Microchelonus (Microchelonus) sulcatus (JURINE 1807)

Aydogdu, M. & Beyarslan, A., 2006, Microchelonus SZÉPLIGETI 1908 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae) species from the Marmara, Western and Blacksea regions of Turkey, Linzer biologische Beiträge 38 (1), pp. 397-407 : 404-405

Microchelonus (Microchelonus) sulcatus (JURINE 1807)

M a t e r i a l e x a m i n e d: Adapazari-Goktepe, trefoil, 50m, 08.07.1993, 13; Pamukova- Mekece , willow and poplar woodland, 20m, 25.07.2001, 2♀♀ ; Sapanca-Ataturk Milli Parki , oak forests, 10m, 27.06.2001, 2♀♀ ; Balikesir-Manyas-Kayacakoy, trefoil, 100m, 15.07.1993, 1♀; - Kuscenneti , pasture, 15m, 11.05.1991, 1♀, 13 ; Susurluk : 18.09.1992, 2♀♀ ; Bilecik-Bayirkoy , vegatable garden, 210m, 17.08.1994, 13 ; Bolu-Gerede-Guney, pasture, 1200m, 13.06.2002, 13; Siyamoglu , mixed forests, 600m, 28.06.2001, 13 ; Bursa-Karacabey-Cambazkoy, pasture, 200m, 12.7.1993, 1♀; - Hara , trefoil, 30m, 23.07.2001, 1♀ ; Canakkale-Eceabat-Conkbayiri, pasture, 65m, 06.05.1993, 13; Gelibolu-Cumali , crop field, 50m, 07.06.2001, 1♀, 13 ; - Findikli , mixed forests, 380m, 07.06.2001, 1♀, 13 ; Guney , pasture, 20m, 31.05.1993, 1♀ ; Yenice-Sameteli , vegatable garden, 140m, 12.09.2002, 13, Cankiri-Cerkes, pasture, 1170m, 04.07.2001, 13 ; Edirne- Iskenderkoy , pasture, 41m, 28.05.1993, 1♀ ; Kesan-Koru mountains , pine forests, 300m, 25.08.2000, 1♀ ; 09.09.1999, 1♀, 13; Lalapasa-Dogankoy , mixed forests, 370m, 04.05.1992, 333 ; Suakacagi , oak grove, 210m, 01.09.2001, 1♀ ; Karabuk-Bostanbuku , pasture, 290m, 28.08.2002, 1♀, 433 ; Kastamonu-Arac-Akgecit, pine forests, 400m, 28.6.2002, 13; Cide , orchard, 60m, 10.06.2002, 13 ; Doganyurt-Denizbuku , mixed forests, 200m, 10.06.2002, 1♀, 13 ; Kirklareli-Demirkoy , mixed forests, 330m, 16.06.1987, 1♀ ; - Boztas , mixed forests, 350 m, 06.07.1997, 13 ; Derekoy , mixed forests, 500m, 06.08.1985, 10♀♀, 233 ; Igneada-Begendik , pasture, 20 m, 28.07.1986, 6♀♀, 233 ; Luleburgaz-Seyitler , pasture, 75m, 18.07.2001, 2♀♀ ; Vize-Pabucdere , pasture, 130m, 12.06.1991, 13 ; Istanbul-Gaziosmanpasa-Bogazkoy, oak forests, 60m, 15.06.2001, 5♀♀; Catalca-Aydinlar , pasture, 70m, 25.8.1992, 1♀ ; - Durusu , pasture, 110m, 14.06.2001, 5♀♀ ; - Karamandere , orchard, 50m, 26.08.1991, 2♀♀, 233 ; Sariyer-Kisirmandira , pasture, 35m, 25.06.1993, 2♀♀ ; Silivri , trefoil, 50m, 25.08.1992, 1♀ ; - Buyukkilicli , pasture, 150m, 15.06.2001, 1♀, 13 ; Kucuksinekli , orchard, 170m, 03.09.2001, 1♀, 13 ; Izmit-Sapanca- Istanbul Univ. Tesis. , pine forests, 60m, 16.08.1994, 13 ; Sinop-Ayancik-Bakirlizaviye, mixed forests, 780m, 02.07.2001, 1♀; Tekirdag-Corlu , trefoil, 65m, 12.08.1993, 1♀ ; - Beyazkoy , pasture, 50m, 12.08.1993, 1♀ ; Ganos mountains , pasture, 760m, 14.07.1986, 3♀♀, 333 ; Muratli , pasture, 60m, 07.09.1999, 1♀ ; Ucmakdere , orchard, 270m, 24.08.2000, 1♀ ; Yazirkoy , crop field, 60m, 23.08.2000, 1♀ ; Tokat-Pazar-Ballica, orchard, 1020 m, 07.07.2003, 3♀♀, 13; Zonguldak- Caycuma-Yolgecen , orchard, 20 m, 09.06.2002, ♀, 233 .

D i s t r i b u t i o n i n T u r k e y: Antalya, Burdur, Isparta, Icel, Kahramanmaras

( Beyarslan 1985), Western and Middle Blacksea regions (first record).

G e n e r a l D i s t r i b u t i o n: Egypt, Belgium, England, Finland, former Czechoslavakia, former Yugoslavia, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Lithuania, Netherlands, Mongolia, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey.

H o s t s: Parasitoid of lepidopterans Rhyacionia buoliana SCHİFF., Tortrix sp. ( Tortricidae ); Gelechia mulinella Z., Pectinophora gossypiella S. ( Gelechiidae ); Mompha epilobiella ROOM. (Momphidae) ; Ephestia kuehniella Z. ( Pyralidae ).

In the present survey 18 taxa of lepidoptera parasitoids were found in Marmara, Western and Middle Blacksea regions, of which 8 are recognized as new to the Turkish fauna. Accordingly, the number of Microchelonus species in Turkey has increased from 16 to 24.

Lepidoptera caterpillars, which occur commonly in orchards, vegetable area, crop fields, forests, are frequently accompanied by a considerable number of natural enemies. The greatest importance in the nature is attached to the endoparasitoid insects belonging to the genus of Microchelonus . Even infrequent treatments of insecticides on plantations have limited the population of parasitoids and reduced their species richness.

Many species of Braconidae use a hosts insects which are important economically as pests of crops. The need for programmed "biological" control is already becoming more urgent than the effectiveness of chemical methods of pest control declines. The use of parasitoid insects in the control of pest species has not met more than sporadic success.

To be effective in biological control an intimate knowledge of the biology of the insects involved is essential, and this depends upon an accurate knowledge of their taxonomy.

As a result of this study, Microchelonus atripes , M. caucasicus , M. microphtalmus , M. nigritibialis , M. rostratus , M. sulcatus obtained from orchards, Microchelonus atripes , M. microphtalmus , M. risorius , M. rostratus obtained from hazelnut garden and M. flavipalpis , M. subcontractus , M. sulcatus obtained from vegetable garden, M. flavonaevulus , M. magnifissuralis , M. microphtalmus , M. rostratus , M. sulcatus obtained from crop fields, these species can be used as biological control agents of the Lepidoptera hosts.

Additional research is required on the parasitoids of Lepidoptera in Turkey. Research on native species as potential biocontrol agents for exporation also merits serious attention.