Ascoviruses are insect-specific large DNA viruses that mainly infect noctuid larvae, and are transmitted by parasitoids in the fields. Heliothis virescens ascovirus 3h (HvAV-3h) has been recently isolated from Spodoptera exigua, without parasitoid vector identified previously. Here we report that Microplitis similis, a solitary endoparasitoid wasp, could transmit HvAV-3h between S. exigua larva...

chromatomyia horticola (goureau) (diptera: agromyzidae) is a highly polyphagous leaf miner that causes severe damage to different crops. sampling on the alysiinae (braconidae) parasitoids of c. horticola was performed at various locations of kermanshah province during 2009–2010. infested leaves of host plants bearing the larvae and puparia of c. horticola were collected and placed inside the pl...

Area-wide control of the Mediterranean fruit fly (=medfly), Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), typically involves sterile insect technique (=SIT), and at present the ‘‘Temperature Sensitive Lethal’’ (=TSL) strain is commonly mass-reared for such releases. In theory, and with some experimental support, the augmentative addition of parasitoids to sterile releases can suppress pest populations to a g...

t ( s t a ( s a c s t t ( a o a O F c m t a P w 1 i a We surveyed 15 wild and cultivated plant species in earch of fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) parasitoids uring 4 years (1993–1996) in the state of Veracruz, exico. The following species were infested by Anastreha larvae: Spondias purpurea L., S. mombin L., Tairira mexicana Marchand, Mangifera indica L. (all nacardiaceae), Ximenia americana ...

fauna of the aphidiinae (hymenoptera: braconidae) of iran is reviewed and the data on their host aphid associations are summarized. seventy-eight species belonging to 17 genera of aphidiinae are listed in the associations with 193 aphid species. a total of 491 parasitoid-aphid associations are presented. the distribution of the aphidiinae species in different parts of iran and other countries i...

Protein-enriched pea flour is toxic and repellent to three major stored grain pests, the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.), the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens). A unique and valuable aspect of the protein-enriched pea flour is that it is not toxic several parasitoids that are associated with two of these insect pests. ...

Communication in ants is based to a great extent on chemical compounds. Recognition of intruders is primarily based on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profile matching but is prone to being cheated. Eucharitid wasps are specific parasitoids of the brood of ants; the immature stages are either well integrated within the colony or are protected within the host cocoons, whereas adult wasps at emergenc...

Parasitoid disturbance populations in agroecosystems can be maintained through the provision of habitat refuges with host resources. However, specialized herbivores that feed on different host plants have been shown to form host-specialized races. Parasitoids may subsequently specialize on these herbivore host races and therefore prefer parasitizing insects from the refuge, avoiding foraging on...

Diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is the most injurious insect pest of brassica crops throughout the world. In many countries it has developed resistance to almost every synthetic insecticide used against it including Bt formulations. In addition to resistance, the destruction of its natural enemies through indiscriminate use of broadspectrum insecticides is...