Description of A Parasitoid, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard, 1881) on Callosobruchus chinensis L. for the First Time in Egypt and Using SEM for Morphometric Analysis

Abstract

Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is a parasitoid to several stored product beetles. In this study, this parasitoid was recorded for the first time with density on the cowpea beetle Callosobruchus chinensis L, which was prevalent on both Egyptian bean (Vicia faba L) and cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata). A full description of this parasitoid and measurements of its body parts were done using a scanning electron microscope. The male and female were differentiated based on the antenna and a set of taxonomic and diagnostic characteristics were found. The current study provides basic information on the external morphology key identification, characteristics and measurements of taxonomically significant portions, backed by micrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope. This description can be used to include them in the taxonomic keys to differentiate them from closely similar species. The present study was carried out at the Atomic Energy Center in Egypt during field observation in small grain stores of cowpea and faba beans where the effectiveness of the parasite to control cowpea beetle, in particular, was observed. This parasitoid was the first time found on cowpea beetle in a high density, which necessitated carrying out an extensive morphological study of A. calandrae in order to identify it for future breeding. Additionally, it can be in future widely used in the biological management of pests that attack stored grains in general, and C. chinensis in particular