Report of Praon gallicum (Hym.: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) from Iran (Short report)

A survey was conducted to identify parasitoids of wheat aphids in Kermanshah province during 2007-2008. Mummies were collected and reared in the laboratory at 25 ± 1˚C, 60-70% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L: D) hours. In this research, seven species of aphid parasitoids belonging to the family Braconidae, subfamily Aphidiinae were collected from wheat fields of Kermanshah province in spring of 2005-2006, of which Praon gallicum is the first record for the fauna of Iran. This species was collected from bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi in wheat fields of Dorud Faraman, Allahyarkhani, Sare Pol and Beshiveh Sare Pol regions of the province at 10- April, 2006, 13- May, 2005, 5- April, 2006, and 5- April, 2006, respectively and were identified by Petr Stary from academy of science of Czech republic. Key to the identification of Praon Holiday species was provided by Stary (1981), (Acta Entomologica Bohemoslovaca 78: 382- 396). P. gallicum was collected on greenbug, Schizaphis graminum in France for the first time and described by Stary (1971), (AnnalsofSocietyofEntomologyinFrance 7 (3): 625-627). Pike et al. (1997), (Environmental Entomology 26 (6): 1299-1311) reported this parasitoid on small grain aphids in United States of America and mentioned that it was introduced from Europe.