New Records of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) Parasitoids Attacking Trialeurodes vaporariorum in Greenhouse Vegetable Crops

Abstract

Whiteflies, particularly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), are serious pests of greenhouse vegetable crops, causing substantial yield losses through phloem feeding, honeydew excretion, and transmission of plant pathogens. Parasitoids belonging to the family Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) play a vital role in the natural regulation of whitefly populations and are widely recognized as key biological control agents in protected cultivation systems. The present study was conducted to document new records and assess the diversity of Aphelinidae parasitoids attacking T. vaporariorum in greenhouse vegetable crops. Systematic surveys were carried out in major greenhouse cultivation areas, and parasitized whitefly nymphs were collected from infested vegetable plants. Emerged parasitoids were reared under laboratory conditions and identified based on detailed morphological characteristics using standard taxonomic keys. Selected specimens were further subjected to molecular analysis to confirm species identity and evaluate phylogenetic relationships. The results revealed the presence of several aphelinid parasitoid species associated with T. vaporariorum, including new distributional records not previously documented in the surveyed greenhouse ecosystems. Morphological and molecular analyses confirmed taxonomic diversity within the collected parasitoid populations, indicating the presence of both widely distributed and regionally restricted species. The parasitoids exhibited strong host associations with whitefly populations across different vegetable crops, highlighting their ecological importance in greenhouse pest regulation. Variation in abundance and parasitism rates was observed among different crop systems and environmental conditions within protected structures. The findings of this study expand the current knowledge of Aphelinidae diversity and distribution in greenhouse agroecosystems and emphasize their potential role in sustainable pest management. Documentation of new records provides a valuable baseline for future taxonomic and biological control research aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of integrated whitefly management programs in vegetable production systems.