Aphid parasitism in winter wheat fields in a heterogeneous agricultural landscape.

The number, timing, and fitness of colonizing parasitoids in fields of ephemeral crops often depend on factors external to the fields. We investigated cereal aphid parasitism in 23 winter wheat fields using sentinel plants infested with bird cherry-oat aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and we investigated the effect of parasitoids on cereal aphid population growth using exclusion and parasitoid-accessible cages infested with bird cherry-oat aphids. Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Aphelinus nigritus (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), and Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in decreasing order of abundance, parasitized R. padi on sentinel plants. The mean percent parasitism in parasitoid-accessible cages was 5.2% in autumn and 35.0% in spring. Aphid population intensity was greater in complete exclusion than in parasitoid-accessible cages. Measures of landscape composition and configuration were quantified, and aphid parasitism in autumn by L. testaceipes and A. nigritus was positively associated with % landcover by summer crops and patch density. Parasitism by both species was negatively associated with contagion and % woodlands. Parasitism during spring was positively associated with % grassland and fractal dimension and negatively associated with % canola. The number of braconid mummies per sentinel plant was positively correlated to the number of braconid mummies on wheat stems from parasitoid-accessible cages. Results indicate that cereal aphid mortality caused by parasitoids and their ability to exert effective biological control is related to landscape structure. Comparing this study to an earlier study in the same agroecosystem demonstrated temporal stability of the landscape influence on aphid parasitism by L. testaceipes in winter wheat.

Understanding the movement and dispersal patterns of released Fopius arisanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids in a papaya orchard.

Implementation of augmentative biological control requires estimates of parasitoid dispersal from the release point to determine appropriate release density, spacing, and timing. This study evaluated the movement patterns of Fopius arisanus Sonan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids, which have historically been used to control invasive tephritid fruit flies. The wasps were released from the central point, and dispersal was monitored over time using parasitism in sentinel fruit and trap captures at 40 points radiating out from the center (15-240 m). The releases were conducted 4 times during June, July, September, and November 2006. The data showed that there were large declines in dispersal by distance. Parasitism was greatest closest to the release point, within 30 m. Parasitism was also greatest within the first 24 h of the release. After 1 wk, parasitism decreased from 41% to 1.5% within 30 m. These data correlated strongly with trap capture data, which also showed that parasitoid movement favored the SE region of our release site, roughly corresponding to the overall prevailing winds. Wind speed, relative humidity, and temperature all affected parasitoid movement during our trial, indicating the complex environmental factors that can affect release success. This is the first report of dispersal metrics for F. arisanus. Our findings are in agreement with other similar studies on braconid movement generally and suggest that frequent, high-density releases are most effective since the dispersal of F. arisanus is limited and retention in the environment is low. We discuss our results in the context of international augmentative biological control release programs.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae).

The genome-level features are crucial genetic resources for species identification and phylogenetic analysis. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of Aphidius colemani Viereck 1912 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae) was sequenced, determined and analyzed. The circular genome is 16,372 bp in length with an overall base composition of 38.9% for A, 46.2% for T, 6.7% for C, and 8.2% for G. The mitochondrial genome of A. colemani contained 13 protein-coding genes that initiated by the ATN codon, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and a control region (CR). It shared the same gene arrangement patterns that occurred in two tRNA clusters of trnI-trnQ-trnM and trnW-trnC-trnY with Aphidius gifuensis. Phylogenetic analyses using Bayesian inference and Maximum-likelihood methods supported that the two species of Aphidiinae formed a clade and sister to other subfamilies of Braconidae.

The Viromes of Six Ecosystem Service Provider Parasitoid Wasps.

