Distribution and morphological characteristics of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Lepidosaphes pistaciae (Hem: Diaspididae) in Isfahan Province

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Lepidosaphes pistaciae Archangelskaya (Hem: Diaspididae) is an important pest of pistachio in sprayed orchards in Iran. This study was carried out to determine the local distribution of the parasitoids of pistachio oystershell scale in Isfahan Province, during 2003-2004 and to study the morphological characteristics of various developmental stages. A sampling program was conducted in five locations of pistachio production areas. In addition, some morphological characteristics of developmental stages in collected parasitoids were studied. As a result, four species were collected and identified from three locations of pistachio orchards. Among the parasitoids associated with L. pistaciae thefemale Coccobius annulicornis Ratzeburgwas the internal parasitoids of L. pistaciae,while, the males fed on their own species as hyperparasitoids. Moreover, Zaomma lambinus (Walker) feeds as endo-hyperparasitoid on mature larval stage of endo-parasitoid and ecto-parasitoid and rarely on pupal stage of endo-parasitoid. It seems that Ablerus sp. feeds as ecto-hyperparasitoid on mature larval and pupal stages of endo-parasitoid.

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