HYMENOPTERAN ENTOMOPHAGES IN VEGETABLE AGROBIOCENOSES OF UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

The present study investigated the species composition, bioecological characteristics, and trophic relationships of parasitic entomophages belonging to the order Hymenoptera in vegetable agrobiocenoses of Uzbekistan. During the research, natural enemies of the major lepidopteran pest species were identified, and their ecological significance in agrobiocenoses was evaluated. The distribution, host specialization, parasitic activity, and role of entomophages in the biological regulation of pest populations were analyzed. The conducted observations revealed the occurrence of four species from the family Trichogrammatidae (Trichogramma evanescens, Trichogramma pintoi, Trichogramma chilonis, Trichogramma ostriniae), seven species from the family Braconidae (Apanteles plutellae, Apanteles telengai, Apanteles kazak, Apanteles glomeratus, Cotesia glomerata, Bracon hebetor, Cotesia melanoscela), one species from the family Pteromalidae (Callitula bicolor), and two species representing the family Tachinidae (Exorista larvarum, Gonia bimaculata).

The obtained results demonstrated that hymenopteran parasitic entomophages play an important role in the natural regulation of pest insect populations in vegetable agrobiocenoses. In particular, Cotesia glomerata and Bracon hebetor were distinguished by their high biological efficiency against major lepidopteran pests. Furthermore, several parasitoid species remain insufficiently studied within the fauna of Uzbekistan, highlighting the necessity for further investigation of their bioecological characteristics. The findings of this study may serve as an important scientific basis for improving Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems and developing environmentally sustainable biological control strategies.