The first report of outbreak and identification of the larvae of Oak defoliator wasp, Periclista sp. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) using COI gene from Iran

The oak defoliator wasp, Periclista sp. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae) is a major pest of oak tree around the world. During the last years an outbreak due to an exclusive re-emergent pest defoliator of the oak Quercus infectoria in Ghelaii rural district, Lorestan province was occurred. This pest imposing severe loss to the oak trees during April to June. After insect collection and preliminary identification of specimens, the identifying the larva was confirmed using sequencing of a COI gene fragment as a tenthredinid wasp species belonging to the genus Periclista. The oak tree Q. infectoria is the exclusive host of pest wasp species in this region. The loss caused by this pest is serious since that the larvae are highly phytophagous and can completely defoliate the oak trees. As a further study, adult stage is needed to specific identification of this wasp pest species.