A study on the predator and parasitoid insects in some cotton fields of Iran

Abstract

Introduction: Cotton or white gold (Gossypium spp., Malvaceae) is one of important and valuable crops which is used in textile and oil industries. There are diverse and key pests in all the cotton fields of Iran which cause severe damages to this crop.
Materials & Methods: The fauna of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) of cotton pests was studied in some cotton fields of Iran.
Result: In total, forty three species of predators within order Coleoptera (eight species of Coccinellidae and five species of Carabidae), order Diptera (seven species of the family Syrphidae), order Heteroptera (seven species of the family Anthocoridae, three species of
the family Geocoridae, three species of the family Nabidae, four species of the family Reduviidae), order Neuroptera (one species of the family Chrysopidae, one species of the family Hemerobiidae), order Mantodea (one species of the family Empusidae, three species of the family Mantidae) and 37 species of parasitoids in two orders Diptera (three species of the family Tachinidae) and Hymenoptera (five species of the family Aphelinidae, seven species of the family Braconidae, two species of the family Chalcididae, two species of the family Eulophidae, 12 species of the family Ichneumonidae, four species of the family Pteromalidae and two species of the family Trichogrammatidae were collected and identified.