Distribution and diversity of wheat aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Iran
2008
Rakhshani, E.,University of Zabol (Iran Islamic Republic). Dept. of Plant Protection | Tomanovic, Z.,University of Belgrade (Serbia). Inst. of Zoology | Stary, P.,Akademie Ved, Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic). Entomologicky Ustav | Talebi, A.A.,Tarbiat Modares Univ., Tehran (Iran Islamic Republic). Dept. of Entomology | Kavallieratos, N.G.,Benaki Phytopathological Inst., Kifissia (Greece). Lab. of Agricultural Entomology | Zamani, A.A.,University of Razi, Kermanshah (Iran Islamic Republic). Dept. of Plant Protection | Stamenkovic, S.,University of Belgrade (Serbia). Inst. of Zoology
Eleven species of parasitoids were found to attack 7 species of wheat aphids in Iran. The Simpson's Index of diversity (D) used to compare the aphidiine diversity in various cereal crop systems in geographically different regions of Iran ranged from 0.197 to 0.488, depending on locality. There were significant differences among species diversities at different altitudes. The central highlands (1,000-1,500 meters above mean sea level) were the areas with the most diverse aphid parasitoid complex, differing significantly from that at lower and higher altitudes. We found that altitude explained about 10% of the cereal aphid parasitoid distribution pattern in Iran. Species of the genus Aphidius were the most abundant and widely distributed. These were Aphidius rhopalosiphi, Aphidius uzbekistanicus, Aphidius colemani and Aphidius matricariae. A. uzbekistanicus, Ephedrus plagiator and Ephedrus persicae were encountered mainly on the plains at lower altitudes. Diuraphis noxia was mainly recorded at higher altitudes along with its dominant parasitoid species, Diaeretiella rapae. The fact that Iran is close to the presumed area of D. noxia origin (Central Asian submountains) could be very important in further biological control efforts against this pest aphid. According to our results, Aphidius ervi is a very rare parasitoid of cereal aphids in Iran.
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