Corps de l’article

Micrurapteryx sophorivora Kuznetsov and Tristan was first described and recorded from Alma-Ata (Kuznetsov and Tristan 1985), and a second record was reported from Kuluncak (Turkey) (unpublished data). This moth had previously been recorded on Sophora sp. (Kuznetsov and Tristan 1985) and later on leaves of Robinia pseudoacacia L. (unpublished data). Mines of M. sophorivora commonly occur on leaves of R. pseudoacacia in Turkey. We have observed that the larvae of moth feed on the lower side of the leaf epidermis at early stages and, at later stages, move to the upper side of the leaf, consuming epidermal tissue, which results in large blotch mines on the leaf surface. Larvae leave the mines at the pre-pupal stage and pupation takes place on the leaf surface. There have been a few studies on M. sophorivora (e.g. Kuznetsov and Tristan 1985), but no work has been conducted on the natural enemies of this species. Thus, the objective of this study was to identify the parasitoids of M. sophorivora occurring in Turkey.

This study was carried out in 2004 in the Kuluncak district, located in the province of Malatya. Infested leaves of R. pseudoacacia were collected and brought to the laboratory. Infested leaves were kept in plastic culture containers at approximately 25°C and 70% relative humidity. Lepidoptera specimens and parasitoid adults were retrieved from the containers after emergence and kept separately. All the parasitoids were preserved in 70% ethanol and Lepidoptera specimens were preserved as dry material. Parasitoids were sorted out and identified, and the number of specimens for each species was counted. Parasitoids were identified by the first author and M. sophorivora was identified by the second author.

A total of seven species of parasitoids were reared from Micrurapteryx sophorivora. These parasitoid species, their number and relative abundance are given in Table 1.

Table 1

Parasitoid species reared from Micrurapteryx sophorivora

Parasitoid species reared from Micrurapteryx sophorivora

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Six of the parasitoids found in this investigation are members of the family Eulophidae and the remaining one is member of the family Pteromalidae. All the parasitoids reared were recorded for the first time from M. sophorivora. Of these, Necremnus croton (Walker) was found to be the most common parasitoid (50%), followed by Neochrysocharis formosa (Westwood). The other parasitoids were less abundant. In addition, Baryscapus nigroviolaceus (Nees) is a new record for Turkish fauna.

Hymenopterous parasitoid species have various lifestyles (Gauld and Bolton 1988). In this study, N. croton was recorded as larval ectoparasitoid. Life styles of the other parasitoid species were not determined. Although there have been a few studies on M. sophorivora (Kuznetsov and Tristan 1985), no investigation on the natural enemies of M. sophorivora had ever been undertaken. The present study is the first study on the parasitoids of M. sophorivora.

New species recorded from M. sophorivora have been reported on various hosts belonging to other mining Lepidoptera species and agromyzids. Some of these hosts, especially those belonging to Gracillaridae, are summarized below.

Baryscapus nigroviolaceus has been reported on Phyllocnistis unipunctella, Phyllonorycter cavella, P. corylifoliella, P. lantanella, P. blancardella, P. comparella, P. froelichiella and P. robiniella (Graham 1991; Noyes 2002).

Cirrospilus pictus (Nees) has been reported on Callisto denticulella, Caloptilia elongella, Gracillaria syringella, Parornix anguliferella, Phyllocnistis citrella, P. tremulella, P. unipunctella, Phyllonorycter blancardella, P. connexella, P. corylifoliella, P. cytisella, P. cytisifoliae, P. maestingella, P. malella, P. platanoidella, P. pomifoliella, P. populifoliella, P. pyrifoliella, P. ringoniella, P. salictella, P. schreberella, P. sorbi, P. spinicolella, P. strigulatella and P. ulmifoliella (Noyes 2002; Zhu et al. 2002).

Necremnus croton has only been reported on Pseudobankesia macedoniella [Lepidoptera: Psychidae] (Boucek and Askew 1968; Doganlar 1985). Neochrysocharis arvensis (Graham) has been reported on many species of Agromyzidae. However, these parasitoids are recorded for the first time from a species of the Gracillaridae (Gençer 2004; Noyes 2002).

Neochrysocharis formosa has been reported on Metriochroa latifoliella, Phyllocnistis citrella, Phyllonorycter blancardella, P. cavella, P. celtisella, P. corylifoliella, P. messaniella, P. millierella, P. platani, P. roboris and P. spinicolella (Gençer 2004; Hansson 1990; Noyes 2002).

In addition, Pteromalus sp. and Pnigalio sp. have been reared from M. sophorivora. Identification efforts failed at the species level because of the condition of the specimens. However, some species belonging to Pteromalus and Pnigalio have been reported on Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera, but M. sophorivora is not reported as a host.

This study indicates that detailed investigations on parasitoids reared from M. sophorivora are needed, including studies on their lifestyle.