First discovery of the natural egg parasitoid of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) in Turkey with molecular methods (Lepidoptera: Crambidae

Abstract

The genus Trichogramma Westwood, 1833 are important biological control agents of especially Lepidoptera pests in all around the world. These tiny wasps can’t be reliably identified owing to their small size and lack of definable morphological characters. ITS2 (Internal transcribed spacer 2) sequence-based identification has been performed successfully for years for parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma. The use of indigenous Trichogramma species against pests is very important for the success of biological control. Therefore, accurate and precise species identification of Trichogramma plays a key role in biological control programs. In the study, egg parasitoids were obtainedfrom parasitized egg masses of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) collected in Hatay province of Turkeyin May 2021. Trichogramma wasps were collected and only one species was determined by using both ribosomaland mitochondrial sequences. According to ribosomal and mitochondrial sequence results, all of the collectedsamples were determined to be Trichogramma evanescens Westwood, 1833. This is the first report of T. evanescensas egg parasitoid of C. perspectalis in the worldwide.