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Seven invasive owlet moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Israel and their potential parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

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Abstract

Invasive tropical Noctuidae pest species collected in Israel included Spodoptera mauritia (Boisduval), Trichoplusia vittata (Wallengren), Anomis flava (Fabricius), Anomis sabulifera (Guenée), Earias vittella (Fabricius), Earias biplaga Walker, and Earias cupreoviridis (Walker). All seven noctuid species were rare and sporadically present only along the coastal plain. Possible reasons for this type of distribution are discussed. Abundance was greatest in May with smaller peaks present in February–March and September. Several common parasitoid species – Elasmus flabellatus (Fonscolombe), Elasmus nudus (Nees) and Elasmus viridiceps Thomson (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), with potential as biological control agents for tropical noctuids, are detected in Israel.

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Acknowledgment

We thank our colleagues and the many generous Israeli citizens who helped with this survey. We are grateful to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), and especially to Dr. Ruven Ortal, for supplying the collecting permits.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

    V. D. Kravchenko & Z. A. Yefremova

  2. Department of Parasitology, Kuvin Center for the Study of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, The Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel

    G. C. Müller

  3. US Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service, Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology Behavior and Biocontrol Research Unit, Gainesville, FL, USA

    S. A. Allan

Authors
  1. V. D. Kravchenko
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  2. G. C. Müller
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  3. S. A. Allan
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  4. Z. A. Yefremova
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Correspondence to V. D. Kravchenko.

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Kravchenko, V.D., Müller, G.C., Allan, S.A. et al. Seven invasive owlet moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Israel and their potential parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Phytoparasitica 42, 333–339 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-013-0364-3

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