The first report on feeding of Oxycarenus hyalinipennis and Aphis fabae on dodder Cuscuta campestris in Iran

Some experiments with the aim to identify insects feeding on the dodder Cuscuta campestris Yuncke as an important parasitic flowering plant, resulted in the discovery of two new potential biological control agents namely Oxycarenus hyalinipennis (Costa, ۱۸۴۳) (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) and Aphis fabae Scopoli, ۱۷۶۳ (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Oxycarenus hyalinipennis was observed feeding extensively on dodder seed capsules that were parasitizing Christ's thorn Jujube tree Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Wild. Also aphid feeding caused severe damage to the dodder vine wraps on native hopbush Dodonaea viscosa (L.) Jacq. This is the first report of O. hyalinipennis and A. fabae feeding on C. campestris highlighting their potential as a biological control agent in Iran.

Keywords:

Aphis fabae , Oxycarenus hyalinipennis , Dodder , Biological control agent , Aphis fabae , Oxycarenus hyalinipennis , سس , عامل کنترل بیولوژیک