Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids of the Middle East and North Africa: host range pattern, distribution and taxonomy

Abstract

The area of North African countries is biogeographically divided into the Mediterranean climate region in the north, and the arid Sahara in the south, albeit both of them can be subdivided into various ecozones. Although numerous faunistic and biosystematical researches on Aphidiinae have been conducted in this complex region, many parts are still unexplored. We have investigated the Aphidiinae parasitoids of the Middle East and North Africa, aiming to compare their diversity in various countries and establish a background for future research, especially within the unexplored areas. New material, originating from Saudi Arabia, has been studied and new findings are presented. A total of 108 Aphidiinae species, belonging to 18 genera, associated with 240 aphid species in 16 countries of the Middle East and North Africa are reviewed. The remarkable number of 743 host aphid-parasitoid associations have been identified. New material has been collected from various regions of Saudi Arabia. Several species from the genera Aphidius and Praon are first time recorded for the fauna of theses countries. We introduce a meticulous key for the accurate identification of all known species in the area. On the basis of biogeographical complexity, Aphidiinae of the Middle East and North Africa include endemic, invasive, cosmopolitan and rare species. The presence of some important invasive aphid species and their aphidiine parasitoids as important biocontrol agents in the target area has also been investigated. Further field efforts are necessary to be conducted in the unexplored regions of the North Africa, and Western Asia, which have diverse climatic conditions, so as to shed light on the very complex plant-aphid aphidiine tritrophic associations and reveal new species.