Preface
Biological control of plant pests has been initiated in Iran since the 1930s but
recently especially in recent decades, the worldwide development of the biological
control of pests has led to a considerable application of this beneficial pest management strategy in Iran. Jalal Afshar, the founder of modern Entomological science in
Iran, imported Vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Col., Coccinellidae) to
the country in 1934. He imported the beetle to Mazandaran province in Northern
Iran, where an insectarium was established to mass produce this predator to suppress
the cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi (Williston) (Hem., Margarodidae). In
1941, Mohammad Kosari mentioned the role and importance of the parasitic wasp
Trissolcus spp. (Hym., Scelionidae) against the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps
Put. (Hem., Scutelleridae), a major pest of cereal crops. By 1962, the mass production and release of Trissoclus spp. wasps began, ultimately reaching a scale of two
million wasps released per year. In the mid-1970s, efforts were made to import and
release the Trichogramma brassicae (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) against rice stem
borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lep., Pyralidae) in North provinces of Iran. During this
decade, Platytelenomus hylas (Hym., Scelionida) successfully suppressed
populations of the greater sugarcane borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lep., Noctuidae)
in Khuzsetan Province. The establishment of insectariums as well as research and
development for this agent was initiated in the mid-1980s.
In the last three decades, facilities for mass rearing of biocontrol agents were
widely developed and subsequently, the development of biological control programs
accelerated. Universities and research institutions also contributed to this development via fundamental and practical researches. Moreover, national meetings such as
the “Iranian Plant Protection Congress”, “Iranian International Congress of Entomology, “Iranian National Biocontrol Meetings” and “International Persian Congress of Acarology” were held regularly, offering opportunities for researchers in
biocontrol and other fields of study to exchange the ideas and present their findings.
vii
Biological control of plant pests has been initiated in Iran since the 1930s but
recently especially in recent decades, the worldwide development of the biological
control of pests has led to a considerable application of this beneficial pest management strategy in Iran. Jalal Afshar, the founder of modern Entomological science in
Iran, imported Vedalia beetle, Rodolia cardinalis (Mulsant) (Col., Coccinellidae) to
the country in 1934. He imported the beetle to Mazandaran province in Northern
Iran, where an insectarium was established to mass produce this predator to suppress
the cottony cushion scale, Icerya purchasi (Williston) (Hem., Margarodidae). In
1941, Mohammad Kosari mentioned the role and importance of the parasitic wasp
Trissolcus spp. (Hym., Scelionidae) against the Sunn pest, Eurygaster integriceps
Put. (Hem., Scutelleridae), a major pest of cereal crops. By 1962, the mass production and release of Trissoclus spp. wasps began, ultimately reaching a scale of two
million wasps released per year. In the mid-1970s, efforts were made to import and
release the Trichogramma brassicae (Hym., Trichogrammatidae) against rice stem
borer, Chilo suppressalis (Lep., Pyralidae) in North provinces of Iran. During this
decade, Platytelenomus hylas (Hym., Scelionida) successfully suppressed
populations of the greater sugarcane borer, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lep., Noctuidae)
in Khuzsetan Province. The establishment of insectariums as well as research and
development for this agent was initiated in the mid-1980s.
In the last three decades, facilities for mass rearing of biocontrol agents were
widely developed and subsequently, the development of biological control programs
accelerated. Universities and research institutions also contributed to this development via fundamental and practical researches. Moreover, national meetings such as
the “Iranian Plant Protection Congress”, “Iranian International Congress of Entomology, “Iranian National Biocontrol Meetings” and “International Persian Congress of Acarology” were held regularly, offering opportunities for researchers in
biocontrol and other fields of study to exchange the ideas and present their findings.
vii