Survey and abundance of common parasitoid and predatory species of the Cigarette beetle, lasioderma serricorne (f.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) in tobacco storage warehouses in Syria [electronic resource].

Includes reference.

A survey of common parasitoid and predatory species associated with the cigarette beetle. Lasioderma serricorne (F.) (Coleoptera: Anobiidae) and their relative abundances was carried out. Sampling was conducted in warehouses dried tobacco leaves in several regions of Syria (Dir Ali in Damascus rural, Lattakia seaport and Kafaryahmool in Idleb) from 30 May 2010 to 30 July 2011. Larvae of L. serricorne were collected at random from infested dried tobacco leaves A total of 350 alive L. 'Serricorne larvae were placed individually in cells, e isolated from each other with a special perforated tape. Emerged parasitoid and predatory species were weekly collected and classified. Four species of parasitoids; three pteromalids; Anisopteroma/us calanrae (Howard), Lariophagus distinguendus (Forster) and Pteroma/us cereallae (Ashmead) and one encyrtid; Ericydnus sipy/us (Walker) were recorded associated with the pest throughout the study period. A. ca/anrae was the most abundant one. As well, the predacious mite, Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank) (Acaridae) was also recorded once at Dir Ali warehouse. Collected specimens were identified by the authors.

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