Parasitoids of the Small Poplar Longhorn Beetle, Saperda populnea (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), in the Aras Valley (Kars and Erzurum Provinces), Turkey

Authors: HİKMET ÖZBEK, GÖKSEL TOZLU, SALİHA ÇORUH

Abstract: The parasitoids of the small poplar longhorn beetle, Saperda populnea (L.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), were studied in the Aras Valley (Kars and Erzurum provinces), Turkey, during 2006-2007. Five parasitoid species, Paraperithous gnathaulax (Thomson), Dolichomitus populneus (Ratzeburg), Dolichomitus tuberculatus (Geoffroy) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Ipbiaulax impostor (Scopoli) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), and Billaea irrorata (Meig.) (Diptera: Tachinidae), were reared from the over-wintering larvae living in the galls of S. populnea. Dolichomitus populneus was the most numerous of the parasitoids and accounted for 55% of all parasitoids reared. Ipbiaulax impostor and B. irrorata were reared from S. populnea for the first time in Turkey. Additionally, B. irrorata is a new record for the Turkish fauna.

Keywords: Saperda populnea, parasitoids, Paraperithous gnathaulax, Dolichomitus populneus, Ipbiaulax impostor, Billaea irrorata, new records, Turkey

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