Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate species diversity and distribution of Aphelinus species in an elevational gradient in the Lagodekhi Reserve (Sakartvelo - Georgia) throughout a growing season. Two species of Aphelinus Dalman, 1820 (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), A. humilis Mercet and A. thomsoni Graham, are recorded for the first time from Georgia and the Caucasus and two species (A. lagodekhiensis sp. nov. and A. sugonjaevi sp. nov.) are described as new to science. To facilitate species identification we have developed a key to the females of all 24 species of Aphelinus currently known from the Middle East and the Caucasus. Both species richness and abundance of Aphelinus increased with increasing elevation, although no statistically significant relationship was found. Maximum diversity and abundance were observed in July, and this was more pronounced at higher elevations.
Highlights
The family Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) currently includes 43 genera and 1168 species (Noyes, 2017) placed in five subfamilies (Aphelininae, Calesinae, Coccophaginae, Eretmocerinae, and Eriaphytinae) according to the recent classification by Heraty et al (2013)
The aim of this paper is to describe two additional species of Aphelinus and provide new data on the diversity and the temporal and spatial distribution of Aphelinus species collected from a recent field survey in the Lagodekhi Nature Reserve (LR) (Georgia)
Check-list of Aphelinus species recorded from Lagodekhi reserve
Summary
The family Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) currently includes 43 genera and 1168 species (Noyes, 2017) placed in five subfamilies (Aphelininae, Calesinae, Coccophaginae, Eretmocerinae, and Eriaphytinae) according to the recent classification by Heraty et al (2013). Most of the species of Aphelinidae are parasitoids of Hemiptera while others parasitize upon Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera (Yasnosh, 1995). The genus Aphelinus Dalman (Aphelininae) includes the parasitoid species of sap-sucking aphids (Aphidomorpha) and has great potential in biocontrol applications (Nikol’skaya and Yasnosh, 1966; Chervonenko, 1997; Yasnosh, 2002). From Georgia, 14 species have hitherto been recorded, including Aphelinus abdominalis (Dalman), A. asychis Walker, A. atriplicis Kurdjumov, A. babaneuri Japoshvili, A. chaonia Walker, A. brunneus Yasnosh, A. flaviventris Kurdjumov, A. fusciscapus (Förster), A. hordei Kurdjumov, A. kurdjumovi Mercet, A. mali (Haldeman), A. subflavescens (Westwood), A. varipes (Förster), and A. yasnoshae Japoshvili (Japoshvili and Karaca, 2009)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
