First record of Venturia canescens GRAVENHORST, 1829 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) from Tunisia

Abstract

Venturia canescens Gravenhorst 1829 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae), a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid, lives on larvae of various Lepidopteran hosts belonging to the families of Pyralidae, Noctuidae, Tortricidae, Gelechiidae, Tineidae and Yponomeutidae of Lepidoptera (typically Pyralidae). It was frequently reported on the carob moth Ectomyelois ceratoniae (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The E. ceratoniae is an insect pest that causes damage to various crops and fruit trees throughout the world. It was recorded on dates (Phoenix dactylifera), pomegranates (Punica granatum), almonds (Prunus dulcis) and pistachio nut (Pistacia vera), affecting the fruit quality. In Tunisia, this pest was recorded on pomegranate by many authors. The parasitoid V. canescens, is accidently recorded from Tunisia within the collection of parasitoids of the almond bark beetle Scolytus amygdali (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in the orchard of the Professional Training Center of Agriculture, Jammel, Monastir, Tunisia rich of fruit trees. The identification of V. canescens was carried out using key for females of the genus Venturia to Western Palaearctic species and the specimen is reported as a first record in Tunisia. No male was collected, the host is unknown. This species is widely distributed in the Palaearctic region. As far as we know this is a first record for the country.