Lysiphlebus Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) in Australia

Abstract

Records are provided of the aphidiine parasites of aphids, Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall) and L. testaceipes (Cresson), parasitizing species of Aphis Linnaeus, Rhopalosiphum Koch and Toxoptera Koch in eastern Australia. Both species of Lysiphlebus were imported into Australia in 1982 for purposes of biological control, evidently with little or no initial success. Lysiphlebus testaceipes, however, has been reared in abundance in eastern Australia since 1997. A brief account is given of the history of the parasites in Australia and the possible provenance of recently collected material is discussed. Characters to distinguish between the two species are provided.