Parasitoid wasps are fundamental insects for the biological control of agricultural pests. Despite the importance of wasps as natural enemies for more sustainable and healthy agriculture, the factors that could impact their species richness, abundance, and fitness, such as viral diseases, remain almost unexplored. Parasitoid wasps have been studied with regard to the endogenization of viral elements and the transmission of endogenous viral proteins that facilitate parasitism. However, circulating viruses are poorly characterized. Here, RNA viromes of six parasitoid wasp species are studied using public libraries of next-generation sequencing through an integrative bioinformatics pipeline. Our analyses led to the identification of 18 viruses classified into 10 families (Iflaviridae, Endornaviridae, Mitoviridae, Partitiviridae, Virgaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Chuviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Xinmoviridae, and Narnaviridae) and into the Bunyavirales order. Of these, 16 elements were described for the first time. We also found a known virus previously identified on a wasp prey which suggests viral transmission between the insects. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of virus surveillance in wasps as its service disruption can affect ecology, agriculture and pest management, impacting the economy and threatening human food security.

A revised terminology for male genitalia in Hymenoptera (Insecta), with a special emphasis on Ichneumonoidea.

Applying consistent terminology for morphological traits across different taxa is a highly pertinent task in the study of morphology and evolution. Different terminologies for the same traits can generate bias in phylogeny and prevent correct homology assessments. This situation is exacerbated in the male genitalia of Hymenoptera, and specifically in Ichneumonoidea, in which the terminology is not standardized and has not been fully aligned with the rest of Hymenoptera. In the current contribution, we review the terms used to describe the skeletal features of the male genitalia in Hymenoptera, and provide a list of authors associated with previously used terminology. We propose a unified terminology for the male genitalia that can be utilized across the order and a list of recommended terms. Further, we review and discuss the genital musculature for the superfamily Ichneumonoidea based on previous literature and novel observations and align the terms used for muscles across the literature.

Risk analysis for Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) and potential areas for its biological control with Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in the Americas.

The Caribbean fruit fly Anastrepha suspensa (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a polyphagous pest causing economic losses in Central America, the Caribbean and South Florida. The parasitoid wasp Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is the main parasitoid of A. suspensa in biological control programs. In this study, by modeling with CLIMEX software, climatically suitable areas were projected according to historical climate data. Areas with overlapping optimal climatic suitability for the joint establishment of the pest and parasitoid were mapped, indicating large areas with host presence in North, Central, and South America, with cold stress being the main climatic factor limiting distribution for both species. Tropical regions have the most potential for invasion, with optimal suitability in many areas. Through the projected distributions, this study can target quarantine strategies in areas most susceptible to invasion and establishment of the pest in each country. In addition, classical biological control with the parasitoid in areas with climatic suitability is also recommended.

Dietary Challenges for Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea); Coping with Toxic Hosts, or Not?

Many insects defend themselves against predation by being distasteful or toxic. The chemicals involved may be sequestered from their diet or synthesized de novo in the insects' body tissues. Parasitoid wasps are a diverse group of insects that play a critical role in regulating their host insect populations such as lepidopteran caterpillars. The successful parasitization of caterpillars by parasitoid wasps is contingent upon their aptitude for locating and selecting suitable hosts, thereby determining their efficacy in parasitism. However, some hosts can be toxic to parasitoid wasps, which can pose challenges to their survival and reproduction. Caterpillars employ a varied array of defensive mechanisms to safeguard themselves against natural predators, particularly parasitoid wasps. These defenses are deployed pre-emptively, concurrently, or subsequently during encounters with such natural enemies. Caterpillars utilize a range of strategies to evade detection or deter and evade attackers. These tactics encompass both measures to prevent being noticed and mechanisms aimed at repelling or eluding potential threats. Post-attack strategies aim to eliminate or incapacitate the eggs or larvae of parasitoids. In this review, we investigate the dietary challenges faced by parasitoid wasps when encountering toxic hosts. We first summarize the known mechanisms through which insect hosts can be toxic to parasitoids and which protect caterpillars from parasitization. We then discuss the dietary adaptations and physiological mechanisms that parasitoid wasps have evolved to overcome these challenges, such as changes in feeding behavior, detoxification enzymes, and immune responses. We present new analyses of all published parasitoid-host records for the Ichneumonoidea that attack Lepidoptera caterpillars and show that classically toxic host groups are indeed hosts to significantly fewer species of parasitoid than most other lepidopteran groups.

Two new genera and one new species of the tribe Adeshini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from India and South Africa.

