Applicative, biological and olfactometer responses of Hymenoptera Bethylidae with special attention to Holepyris sylvanidis and Cephalonomia waterstoni

Abstract

The natural enemies reported as biocontrol agents of stored products pests have showed promising characteristics to keep the damaging insects under the economic damaging level. Mainly, the studies conducted until now have been focalised on those natural enemies belonging to the families: Pteromalidae, Ichneumonidae, Braconidae and Trichogrammatidae. The biology and the applicative aspects of the parasitoids belonging to the family Bethylidae have been only partially evaluated, thus a lack of knowledge is present. The aim of this study was to collect the studies reported in the literature in order to summarize the information on bethilds reported as biological control agents. Afterwards, three experimental phases were conducted aiming at evaluating two bethilds candidate as biocontrol agents for stored products: Holepyris sylvanidis (Brèthes) e Cephalonomia waterstoni (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae). For the first natural enemy some aspects of the biology have been evaluated trying to underline possible applicative consequences. For both the parasitoids, the host searching behaviour has been evaluated in a four-chamber olfactometer.