Aphid’s parasitoid fauna and their trophic associations in the oasis ecosystems of Zibans (Biskra, Algeria)

Abstract A study on the fauna of aphids’ parasitoids was carried out in the oasis ecosystems of the Ziban in the region of Biskra, Algeria. Eighteen primary parasitoids species belong to 2 subfamilies; Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae), represented by 17 species and 6 genera (Aphidius, Diaeretiella, Ephedrus, Lysiphlebus, Praon,andBinodoxys) and the subfamily Aphelininae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Aphelinidae), represented by only one species of the genusAphelinuswas listed. The parasitoid species were collected and identified in association with 22 species of aphids infesting 29 host plant species belonging to 13 botanical families. A number of 83 tri-trophic plant-aphid-parasitoid associations were presented. The two parasitoid species,Aphidius matricariae(Hal.) andLysiphlebus testaceipes(Cress.), were the most abundant species. The present study dealt only with primary parasitoids, while hyperparasitoids will be presented in another publication.