Two new genera and one new species of the Braconinae tribe Adeshini are described and illustrated: Crenuladesha Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov., type species Adeshanarendrani Ranjith, 2017, comb. nov. from India, and Protadesha Quicke & Butcher, gen. nov., type species Protadeshaintermedia Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. from South Africa. The former lacks the mid-longitudinal propodeal carina characteristic of the tribe, and the latter displays less derived fore wing venation with two distinct abscissae of vein 2CU. A molecular phylogenetic analysis is included to confirm their correct placement. Since neither of the two new genera displays all of the characters given in the original diagnosis of the Adeshini a revised diagnosis is provided, as well as an illustrated key to the genera.

Buckwheat Flower Volatiles Attract Peristenus spretus and Enhance Its Field-Level Parasitism of Apolygus lucorum.

Volatile compounds play indispensable roles in the interactions among host plants, herbivores and natural enemies. Previous studies showed that the addition of buckwheat strips in cotton fields could attract Peristenus spretus, the dominant parasitoid of Apolygus lucorum, and enhance its parasitic activity. Through the combined analysis of Y-tube olfactometer, solid-phase microextraction (SPME), gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) and electroantennography (EAG), we found that male and female P. spretus responded to compounds present in buckwheat flowers. The five major components of buckwheat flowers, cis-3-hexenyl acetate (Z3HA), 4-methylanisole, 4-oxoisophorone, p-methylphenol and 2-ethylhexyl salicylate, all had a significant attraction to P. spretus adults and led to positive electroantennogram responses, especially for 10 mg/mL 4-oxoisophorone, indicating the components played a key role in the selection behavior of P. spretus to buckwheat flowers. Additionally, field trials showed that the five volatiles could significantly increase the parasitism by P. spretus. Our study screened the key active components of buckwheat flower volatiles that have an attractive effect on P. spretus, revealing its behavioral selection mechanism and emphasizing the important role of plant volatiles on host selection and parasitism of parasitic wasps, providing a theoretical basis for the development of attractants for P. spretus and the reduction of pesticides in the field to promote conservation biological control (CBC) of A. lucorum.

Comparative mitogenomes reveal diverse and novel gene rearrangements in the genus Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Meteorus Haliday, 1835 is a cosmopolitan genus within Braconidae (Hymenoptera). They are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Coleoptera or Lepidoptera larvae. Only one mitogenome of this genus was available. Here, we sequenced and annotated three mitogenomes of Meteorus species, and found that the tRNA gene rearrangements in these mitogenomes were rich and diverse. Compared with the ancestral organization, only seven tRNAs (trnW, trnY, trnL2, trnH, trnT, trnP and trnV) were conserved and trnG had its own unique location in the four mitogenomes. This dramatic tRNA rearrangement was not observed in mitogenomes of other insect groups before. In addition, the tRNA cluster (trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1-trnE-trnF) between nad3 and nad5 was rearranged into two patterns, i.e., trnE-trnA-trnR-trnN-trnS1 and trnA-trnR-trnS1-trnE-trnF-trnN. The phylogenetic results showed that the Meteorus species formed a clade within the subfamily Euphorinae, and were close to Zele (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae). In the Meteorus, two clades were reconstructed: M. sp. USNM and Meteorus pulchricornis forming one clade while the remaining two species forming another clade. This phylogenetic relationship also matched the tRNA rearrangement patterns. The diverse and phylogenetic signal of tRNA rearrangements within one genus provided insights into tRNA rearrangements of the mitochondrial genome at genus/species levels in insects.

Cold tolerance and diapause within and across trophic levels: Endoparasitic wasps and their fly host have similar phenotypes.

