Species diversity of Encarsia Förster (Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) in some regions of Guilan province, northern Iran

Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) are powerful parasitoids of several species of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea) which can have efficient role for control of these agricultural pests. Regarding to importance of these beneficial insects in biological control programs, species diversity of Encarsia was studied in some regions of Guilan province, northern Iran. Samplings were conducted in different regions upon the rearing of whiteflies' and scale insects' pupae as the main hosts of Encarsia species in optimum condition, and identification of emerged parasitoids. In total, eleven species including, Encarsia aurantii (Howard, 1894), Encarsia azimi Hayat, 1986, Encarsia berlesei (Howard, 1906), Encarsia citrina (Craw, 1891), Encarsia fasciata (Malenotti, 1917), Encarsia formosa Gahan, 1924, Encarsia inaron (Walker, 1839), Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese and Paoli, 1916), Encarsia lutea (Masi, 1909), Encarsia perniciosi (Tower, 1913),and Encarsia smithi (Silvestri, 1926) were collected and identified. Encarsia smithi is newly recorded from Guilan province. Species group, host records and distributional data are given. Checklist of Encarsia species in Guilan province (with totally 15 species) is given too.