Complementary identification of biological control agents of gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (Lep.: Lymantriidae) in Arasbaran forests

The gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar, is one of the most devastating forest tree defoliator pests in different parts of the world. The gypsy moth is distributed in different regions in Iran especially in the northern and north-western provinces of the country. Young larvae feed primarily on some preferred host trees such as oaks, willows and alder, but older larvae can feed on over 500 species of trees and shrubs. The pest feeds on leaves of at least 32 species of trees and shrubsin Arasbaran. It actively feeds on plant foliages from mid-spring to early summer, till develops into a pupa. The study was conducted to determine natural enemies of gypsy moth in Arasbaran forests by field and laboratory studies from 2002 to 2008. The results showed that following pest control agents are parasitized eggs, larvae and pupa of the pest.  
1) Monodontomerus aerus Walker (Hymenoptera: Torymidae)
2) Tachina praeceps Meigen (Diptera: Tachinidae)
3) Zenillia libatrix Panzer (Diptera: Tachinidae)
4) Brachymeria intermedia Nees (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae)
5) Glyptapanteles indiensis Marsh. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
6) Glyptapanteles porthetriae Mues. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
7) Hexamermis albicans (Nematoda: Mermithidae)
8) Calosoma sp. (Coleoptera: Carabidae)
9) Araneus diadematus (Aranea: Araneidae)
10) Cheiracanthium punctorium (Aranea: clubionidae)
11) Nuclear polyhedrosis virus (NPV)
12) Birds and rodents