Low temperatures associated with winter can limit the survival of organisms, especially ectotherms whose body temperature is similar to their environment. However, there is a gap in understanding how overwintering may vary among groups of species that interact closely, such as multiple parasitoid species that attack the same host insect. Here, we investigate cold tolerance and diapause phenotypes in three endoparasitoid wasps of the apple maggot fly Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae): Utetes canaliculatus, Diachasma alloeum, and Diachasmimorpha mellea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Using a combination of respirometry and eclosion tracking, we found that all three wasp species exhibited the same three diapause duration phenotypes as the fly host. Weak (short duration) diapause was rare, with <5 % of all three wasp species prematurely terminating diapause at 21 °C. Most D.mellea (93 %) entered a more intense (longer duration) diapause that did not terminate within 100 d at this warm temperature. The majority of U.canaliculatus (92 %) and D. alloeum (72 %) averted diapause (non-diapause) at 21 °C. There was limited interspecific variation in acute cold tolerance among the three wasp species: wasps and flies had similarly high survival (>87 %) following exposure to extreme low temperatures (-20 °C) as long as their body fluids did not freeze. The three wasp species also displayed little interspecific variation in survival following prolonged exposure to mild chilling of 8 or more weeks at 4 °C. Our study thus documents a remarkable conservation of cold tolerance and diapause phenotypes within and across trophic levels.

The Amazon and Its Biodiversity: a Source of Unexplored Potential Natural Enemies for Biological Control (Predators and Parasitoids).

The Amazon is an important source of natural enemies for biological control. The diversity of biocontrol agents in the Amazon is considerably higher than that in other Brazilian regions. However, few studies have focused on the bioprospecting of natural enemies in the Amazon. Furthermore, the expansion of agricultural land in recent decades has caused biodiversity loss in the region, including the loss of potential biocontrol agents, due to the replacement of native forests with cultivated areas and forest degradation. In this study, we reviewed the main groups of natural enemies in the Brazilian Legal Amazon: predatory mites (mainly Acari: Phytoseiidae), ladybirds (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and social wasps (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Polistinae) and the Hymenoptera parasitoids of eggs (Trichogrammatidae) and of frugivorous larvae (Braconidae and Figitidae). The main species prospected and used in biological control are presented. The lack of knowledge and perspectives regarding these groups of natural enemies as well as the challenges of conducting research in the Amazon is discussed.

Few indirect effects of baculovirus on parasitoids demonstrate high compatibility of biocontrol methods against Tuta absoluta.

BACKGROUND: Combining different biocontrol agents, particularly micro- and macroorganisms, can contribute to new and sustainable pest control approaches. Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is one of the most destructive pests of solanaceous crops. An emerging management strategy consists of biological control using microbial insecticides such as baculoviruses, but with limited efficacy. Thanks to their high target specificity, baculoviruses can be used simultaneously with natural enemies such as parasitoids for improved control of T. absoluta. However, potential indirect nontarget effects of baculoviruses on parasitoids can result from overlapping resource requirements. We assessed whether ovipositing parasitoid females discriminated against virus-treated hosts and examined the outcome of within-host competition between the hymenopteran parasitoids Necremnus tutae (Reuter) (Eulophidae) and Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris Marsch (Braconidae), and the Phthorimaea operculella granulovirus (PhopGV, Baculoviridae) that infects T. absoluta larvae. RESULTS: Female D. gelechiidivoris discriminated against virus-treated hosts, whereas N. tutae did not. We found few indirect virus-related effects depending on the species, the sex, and the time of virus treatment. Effects were ambivalent for D. gelechiidivoris offspring and ranged from increased male longevity when infection occurred before parasitization to reduced emergence and male longevity when infection occurred after parasitization. N. tutae offspring showed a longer development time and shorter male longevity when they developed in virus-treated hosts. CONCLUSION: The virus had a low impact on parasitoid offspring. In rare cases, adverse effects were detected; however, the low magnitude of these effects is unlikely to reduce the fitness of parasitoid offspring, therefore both parasitoids seem compatible with the baculovirus for control of T. absoluta. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

The genus Eurymeros Bhat (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) newly recorded from China.

