Poplar and willows are the major ornamental trees both in urban areas and natural
bio-corridors in Iran. They are plants of the same family, and share the pest aphids of
at least same genera, Chaitophorus Koch and Pterocomma Buckton. Many other
aphids belonging to the genera Aphis Linnaeus, Cavariella del Guercio,
Tuberolachnus Mordvilko and Plocamaphis Oestlund are exclusively associated
with willows. Two latter genera have not known parasitoids in Iran, while the rest
encompass a moderately rich parasitoid assemblage (Rakhshani et al. 2007b).
Chaitophorus aphids both on poplars and willows have known to be parasitized in
early season by a well-adapted parasitoid, Adialytus salicaphis (Fitch). The parasitoid indicated the ability to handle whole the colonies on a single patch. There are no
studies on the biology of this species and the existence of separate species on poplars
and willows is not accepted. Euaphidius cingulatus (Ruthe) is the parasitoid of
Pterocomma aphids on both group of host plants and occasionally has been observed
in urban areas. It is a moderately large species that can parasitized the large
individuals of Pterocomma aphids, but never found in association with
Tuberolachnus aphids, even where it was colonized on the nearby branches.
The poplars host also other aphids of the genera Pemphigus Hartig and
Phelomyzus de Horváth in Iran. No parasitoid species is recorded from the latter
species in the world. Pemphigus species were found heavily parasitized by
Protaphelinus nikolskayae (Yasnosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in north central
part of Iran with parasitism rate of 50–98% (Rakhshani et al. 2007b). It is a specific
parasitoid of Pemphigus species inside the galls as a closed micro-ecosystem. A rare
parasitoid, Monoctonia vesicarii Tremblay was found in association with Pemphigus
spirothecae Passeriini on Populous nigra in the area from north central to north
western parts of the country (Ghafouri-Moghaddam et al. 2012; Rakhshani et al.
2015a). It is a parasitoid of many Pemphigus species in Europe and is known having
only one generation per year (Starý 1968; Tremblay 1991; Rakhshani et al. 2015a).
Despite lacking the information about efficacy and parasitism rate of Monoctonia
vesicarii, it can be expected as main bio-control agent of Pemphigus species both in
natural and urban area. It is a very specific and ecologically adapted parasitoid,
emerging from the diapaused mummies early in the season to find the fundatrix
aphid before enclosing inside the galls. The fundatrix aphid will lose its reproduction
capacity or possibly produce very few progenies, then it becomes mummified. The
parasitoid remains inside the mummy until the next spring as mature diapaused larva
or pupa.
Various species of coniferous plants are the main elements of the evergreen areas
in urban ecosystems. Pines (Pinus spp.), cypress (Cedrus, Cupressus spp.,
Juniperus, Thuja), and spruce (Picea) are the well-known conifers planted as
ornamental trees in the cities. The Lachninae aphids are associated with these plants
and can be the serious pests in the absence of their natural enemies, especially the
parasitoids. Aphid species of the genera Cinara Curtis are frequently active on these
plants, and Eulachnus spp. are living on pines, as well. Majority of these aphids have
been considered as invasive species imported along with the seedlings of their host
plants. Therefore, except a few cases, no parasitoid species was detected (Starý et al.
358
E. Rakhshani and P. Starý
bio-corridors in Iran. They are plants of the same family, and share the pest aphids of
at least same genera, Chaitophorus Koch and Pterocomma Buckton. Many other
aphids belonging to the genera Aphis Linnaeus, Cavariella del Guercio,
Tuberolachnus Mordvilko and Plocamaphis Oestlund are exclusively associated
with willows. Two latter genera have not known parasitoids in Iran, while the rest
encompass a moderately rich parasitoid assemblage (Rakhshani et al. 2007b).
Chaitophorus aphids both on poplars and willows have known to be parasitized in
early season by a well-adapted parasitoid, Adialytus salicaphis (Fitch). The parasitoid indicated the ability to handle whole the colonies on a single patch. There are no
studies on the biology of this species and the existence of separate species on poplars
and willows is not accepted. Euaphidius cingulatus (Ruthe) is the parasitoid of
Pterocomma aphids on both group of host plants and occasionally has been observed
in urban areas. It is a moderately large species that can parasitized the large
individuals of Pterocomma aphids, but never found in association with
Tuberolachnus aphids, even where it was colonized on the nearby branches.
The poplars host also other aphids of the genera Pemphigus Hartig and
Phelomyzus de Horváth in Iran. No parasitoid species is recorded from the latter
species in the world. Pemphigus species were found heavily parasitized by
Protaphelinus nikolskayae (Yasnosh) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) in north central
part of Iran with parasitism rate of 50–98% (Rakhshani et al. 2007b). It is a specific
parasitoid of Pemphigus species inside the galls as a closed micro-ecosystem. A rare
parasitoid, Monoctonia vesicarii Tremblay was found in association with Pemphigus
spirothecae Passeriini on Populous nigra in the area from north central to north
western parts of the country (Ghafouri-Moghaddam et al. 2012; Rakhshani et al.
2015a). It is a parasitoid of many Pemphigus species in Europe and is known having
only one generation per year (Starý 1968; Tremblay 1991; Rakhshani et al. 2015a).
Despite lacking the information about efficacy and parasitism rate of Monoctonia
vesicarii, it can be expected as main bio-control agent of Pemphigus species both in
natural and urban area. It is a very specific and ecologically adapted parasitoid,
emerging from the diapaused mummies early in the season to find the fundatrix
aphid before enclosing inside the galls. The fundatrix aphid will lose its reproduction
capacity or possibly produce very few progenies, then it becomes mummified. The
parasitoid remains inside the mummy until the next spring as mature diapaused larva
or pupa.
Various species of coniferous plants are the main elements of the evergreen areas
in urban ecosystems. Pines (Pinus spp.), cypress (Cedrus, Cupressus spp.,
Juniperus, Thuja), and spruce (Picea) are the well-known conifers planted as
ornamental trees in the cities. The Lachninae aphids are associated with these plants
and can be the serious pests in the absence of their natural enemies, especially the
parasitoids. Aphid species of the genera Cinara Curtis are frequently active on these
plants, and Eulachnus spp. are living on pines, as well. Majority of these aphids have
been considered as invasive species imported along with the seedlings of their host
plants. Therefore, except a few cases, no parasitoid species was detected (Starý et al.
358
E. Rakhshani and P. Starý