Egypt. J. Plant Prot. Res. Inst. (2020), 3 (1): 415 - 432 Egyptian Journal of Plant Protection Research Institute www.ejppri.eg.net Survey and distribution density of genus Brachymeria species (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) in Egypt Mohammed, Abd El-Salam¹; Fawzy, F. Shalaby²; Eman, I. El-Sebaey¹ and Adel, A. Hafez² ¹Plant Protection Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. ²Faculty of Agriculture, Banha University, Egypt. ARTICLE INFO Abstract: Article History Surveys of Brachymeria (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) Received: 15/ 2 / 2020 parasitoids attack larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera, Accepted: 22/ 3 /2020 Diptera and Coleoptera were conducted in the Egypt Keywords between 2014 and 2018. The population density of Chalcididae, Brachymeria, Brachymeria was counted in Egypt. Data on distribution parasitoid, hosts, distribution, of 12 Brachymeria wasp species provides. In this study, density and ecosystem. field experiments were undertaken during 2014 and 2016 seasons in Monoufia, Qalubiya and Giza Governorates. The obtained results indicated that pupae of Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: ‎Pieridae) and Earias insulana (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were obtained. The highest mean parasitism percentage was recorded at sowing during September 2014 and 2015 cabbage growing seasons (28.49% at 2014 and24.46 % in 2015) respectively by Brachymeria femorata (Panzer) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). The highest mean parasitism percentage was recorded in Qalubiya Governorate during 2015 in cotton growing seasons (4.76%) followed by Giza Governorate during 2016 in cotton growing seasons (4.47%) by Brachymeria brevicornis (Klug) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). Introduction Hymenopterous parasitoids have parasitoids that have been used immense importance in natural and successfully for the biological control of agricultural ecosystems, where they many insect pest species. The genus influence or regulate the population Brachymeria Westwood, 1829 belongs to density of many pests (Godfray, 1994). the subfamily Chalcidinae. Apparently, Chalcidids comprise a very important there are almost 300 species of beneficial group of parasitoids as many Brachymeria in the world (Noyes, 2011) species of the family are important of which many are economically 415 Abd El-Salam et al.., 2020 important as they are used in the inspections of cultivated plants covered biological control as entomophagous some Egyptian area that have variable against insect pests. These chalcids climate due to different ecological zones parasitize the mature larvae and pupae of (Beheira , Qalubiya, Monoufia, Giza, the wide range species of various orders. Asiut, Fayoum, Cairo , Kafr El Sheikh, They play significant role in the Sharqia, Mersa Matruh, Arish ) .The ecosystem of various economically represented crops were; cotton important crops. (Gossypium hirsutum ), cabbage In Egypt Brachymeria includes (Brassica oleracea), vegetable the most common and widely taxa marrow (Cucurbita pepo), sunflower distributed in the family Chalcididae and (Helianthus annuus), faba bean (Viciab worldwide. Many species of this genus faba), Egyptian mallow (Malva are primary endoparasitoids of parviflora), okra (Abelmoschus lepidopterous families; Diptera (Fam. esculentus), oboe cane (Arundo donax), Sarcophagidae) and Coloeopterous clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) , wheat families. On the other hand, sometime (Triticum aestivum) , rice (Oryza sativa), hyperparasitic species are found to peanuts (Arachis hypogaea) , pampas parasitise Diptera (Tachinidae) and grass (Cortaderia selloana) plants and Ichneumonid (Hymenoptera). maize (Zea mays), sesame (Sesamum Brachymeria taxa look very much alike, indicum), some fruit trees , some weeds but they differ widely in habits. and some ornamental plants, In addition Therefore, the precise determination of to chicken wastes , the waste of the altars the species concerned is highly important and some animal jeff . The host plants in any host-parasite study for biological were examined with the naked eye to control involving this genus (Joseph et collect Lipedopteran, Coelopteran and al., 1973). Accurate techniques to detect Dipteran last stage larvae and pupae and identify parasitoids are a prerequisite (Figure, 1). Sampling was carried out for understanding and managing host– using sweeping net in the morning parasitoid interactions: for example, they (Figure, 2). The pitfall traps were used to are needed to measure and monitor collect occurring chalcidid parasitoids parasitism rates (Agusti et al., 2005). especially Brachymeria wasps. Light Studies on the ecology of parasitoids can traps were also used in the following supply the basic information necessary