Background: Alysiinae Leach is a species-rich subfamily in Braconidae, of which several species play an important role in biological control. The monotypic genus Eurymerostumespiraculum Bhat, 1980 was discovered in Tibet and Yunnan provinces for the first time, representing the first record of the genus Eurymeros Bhat, 1980 (Braconidae, Alysiinae) in China. New information: The rare genus Eurymeros Bhat, 1980 (Braconidae, Alysiinae) and its only known species, E.tumespiraculum Bhat, 1980, are newly recorded from China. The morphological variation of the Chinese specimens is described and illustrated.

Minador en albahaca Ocimum basilicum L. y su parasitoide

La albahaca es una planta de distribución mundial, de uso cotidiano en la preparación de comidas. En Venezuela, aspectos sobre insectos plagas de la albahaca y de sus controladores naturales, son desconocidos. El presente trabajo ofrece información sobre una mosca minadora y un parasitoide que se encontraron en muestras de plantas, con signos de daños foliares, provenientes de huertos familiares, aledaños al Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, de los municipios Girardot e Iragorry, las cuales, fueron colocadas en cámaras de cría, para la emergencia de los adultos; una vez que emergieron fueron capturados y debidamente montados para su identificación. Como resultado, se capturaron adultos de un díptero y una avispa parasitoide, que fueron identificados como Calycomyza hyptidis y Opius sp. Este parasitoide constituye el primer registro de asociación parasítica sobre C. hyptidis en albahaca. Todos los adultos fueron depositados en el Museo de Insectos de Interés Agrícola (MIIA).

Basil is a plant with worldwide distribution, used daily in the preparation of meals. In Venezuela, aspects of basil pesto insects and their natural controllers are unknown. The present work offers information on a leafminer fly and a parasitoid that were found in samples of plants with signs of foliar damage, coming from family orchards near the Henri Pittier National Park, from the Girardot and Iragorry municipalities of Aragua state, which were placed in breeding chambers for the emergence of adults, once they emerged they were captured and properly mounted for identification. As a result, adults of a diptera and a parasitoid wasp were identified as Calycomyza hyptidis and Opius sp. This parasitoid constitutes the first record of a parasitic association on C. hyptidis on basil. All the adults were deposited in the Museum of Insects of Agricultural Interest (MIIA).

Investigating bracovirus chromosomal integration and inheritance in lepidopteran host and nontarget species.

Bracoviruses (BVs) are domesticated viruses found in braconid parasitoid wasp genomes. They are composed of domesticated genes from a nudivrius, coding viral particles in which wasp DNA circles are packaged. BVs are viewed as possible vectors of horizontal transfer of genetic material (HT) from wasp to their hosts because they are injected, together with wasp eggs, by female wasps into their host larvae, and because they undergo massive chromosomal integration in multiple host tissues. Here, we show that chromosomal integrations of the Cotesia typhae BV (CtBV) persist up to the adult stage in individuals of its natural host, Sesamia nonagrioides, that survived parasitism. However, while reproducing host adults can bear an average of nearly two CtBV integrations per haploid genome, we were unable to retrieve any of these integrations in 500 of their offspring using Illumina sequencing. This suggests either that host gametes are less targeted by CtBVs than somatic cells or that gametes bearing BV integrations are nonfunctional. We further show that CtBV can massively integrate into the chromosomes of other lepidopteran species that are not normally targeted by the wasp in the wild, including one which is divergent by at least 100 million years from the natural host. Cell entry and chromosomal integration of BVs are thus unlikely to be major factors shaping wasp host range. Together, our results shed new light on the conditions under which BV-mediated wasp-to-host HT may occur and provide information that may be helpful to evaluate the potential risks of uncontrolled HT associated with the use of parasitoid wasps as biocontrol agents.

The composition of braconid wasp communities in three forest fragments in a tropical lowland forest of Panama.

