of the broader ecological data on the respective guild members and their ecosystem
interactions (such as host range). A clear centring to a target-aphid parasitoid
associations did not include description of a more or less complete host species
spectrum and corresponding interactions with the other (agro)- ecosystems. This is a
feature which might affect adversely the predicted/realized interactions of the target
species in an area of destination. In some cases, a parasitoid biocontrol agent might
affect even populations of a non-target (pest) aphid in the area. A more or less
successive respective research on such targets has been also obtained in a framework
of an up-dated and on-going research derived basically from the tri-trophic associations realized in Iran (Nazari et al. 2012; Barahoei et al. 2013; Rakhshani et al.
2012b; Mossadegh et al. 2011, 2016). Last but not least, exportation-successive
information has contributed also to the detection and elucidation of some speciescomplexes earlier classified as “species exported” in the abroad (L. testaceipes,
A. colemani, etc.).
9.8 Potential Aphid Parasitoids for Mass Rearing
The sufficiently elaborated and supplemented databases allow an easy derivation of
all the required tritrophic combinations such as lists of parasitoid-host aphids, aphidplant combinations up to the determination of the individual assemblages and their
habitats. Successful mass rearing of the aphid parasitoids is a crucial element of the
aphid biological control especially in glasshouses. Various aphids are known to have
the pest status in the glasshouses, of which two species, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and
Aphis gossypii glover are more common on the vegetable and ornamental plants in
Iran. The augmentation (inundative) application of the aphid parasitoid requires
mass production of thousands adults. It is also necessary to have small scale mass
rearing, when the aphid parasitoids are introduced into the new environment in the
course of classical biological control programs (Persad et al. 2007). The procedures
are the same in general, but the major difference is the designation of economically
affordable practices. The long term benefits from introduction of a successful aphid
parasitoid justify the costs for mass rearing, but it should be very carefully balanced,
when the parasitoids are commercially produced. In this way, the simple procedures
should be changed into rearing on the cost-effective methods, which include rearing
on the alternative host aphid/plants, appropriate storage and packing the biological
products.
Among several potentially effective aphid parasitoids, few species are commercially produced, including Aphidius matricariae Haliday, Aphidius ervi Haliday and
Aphidius colemani Viereck (Leppla 2013). Some other species have also been
successfully produced in smaller scale, like Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) that
may have the same or greater potential. In the simplest definition, the selected
parasitoids must be easy to rear both on the main and/or on alternative host and
applicable for control of a wide range of aphids. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is known as
a generalist aphid that can feed on over 400 plant species (Weber 1985), of which
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E. Rakhshani and P. Starý
interactions (such as host range). A clear centring to a target-aphid parasitoid
associations did not include description of a more or less complete host species
spectrum and corresponding interactions with the other (agro)- ecosystems. This is a
feature which might affect adversely the predicted/realized interactions of the target
species in an area of destination. In some cases, a parasitoid biocontrol agent might
affect even populations of a non-target (pest) aphid in the area. A more or less
successive respective research on such targets has been also obtained in a framework
of an up-dated and on-going research derived basically from the tri-trophic associations realized in Iran (Nazari et al. 2012; Barahoei et al. 2013; Rakhshani et al.
2012b; Mossadegh et al. 2011, 2016). Last but not least, exportation-successive
information has contributed also to the detection and elucidation of some speciescomplexes earlier classified as “species exported” in the abroad (L. testaceipes,
A. colemani, etc.).
9.8 Potential Aphid Parasitoids for Mass Rearing
The sufficiently elaborated and supplemented databases allow an easy derivation of
all the required tritrophic combinations such as lists of parasitoid-host aphids, aphidplant combinations up to the determination of the individual assemblages and their
habitats. Successful mass rearing of the aphid parasitoids is a crucial element of the
aphid biological control especially in glasshouses. Various aphids are known to have
the pest status in the glasshouses, of which two species, Myzus persicae (Sulzer) and
Aphis gossypii glover are more common on the vegetable and ornamental plants in
Iran. The augmentation (inundative) application of the aphid parasitoid requires
mass production of thousands adults. It is also necessary to have small scale mass
rearing, when the aphid parasitoids are introduced into the new environment in the
course of classical biological control programs (Persad et al. 2007). The procedures
are the same in general, but the major difference is the designation of economically
affordable practices. The long term benefits from introduction of a successful aphid
parasitoid justify the costs for mass rearing, but it should be very carefully balanced,
when the parasitoids are commercially produced. In this way, the simple procedures
should be changed into rearing on the cost-effective methods, which include rearing
on the alternative host aphid/plants, appropriate storage and packing the biological
products.
Among several potentially effective aphid parasitoids, few species are commercially produced, including Aphidius matricariae Haliday, Aphidius ervi Haliday and
Aphidius colemani Viereck (Leppla 2013). Some other species have also been
successfully produced in smaller scale, like Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) that
may have the same or greater potential. In the simplest definition, the selected
parasitoids must be easy to rear both on the main and/or on alternative host and
applicable for control of a wide range of aphids. Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is known as
a generalist aphid that can feed on over 400 plant species (Weber 1985), of which
378
E. Rakhshani and P. Starý