some plants species like peppers can be grown throughout the year in greenhouses. It
is a very good direct and alternative host for mass rearing of the various generalist
aphid parasitoids (Wei et al. 2005; Silva et al. 2011; Vafaie et al. 2013).
Ignoring the type of application, i.e. glasshouses or open field, further aphid
parasitoids species can be listed for mass rearing on the basis of the importance of
their preferred host aphid and also their efficiency (Table 9.8). A good knowledge
about biology, host preference and behavior of the candidate aphid parasitoids is
necessary for assembling the mass-rearing techniques. An excellent review for mass
rearing of the aphid parasitoid is provided by Boivin et al. (2012). There are many
important factors affecting the efficiency of the mass reared products (Leppla 2013).
The host plants directly affect the host aphids, which can be considered as unit of the
products. The host aphid quality and its size are two factors affecting the efficiency
of the produced parasitoids, through its survival and reproductive rate (Henry et al.
2008). The genetic composition of the maternal populations is rather important and
should be kept far from the artificial disorders like drifts and inbreeding which are
common in laboratory reared populations (Steiner and Teig 1989). The adult
Table 9.8 Potential species for mass rearing and area of applicability in Iran
Parasitoid
species
*Hosts
records
Preferred Target host aphids
Target plant Score
Adialytus
salicaphis
9
Chaitophorus spp.
Poplars
willows
Medium
Aphidius ervi
9
Acyrthosiphon pisum; Myzus persicae;
Sitobion avenae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
matricariae
51
Aphis craccivora; Brachycaudus
helichrysi; Myzus persicae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
platensis
28
Aphis fabae; Aphis gossypii;
Brachycaudus helichrysi; Myzus persicae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
smithi
1
Acyrthosiphon pisum
Alfalfa,
Clover
High
Aphidius
transcaspicus
2
Hyalopterus spp.
Prunus spp. Medium
Binodoxys
acalephae
13
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae; Aphis
gossypii
Field crops
Greenhouses
Medium
Binodoxys
angelicae
16
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae; Aphis
gossypii
Field crops
Greenhouses
Medium
Diaeretiella
rapae
24
Brevicoryne brassicae; Diuraphis noxia;
Myzus persicae
Rapeseed
Cereals
Greenhouses
High
Ephedrus
persicae
30
Brachycaudus spp.; Schizaphis graminum Cereals
Prunus spp.
High
Lysiphlebus
fabarum
65
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Praon
volucre
35
Acyrthosiphon spp.; Aphis fabae;
Hyalopterus spp.
Legum
crops
Prunus spp.
Medium
*Total number of the host aphids in Iran including pest and non-pest species
9 Aphid Parasitoids: Aphidiinae (Hym., Braconidae)
379
is a very good direct and alternative host for mass rearing of the various generalist
aphid parasitoids (Wei et al. 2005; Silva et al. 2011; Vafaie et al. 2013).
Ignoring the type of application, i.e. glasshouses or open field, further aphid
parasitoids species can be listed for mass rearing on the basis of the importance of
their preferred host aphid and also their efficiency (Table 9.8). A good knowledge
about biology, host preference and behavior of the candidate aphid parasitoids is
necessary for assembling the mass-rearing techniques. An excellent review for mass
rearing of the aphid parasitoid is provided by Boivin et al. (2012). There are many
important factors affecting the efficiency of the mass reared products (Leppla 2013).
The host plants directly affect the host aphids, which can be considered as unit of the
products. The host aphid quality and its size are two factors affecting the efficiency
of the produced parasitoids, through its survival and reproductive rate (Henry et al.
2008). The genetic composition of the maternal populations is rather important and
should be kept far from the artificial disorders like drifts and inbreeding which are
common in laboratory reared populations (Steiner and Teig 1989). The adult
Table 9.8 Potential species for mass rearing and area of applicability in Iran
Parasitoid
species
*Hosts
records
Preferred Target host aphids
Target plant Score
Adialytus
salicaphis
9
Chaitophorus spp.
Poplars
willows
Medium
Aphidius ervi
9
Acyrthosiphon pisum; Myzus persicae;
Sitobion avenae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
matricariae
51
Aphis craccivora; Brachycaudus
helichrysi; Myzus persicae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
platensis
28
Aphis fabae; Aphis gossypii;
Brachycaudus helichrysi; Myzus persicae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Aphidius
smithi
1
Acyrthosiphon pisum
Alfalfa,
Clover
High
Aphidius
transcaspicus
2
Hyalopterus spp.
Prunus spp. Medium
Binodoxys
acalephae
13
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae; Aphis
gossypii
Field crops
Greenhouses
Medium
Binodoxys
angelicae
16
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae; Aphis
gossypii
Field crops
Greenhouses
Medium
Diaeretiella
rapae
24
Brevicoryne brassicae; Diuraphis noxia;
Myzus persicae
Rapeseed
Cereals
Greenhouses
High
Ephedrus
persicae
30
Brachycaudus spp.; Schizaphis graminum Cereals
Prunus spp.
High
Lysiphlebus
fabarum
65
Aphis craccivora; Aphis fabae
Field crops
Greenhouses
High
Praon
volucre
35
Acyrthosiphon spp.; Aphis fabae;
Hyalopterus spp.
Legum
crops
Prunus spp.
Medium
*Total number of the host aphids in Iran including pest and non-pest species
9 Aphid Parasitoids: Aphidiinae (Hym., Braconidae)
379