Natural Parasitism associated with species of Sarcophagidae family of Diptera in Iran

Abstract

Context: Sarcophagidae is one of the most important families of Muscomorpha. They have been reported from various parts of Iran. Native biological control agents, which may be substantial candidates for control of Sarcophagidae, have not been extensively studied in Iran. Aim: To identify main parasitoid wasps that are actively parasites pupa of Sarcophagidae in Tehran. Setting and design: Mass collection was done primarily by means of bottle traps in three city parks of Tehran. Collected pupa were kept solely in each plastic cup, and the wasps or adult flies were counted after emergence. Statistical Analysis Used: Means and rates. Results: Two parasitoid species, Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Brachymeria podagrica (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) emerged from the Parasited pupae. Parasitic rate for N. vitripennis was nearly 26.7%, and that for B. podagrica was closely 2.2%. The highest number of emerged adults from one pupa was 16 for N. vitripennis, with an average of about 10. In this study, Sarcophaga argyrostoma recorded as the dominant species of nonparasitized pupa and Wohlfahrtia nuba were fewer in number. Conclusion: Except for personal protection methods, there aren't other control measures for fly population in Iran. Before large-scale application of these parasitic wasps for the reduction of fly populations, their mass rearing and the methods of dispersing and their filed evaluations have to be done.