BACKGROUND: In the last 171 years, the forests along the eastern bank of the Panama Canal have been pressured by anthropic activities. Studies of the influence of habitat fragmentation on braconid wasp communities in Central America is scarce, showing the existing information gap on these communities required to implement strategic plans for ecosystem sustainability and conservation. This study investigated how fragmentation affects braconid wasp communities in three areas in Panama City: Metropolitan Natural Park, Albrook and Corozal. Two permanent Malaise Traps were installed in the center of each fragment and were reviewed weekly from May 2019 to March 2020. Alpha and beta diversity indices and the similarity index were used to demonstrate the composition of braconid wasp communities in three forest fragments. RESULTS: A similarity of 94% was estimated for the subfamily composition and 74% was estimated for the morphospecies composition of wasp community in the fragments studied. Wasp subfamily and morphospecies assemblages were more similar between fragments of Albrook and Metropolitan Natural Park. Richness and abundance of braconid wasps observed were statistically different between the fragments studied. CONCLUSION: Richness, abundance, and composition of braconid wasps differ among habitat fragments with high similarity between subfamilies and morphospecies. Therefore, the fragments studied can be used as stepping stones to maintain remaining populations of braconid wasp communities. Monitoring is recommended to assess the effect of fragmentation on the remaining forests.

The complete mitochondrial genome and phylogenetic analysis of Euurobracon yokahamae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

Euurobracon yokahamae is a parasitoid wasp found solely in Asia, and is endangered in some countries. The complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of E. yokahamae was sequenced using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The mitogenome of this species is 14,974bp long and encodes for 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNAs, and 2 ribosomal RNAs. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genome of braconid species was performed. Tree topology showed that E. yokahamae was closely related to another species of the same genus.

Ultraconserved elements-based systematics reveals evolutionary patterns of host-plant family shifts and phytophagy within the predominantly parasitoid braconid wasp subfamily Doryctinae.

Phytophagy has promoted species diversification in many insect groups, including Hymenoptera, one of the most diverse animal orders on Earth. In the predominantly parasitoid family Braconidae, an association with insect-induced, plant galls in angiosperms have been reported in three subfamilies, but in particular in the Doryctinae, where it has been recorded to occur in species of ten genera. Allorhogas Gahan is the most species-rich of these genera, with its species having different phytophagous strategies. Here we conducted a comprehensive phylogenomic study for the doryctine gall-associated genera, with an emphasis on Allorhogas, using ultraconserved elements (UCEs). Based on this estimate of phylogeny we: (1) evaluated their taxonomic composition, (2) estimated the timing of origin of the gall-associated clade and divergence of its main subclades, and (3) performed ancestral state reconstruction analyses for life history traits related to their host-plant association. Our phylogenetic hypothesis confirmed Allorhogas as polyphyletic, with most of its members being nested in a main clade composed of various subclades, each comprising species with a particular host-plant family and herbivorous feeding habit. The origin of gall-association was estimated to have occurred during the late Oligocene to early Miocene, with a subsequent diversification of subclades during the middle to late Miocene and Pliocene. Overlap in divergence timing appears to occur between some taxa and their host-associated plant lineages. Evolution of the feeding strategies in the group shows "inquilinism-feeding" as the likely ancestral state, with gall-formation in different plant organs and seed predation having independently evolved on multiple occasions.

Oscillation, synchrony, and multi-factor patterns between cereal aphids and parasitoid populations in southern Brazil.

In different parts of the world, aphid populations and their natural enemies are influenced by landscapes and climate. In the Neotropical region, few long-term studies have been conducted, maintaining a gap for comprehension of the effect of meteorological variables on aphid population patterns and their parasitoids in field conditions. This study describes the general patterns of oscillation in cereal winged aphids and their parasitoids, selecting meteorological variables and evaluating their effects on these insects. Aphids exhibit two annual peaks, one in summer-fall transition and the other in winter-spring transition. For parasitoids, the highest annual peak takes place during winter and a second peak occurs in winter-spring transition. Temperature was the principal meteorological regulator of population fluctuation in winged aphids and parasitoids during the year. The favorable temperature range is not the same for aphids and parasitoids. For aphids, temperature increase resulted in population growth, with maximum positive effect at 25°C. Temperature also positively influenced parasitoid populations, but the growth was asymptotic around 20°C. Although rainfall showed no regulatory function on aphid seasonality, it influenced the final number of insects over the year. The response of aphids and parasitoids to temperature has implications for trophic compatibility and regulation of their populations. Such functions should be taken into account in predictive models.