Species diversity of Encarsia spp. (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) in Golestan Province, Northern Iran

Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) are the powerful parasitoids of whiteflies and armored scales (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae, Diaspididae) in most regions of the world which have efficient role in biological control of these pests in fields, orchards and greenhouses. The fauna of Encarsia was studied in Golestan province (Northern Iran) by collecting their main hosts, whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) and scale insects (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), and rearing of hosts in optimum condition. In total, 12 Encarsia species including, Encarsia acaudaleyrodis Hayat, 1976, Encarsia auranti (Howard, 1894), Encarsia azimi Hayat, 1986, Encarsia berlesei (Howard, 1906), Encarsia elegans Masi, 1911, Encarsia fasciata (Malenotti, 1917), Encarsia formosa Gahan, 1924, Encarsia inaron (Walker, 1839), Encarsia lounsburyi (Berlese & Paoli, 1916), Encarsia lutea (Masi, 1909), Encarsia mineoi Viggiani, 1982 and Encarsia perniciosi (Tower, 1913) were collected and identified. In this investigation, additionally to the faunistic study on Encarsia in Golestan province, synonymies, distribution, descriptions and identification key of species are given.