areas (Armey, Khorshed, Quture, Al for biological control and for its efficient Santah, El Qanater El Khayreya, Dishna, operations as strategy point undertaking Desert Research Center Farm (El Sadat integrated control plan in Egypt, where City), International Raghy Farm, Marsa the losses suffered due to damage to Alam, Abo Simbol, Qus, Edfu, Safaga crops by insect pests are often enormous and Aswan). The traps covered all in addition to prolonged effects and months of this year. Survey operations hazards of chemical control on the were usually carried out on experimental ecosystem . plots that are often not treated with Materials and methods pesticides as well as months or period in 1. Survey of parasitoid with host’s which the pesticide use is less or less identification: effective during the period of plant life Throughout the period from .In order to obtains the parasitoids, the September , 2013 to May 2018, trapped were insects, were gently placed 416 Egypt. J. Plant Prot. Res. Inst. (2020), 3 (1): 415 - 432 in taken by glass tubes (10cm) (Plant Protection Research Institute (containing KCN at the bottom) until Collections, Ain Shams Univ. Collection, mortality of insects inside. killing Cairo Univ. Collection and Al-Azhar purpose. Specimens were preserved in Univ. Collection ) to determine 75% alcohol until they were mounted on Brachymeria hosts, monthly occurrence cards. Different specimens were collected and geographical zone of species in from diverse ecological zones of Egypt. Egyptian Governorates. The collected 2. Pieris rapae and Brachymeria specimens were labeled, indentified and femorata parasitoid : recorded along with the relevant data of An experimental area of 40 kirats localities, date of collection and hosts. located at Toukh Tanbisha village, Berkat The identifications or compare of El-Sabaa region, Monoufia Governorate specimens were, mostly, carried out using was chosen during 2014 and 2015 Bouček (1952, 1956,1988); Habu (1960); cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) Masi (1929a,b, 1936); Nikol’skaya growing seasons as host plant. The whole (1952); Steffan (1959); Joseph et al. area was divided into 4 replicates (10 (1973) and Narendran and Achterberg kirats each). All replicates were planted (2016). Material examined in this study with cabbage seedling. In the first season, was deposited in the collection of sowing dates were February 3rd, May 1st, Agriculture Research Center, Researches July 2nd and September 5th. In the 2nd Institute of Plants Protection Insect, season, the sowing dates were February Taxonomy Department (Giza). All 2nd, May 3rd, and September 5th. Sowing Brachymeria species that saved in main was carried out at intra-ridge spacing 70 collection of Egyptian Agriculture cm on average, with an average of 10000 Ministry collected by both Mabrouk, seedlings per feddan. All the Alfieri, Farag, Breeding, Adier, Kasim, recommended agricultural practices were Rabinovitch, Breeding, Hayweerd, followed, except any pesticide Priesiner, Ali and Husny during the application. After 7 weeks of sowing period from 1913-1934. All species date, the samples were collected weekly collected by the mentioned authors were during the 8 weeks and 250 cabbage identified by L. Masi. In addition to the plants were chosen randomly represented previous field survey a literature review one replicate was checked weekly. Last survey carried out including available immature larval and healthy pupal stages insect reference collections in Egypt of cabbage worm a b c d Fig ure (1): Collected pupae belonging to different insect species: a. Musca domestica and blowflies pupae c. Earias insulana pupae b. Pieris rapae pupae d. Vanessa cardui pupae 417 Abd El-Salam et al.., 2020 Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) ‎(Lepidoptera Earias insulana ‎ (Boisduval) :‎Pieridae) was collected in cotton and (Lepidoptera: ‎Nolidae) were collected kept in cloth bags which were closed with and placed in test tubes which were rubber bands and transferred to stopper with pieces of cotton , then laboratory where the bags were put in transferred to laboratory. Tubes were put small lb glass jars capacity covered with in small lb glass jars capacity covered muslin cloth under laboratory conditions with muslin cloth under laboratory of 25 ± 2°C and 65± 5% R.H. The conditions (25 ± 2°C and 65± 5% R.H.). number of emerged parasitoids was The numbers of emerged parasitoids were recorded and tabled. counted, recorded and tabled at 24 hrs. 3.Spiny bollworm Earias insulana and Percentages of parasitism ratios were Brachymeria brevicornis parasitoid: calculated according to the following The experimental area of this formula: study was 12 kirats located at three districts; Ibnahs village, Qewaisna region, Monoufia Governorate, Qaha, Qalubiya Governorate and Saft El Laban road, Giza Governorate cultivated with cotton