Native parasitoids of the fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, ۱۷۷۳) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae), an invasive alien pest in northern Iran

The fall webworm, Hyphantria cunea (Drury, ۱۷۷۳) (Lepidoptera, Erebidae), is one of the most important pests of forest trees in northern Iran. In order to identify the native parasitoids of this pest a survey was conducted in Guilan province, in ۲۰۱۹. The larvae and pupae of the fall webworm suspected being parasitized, were collected from different host trees and wood piles, and reared under laboratory conditions until the parasitoids emerged. This pest was found parasitized with five species of Hymenoptera, Brachymeria lasus (Walker, ۱۸۴۱) (Chalcididae), Chouioia cunea Yang, ۱۹۸۹ (Eulophidae), Psychophagus omnivorus (Walker, ۱۸۳۵) (Pteromalidae), Pimpla rufipes Brulle, ۱۸۴۶, Virgichneumon dumeticola (Gravenhorst, ۱۸۲۹) (Ichneumonidae), and four species of Diptera, Compsilura concinnata (Meigen, ۱۸۲۴), Exorista larvarum (Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸), Pales sp. (Tachinidae), and Megaselia scalaris (Loew, ۱۸۶۶) (Phoridae). Among them six species (e.g., P. rufipes, V. dumeticola, B. lasus, E. larvarum, C. concinnata and Pales sp.) are newly reported as the parasitoids of H. cunea from Iran.

Keywords:

Invasive pest , conservation , parasitoid , Tachinidae , Chalcidoidea , Ichneumonoidea