Species diversity of Ichneumonoidea (Hymenoptera) from Rice fields of Mazandaran province, northern Iran

The wasps of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea (including, two families Braconidae and Ichneumonidae) are one of the most efficient parasitoids in almost agroecosystems which have effective role in control of various agricultureal and forest pests. The species diversity of these beneficial insects was studied in some regions of Mazandaran province, especially in rice fields and surrounding areas. In total 29 species, which Braconidae with 15 species within 8 subfamilies Brachistinae (single species), Braconinae (4 species from single genus), Cheloninae (5 species from 3 genera), Doryctinae (single species), Euphorinae (single species), Helconinae (single species), Microgastrinae (single species), Sigalphinae (single species), and Ichneumonidae with 14 species from 2 subfamilies Campopleginae (7 species from 6 genera) and Tryphoninae (7 species from 4 genera) were collected and identified. Four species of Ichneumonidae, Diadegma consumptor Gravenhorst, 1829, Diadegma fenestralis (Holmgren, 1860), Hyposoter ebeninus (Gravenhorst, 1829) and Netelia (Netelia) rufescens (Tosquinet, 1896) are new records for the fauna of Iran.