot effectively control the pest. Biological
control agents on the PTBM were studied which are listed in Table 7.6 to evaluate
their role in controlling the pest. Van Achterberg and Mehrnejad (2002) studied the
parasitism rate of the PTBM in different localities of Rafsanjan and showed that the
most common parasitoid of this pest was Chelonus kermakiae (Tobias) which was
responsible for 37–50% parasitism of the cocoons of the pest. Mehrnejad and Basirat
(2009) in an extensive cocoon sampling of the PTBM showed that Chelonus
kermaniae was the most abundant parasitoids in all studied sites.
The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) is the key pest of
apple orchards throughout Iran as well as other apple cultivated areas of the world.
The codling moth also damages economically the Asian pear, walnut fruits and less
apricot, plum and peach. It passes one to four generations per year and overwinters
as a fully grown larva within thick pupa under the bark of apple trees (Rajabi 2011).
So far, an association of 151 species of Braconidae and Ichneumonidae has been
established with the codling moth in the world (Yu et al. 2012). Many studies have
been done in order to collect and identify the hymenopterous natural enemies of the
codling moth in Iran and to determine the parasitism rate and their potential for
biological control or integrated management of the pest. In Table 7.6, a list of
ichneumonoid parasitoids of the codling moth in Iran is provided. The bioecology
and parasitism rate of Dibrachys boarmiae (Walker) (Hym.: Pteromalidae) showed
that this ectoparasitoid of codling moth overwinters as fully grown larvae (Mashhadi
Jafarloo and Talebi Chaichi 2002). Different values have been reported as parasitism
rates of this species which ranges from 7.2% in Karaj region (Habibi 1977) to a peak
value at 21.4% in Tabriz, East Azarbaidjan (Mashhadi Jafarloo and Talebi Chaichi
2002). Rajabi et al. (2011) reported three ichneumonid parasitoids on the codling
moth and mentioned that the parasitism rate of Pimpla turionella (L., 1758) was
higher among them. Ranjbar-Aghdam and Fathipour (2010) collected three
ichneumonoid parasitoids on the codling moth in the East-Azarbaijan province
and showed that the parasitism rate of them varied between 0.88% and 9.47%
depends on the studied regions.
The grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lep.:
Tortricidae) is a key pest of vineyards in Iran. It is also an economically important
pest of grape in the Palaearctic and northern Africa. Feeding of the larvae on flowers
and unripped and ripening berries of grape cause severe damage and favored the
7 Parasitic Wasps: Chalcidoidea and Ichneumonoidea
271
hull and causes the dropping of young fruits. The moth has 3–4 generations annually
(Basirat et al. 2015). The main control method of this pest currently based on the
application of insecticides. However, some studies have been recently conducted to
find natural enemies of the pest and to evaluate the potential of natural enemies in
natural biological control of PFHBM (Mehrnejad and Speidel 2011; Mehrnejad
2010, 2012). Table 7.6 presented the known parasitoids of PFHBM in Iran.
The pistachio twig borer moth (PTBM), Kermania pistaciella (Amsel) (Lep.:
Tineidae) is an important pest of pistachio in Iran (Mehrnejad 2001). The pest is
univoltine. The adult moth lays their eggs in flower and fruit clusters in early spring
and then the newly hatched larva bores into the flower tissue and continue its
penetration to twigs. Chemical control cannot effectively control the pest. Biological
control agents on the PTBM were studied which are listed in Table 7.6 to evaluate
their role in controlling the pest. Van Achterberg and Mehrnejad (2002) studied the
parasitism rate of the PTBM in different localities of Rafsanjan and showed that the
most common parasitoid of this pest was Chelonus kermakiae (Tobias) which was
responsible for 37–50% parasitism of the cocoons of the pest. Mehrnejad and Basirat
(2009) in an extensive cocoon sampling of the PTBM showed that Chelonus
kermaniae was the most abundant parasitoids in all studied sites.
The codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.) (Lep.: Tortricidae) is the key pest of
apple orchards throughout Iran as well as other apple cultivated areas of the world.
The codling moth also damages economically the Asian pear, walnut fruits and less
apricot, plum and peach. It passes one to four generations per year and overwinters
as a fully grown larva within thick pupa under the bark of apple trees (Rajabi 2011).
So far, an association of 151 species of Braconidae and Ichneumonidae has been
established with the codling moth in the world (Yu et al. 2012). Many studies have
been done in order to collect and identify the hymenopterous natural enemies of the
codling moth in Iran and to determine the parasitism rate and their potential for
biological control or integrated management of the pest. In Table 7.6, a list of
ichneumonoid parasitoids of the codling moth in Iran is provided. The bioecology
and parasitism rate of Dibrachys boarmiae (Walker) (Hym.: Pteromalidae) showed
that this ectoparasitoid of codling moth overwinters as fully grown larvae (Mashhadi
Jafarloo and Talebi Chaichi 2002). Different values have been reported as parasitism
rates of this species which ranges from 7.2% in Karaj region (Habibi 1977) to a peak
value at 21.4% in Tabriz, East Azarbaidjan (Mashhadi Jafarloo and Talebi Chaichi
2002). Rajabi et al. (2011) reported three ichneumonid parasitoids on the codling
moth and mentioned that the parasitism rate of Pimpla turionella (L., 1758) was
higher among them. Ranjbar-Aghdam and Fathipour (2010) collected three
ichneumonoid parasitoids on the codling moth in the East-Azarbaijan province
and showed that the parasitism rate of them varied between 0.88% and 9.47%
depends on the studied regions.
The grape berry moth, Lobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermuller) (Lep.:
Tortricidae) is a key pest of vineyards in Iran. It is also an economically important
pest of grape in the Palaearctic and northern Africa. Feeding of the larvae on flowers
and unripped and ripening berries of grape cause severe damage and favored the
7 Parasitic Wasps: Chalcidoidea and Ichneumonoidea
271