Abundance and parasitism rate of larval and pupal parasitoids of Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in four regions of Iran

Abundance and parasitism rate of larval and pupal parasitoids of Diamondback moth، Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) were studied at four different climatic regions in Iran (Golestan، Alborz، Isfahan and Khozestan Provinces). Nine wasp species including six larval and one pupal parasitoid and two hyperparasitoid wasps were determined. The identified parasitoids were included the braconids Cotesia vestalis (Kurdjumov، 1912) (at four selected regions)، Apanteles sp. (Alborz and Isfahan Provinces)، Bracon hebetor Say (Alborz Province)، Microplitis sp. (Khozestan Province)، ichneumoind Diadegma semiclausum (Hellen) (Alborz، Isfahan and Khozestan Provinces)، the eulophid Oomyzus sokolowskii (Kurdjumov) (Alborz and Isfahan Provinces) as larval parasitoids and the ichneumonid Diadromus subtilicornis (Gravenhorst) as pupal parasitoid (Isfahan and Khozestan Provinces). In addition، the petromalid Mokrzeckia sp. (Khozestan Province) and Pteromalus sp. (Alborz and Isfahan Provinces) were identified as hyperparasitoids that parasitize C. vestalis and D. semiclausum، respectively. In three regions (Alborz، Isfahan and Khozestan Provinces)، D. semiclausum was themost predominant species with high parasitism rate. Our findings demonstreated thatthe D. semiclausum، is good candidate and could be considered for release in P. xylostella biological control programs.