NEW RECORDS OF APHELINID AND PTEROMALID WASPS (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA: APHELINIDAE: PTEROMALIDAE) FROM IRAN

This work including the survey and Identification of Genus Encarsia (Aphelinidae) and Family Pteromalidae during 1996-2004 in Iran. Forty one species of Encarsia and Pteromalidae recorded here at the first time in Iran, induding, 9 species of Genus Encarsia and 32 of family Pteromalidae. Since the early of 1980s, application of biological control methods against insect pests has had a major resurgence. Parasoitold Hymenptera are among the most important agents for biological control and are extremely abundant in most terrestrial habitats. Despite, their importance, their biology and taxonomy remain poorly known and their identification is difficult Tuber (1993). Recently, Genus Encarsia of Iran surveyed, identified and described by Abd-Rabou and Ghahari,2004. In this part of the work more samples were collected, recently, 2002-2004. Family Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) fauna of Iran Is poorly studied and until now only 2S species are known (Chojai, 1968, Davatchi & Chojai, 1969, Monajemi, 1975, Radjabi & Amir-Nazari, 1989, Mosaddegh, 1993). Samples were collected from different locations of Iran during 1998-2003. Identification of parasitoids was made by examining their mounted adults accorchng to (Noyes, 1982) .All the identified wasps, and most of their hosts are deposited in Department of Entomology, Science & Research Campus, Islamic Azad University, Tehran-Iran. I. Family : Apheiinidae Family Aphetinidde here represented only by Genus Encomia Forester The EiVaraa spp. (Hymenoptera: Chalckloidea: AphelinIclae) fauna o( Iran Is very diverse and at the same time unknown. Until now only 18 Veda are known (Modaires Mal, 1997, Chahar' & Natant, 2000, Abd-Rabou & Ghahari ,2004). The preset study, states that, 9 species are reported as the new records for Iran.