et al. 2013). Other important aphid on alfalfa is Therioaphis trifolii (Monel), which
has two specific parasitoids, Trioxys complanatus Quilis and Praon exsoletum
(Nees). Other parasitoids are host specific with slightly different population fluctuation along the season, whole the country. Both species can be found together in
many parts of the country, but Trioxys complanatus is more common in late spring,
when the temperature starts the increasing. Aphis craccivora Koch is a permanent
member of alfalfa aphids in early season, has its own parasitoid complex (Rakhshani
et al. 2005a), which some of them, especially Lysiphlebus fabarum are rather
common in alfalfa fields. Other parasitoids including, Aphidius platensis Brethes
and Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) can be found in association with this aphid, but as
occasional member with less value of regulatory effect. Ephedrus persicae Froggatt
was also found parasitizing this aphid in Sistan plain (Rakhshani et al. 2006a),
sourcing from the nearby cereals fields.
Sporadically researches have been done on the aphid parasitoids in fruit orchards
in various regions of Iran (Rakhshani et al. 2005b, 2008a; Jafari et al. 2011; Jafari
and Modarres Awal 2012; Nazari et al. 2012; Barahoei et al. 2013), supplemented by
an additional compilation on the aphid parasitoids, which occurred in pome and
stone fruit trees (Rakhshani 2012). The latter contribution supplied the major list of
the known parasitoid species attacking common aphids on various host plants
categorized as economically important species grown in commercial orchards. The
pesticide application is impartible element of the agricultural operations in fruit
orchards, but the aphid parasitoid could survive in very small areas, escaped from
the treatments. Parasitoids of the leaf curling aphids may also be protected from the
contact insecticides. Numerous species of the aphids belonging to various genera are
feeding on the leaves, branches and even trunk of the fruit trees, which differ in
biology and associated parasitoids. Many of them have also shared host plants inside
the same orchard or within the neighboring areas. In the ecological view, it should be
considered as important colonizing patches for the aphid parasitoids, too. Pauesia
antennata (Mukerji) is a strictly specific parasitoids of the giant brown peach aphid,
Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky) on its Prunaceae host plants (Rakhshani
et al. 2005b). The aphid appeared in the high populations with economically
injurious situation, which is a consequence of chemical treatment with wide spectrum insecticides. According to field observation, both parasitoid and predatory
coccinellids are rather common in the orchards without chemical treatments. List
of the parasitoids and their common host aphids in pome and stone fruit trees of Iran
is presented in Table 9.4. There are yet some unknown parasitoid species in pome
and stone fruit orchards of Iran, which seems having an obligative diapause in main
part of season. Attempts for rearing adult specimens was failed and only existence of
peculiar mummies is documented (Rakhshani 2012). Many other aphids are also
known with other fruit trees (Rezwani 2001, 2004), with or without known parasitoids. The pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini has also a well-known group
of the common parasitoids, including Lysiphlebus fabarum, Aphidius platensis,
Binodoxys angelicae, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus persicae (Rakhshani
et al. 2008a; Talebi et al. 2009; Farrokhzadeh et al. 2014).
9 Aphid Parasitoids: Aphidiinae (Hym., Braconidae)
355
has two specific parasitoids, Trioxys complanatus Quilis and Praon exsoletum
(Nees). Other parasitoids are host specific with slightly different population fluctuation along the season, whole the country. Both species can be found together in
many parts of the country, but Trioxys complanatus is more common in late spring,
when the temperature starts the increasing. Aphis craccivora Koch is a permanent
member of alfalfa aphids in early season, has its own parasitoid complex (Rakhshani
et al. 2005a), which some of them, especially Lysiphlebus fabarum are rather
common in alfalfa fields. Other parasitoids including, Aphidius platensis Brethes
and Diaeretiella rapae (M’Intosh) can be found in association with this aphid, but as
occasional member with less value of regulatory effect. Ephedrus persicae Froggatt
was also found parasitizing this aphid in Sistan plain (Rakhshani et al. 2006a),
sourcing from the nearby cereals fields.
Sporadically researches have been done on the aphid parasitoids in fruit orchards
in various regions of Iran (Rakhshani et al. 2005b, 2008a; Jafari et al. 2011; Jafari
and Modarres Awal 2012; Nazari et al. 2012; Barahoei et al. 2013), supplemented by
an additional compilation on the aphid parasitoids, which occurred in pome and
stone fruit trees (Rakhshani 2012). The latter contribution supplied the major list of
the known parasitoid species attacking common aphids on various host plants
categorized as economically important species grown in commercial orchards. The
pesticide application is impartible element of the agricultural operations in fruit
orchards, but the aphid parasitoid could survive in very small areas, escaped from
the treatments. Parasitoids of the leaf curling aphids may also be protected from the
contact insecticides. Numerous species of the aphids belonging to various genera are
feeding on the leaves, branches and even trunk of the fruit trees, which differ in
biology and associated parasitoids. Many of them have also shared host plants inside
the same orchard or within the neighboring areas. In the ecological view, it should be
considered as important colonizing patches for the aphid parasitoids, too. Pauesia
antennata (Mukerji) is a strictly specific parasitoids of the giant brown peach aphid,
Pterochloroides persicae (Cholodkovsky) on its Prunaceae host plants (Rakhshani
et al. 2005b). The aphid appeared in the high populations with economically
injurious situation, which is a consequence of chemical treatment with wide spectrum insecticides. According to field observation, both parasitoid and predatory
coccinellids are rather common in the orchards without chemical treatments. List
of the parasitoids and their common host aphids in pome and stone fruit trees of Iran
is presented in Table 9.4. There are yet some unknown parasitoid species in pome
and stone fruit orchards of Iran, which seems having an obligative diapause in main
part of season. Attempts for rearing adult specimens was failed and only existence of
peculiar mummies is documented (Rakhshani 2012). Many other aphids are also
known with other fruit trees (Rezwani 2001, 2004), with or without known parasitoids. The pomegranate aphid, Aphis punicae Passerini has also a well-known group
of the common parasitoids, including Lysiphlebus fabarum, Aphidius platensis,
Binodoxys angelicae, Aphidius matricariae and Ephedrus persicae (Rakhshani
et al. 2008a; Talebi et al. 2009; Farrokhzadeh et al. 2014).
9 Aphid Parasitoids: Aphidiinae (Hym., Braconidae)
355