Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2013;1 (4): 116-140 ISSN 2320-7078 Iranian Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) JEZS 2013;1 (4): 116-140 © 2013 AkiNik Publications Received: 28-06-2013 Shaaban Abd-Rabou*, Hassan Ghahari, Svetlana N. Myartseva & Enrique Ruíz- Cancino Accepted: 23-07-2013 ABSTRACT Aphelinidae is one of the most important families in biological control of insect pests at a worldwide level. The following catalogue of the Iranian fauna of Aphelinidae includes a list of all genera and species recorded for the country, their distribution in and outside Iran, and known hosts in Iran. In total 138 species from 11 genera (Ablerus, Aphelinus, Aphytis, Coccobius, Coccophagoides, Coccophagus, Encarsia, Eretmocerus, Marietta, Myiocnema, Pteroptrix) are listed as the fauna of Iran. Aphelinus semiflavus Howard, 1908 and Coccophagoides similis (Masi, 1908) are new records for Iran. Key words: Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae, Catalogue. Shaaban Abd-Rabou Plant Protection Research 1. Introduction Institute, Agricultural Research Aphelinid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) are important in nature, Center, Dokki-Giza, Egypt. especially in the population regulation of hemipterans on many different plants.These [E-mail:
[email protected]] parasitoid wasps are also relevant in the biological control of whiteflies, soft scales and aphids [44] Hassan Ghahari . Studies on this family have been done mainly in relation with pests of fruit crops as citrus Department of Plant Protection, and others. John S. Noyes has published an Interactive On-line Catalogue [78] which includes Shahre Rey Branch, Islamic Azad up-to-date published information on the taxonomy, distribution and hosts records for the University, Tehran, Iran. Chalcidoidea known throughout the world, including more than 1300 described species in 34 [E-mail:
[email protected]] genera at world level.