A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance
Agriculture plays an essential role in meeting global food demand, and so effective pest control is crucial. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are a significant problem for many crops worldwide, and cause crop losses. They are considered one of the most important groups of pests in the world. Aphid para...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Mar Ferrer-Suay Marc Barreda Ehsan Rakhshani Eugenia Rodrigo Jesús Selfa Andrew Polaszek |
| author_facet | Mar Ferrer-Suay Marc Barreda Ehsan Rakhshani Eugenia Rodrigo Jesús Selfa Andrew Polaszek |
| author_sort | Mar Ferrer-Suay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Agriculture plays an essential role in meeting global food demand, and so effective pest control is crucial. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are a significant problem for many crops worldwide, and cause crop losses. They are considered one of the most important groups of pests in the world. Aphid parasitoids are very important as biological agents, both for their effectiveness and their host range selectivity. This study provides a review of these groups of parasitoids and their possible role and use in aphid biological control. Two groups of primary parasitoids, Aphelinidae and Braconidae: Aphidiinae, are the main groups that can be used in the biological control of aphids. There is also a diversity of hyperparasitoids whose hosts are these primary parasitoids and therefore are likely to be detrimental to the biological control programs: Megaspilidae in the superfamily Ceraphronoidea, the following Chalcidoidea families: Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Moranilidae, Pteromalidae, and Signiphoridae, and Cynipoidea: Figitidae: Charipinae. Records of Mymaridae emerging from aphids, while assumed to be obligate egg-parasitoids, are discussed. Dichotomous keys are provided to identify the superfamilies, families and most important genera associated with aphids. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fe1aa23d7d28485b96e71440e7236907 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-fe1aa23d7d28485b96e71440e72369072025-08-20T03:35:37ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-06-0116764810.3390/insects16070648A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic ImportanceMar Ferrer-Suay0Marc Barreda1Ehsan Rakhshani2Eugenia Rodrigo3Jesús Selfa4Andrew Polaszek5Departament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Campus de Burjassot-Paterna, Bloc B, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, SpainDepartament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Campus de Burjassot-Paterna, Bloc B, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, SpainDepartment of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Zabol, Zabol 98615-538, IranInstituto Agroforestal del Mediterráneo, Universitat Politècnica de Valencia, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022 Valencia, SpainDepartament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Campus de Burjassot-Paterna, Bloc B, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, SpainScience: Research, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UKAgriculture plays an essential role in meeting global food demand, and so effective pest control is crucial. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae) are a significant problem for many crops worldwide, and cause crop losses. They are considered one of the most important groups of pests in the world. Aphid parasitoids are very important as biological agents, both for their effectiveness and their host range selectivity. This study provides a review of these groups of parasitoids and their possible role and use in aphid biological control. Two groups of primary parasitoids, Aphelinidae and Braconidae: Aphidiinae, are the main groups that can be used in the biological control of aphids. There is also a diversity of hyperparasitoids whose hosts are these primary parasitoids and therefore are likely to be detrimental to the biological control programs: Megaspilidae in the superfamily Ceraphronoidea, the following Chalcidoidea families: Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Moranilidae, Pteromalidae, and Signiphoridae, and Cynipoidea: Figitidae: Charipinae. Records of Mymaridae emerging from aphids, while assumed to be obligate egg-parasitoids, are discussed. Dichotomous keys are provided to identify the superfamilies, families and most important genera associated with aphids.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/648AphididaeAphidiinaeAphidoideaBraconidaeChalcidoideahyperparasitoids |
| spellingShingle | Mar Ferrer-Suay Marc Barreda Ehsan Rakhshani Eugenia Rodrigo Jesús Selfa Andrew Polaszek A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance Insects Aphididae Aphidiinae Aphidoidea Braconidae Chalcidoidea hyperparasitoids |
| title | A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance |
| title_full | A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance |
| title_short | A Review of Aphid Parasitoids, with an Identification Key to the Genera of Economic Importance |
| title_sort | review of aphid parasitoids with an identification key to the genera of economic importance |
| topic | Aphididae Aphidiinae Aphidoidea Braconidae Chalcidoidea hyperparasitoids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/7/648 |
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