Taxonomic Position of Iranian Isolates of Eretmocerus mundus (Merect), a Parasitoid of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius)

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the most important pest of vegetable and fruit crops. This polyphagous pest has a range of natural enemies including the parasitoid Eretmocerus mundus (Merect) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). To determine the molecular profile and taxonomic status of Iranian isolates of E. mundus, parasitized B. tabaci samples were collected from cotton crops in Maharlu region (Shiraz, Fars province). DNA was extracted from samples and subjected to polymerase chain reaction using a pair of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene specific primers. A DNA fragment of approximately 850 bp in size was amplified, cloned and sequenced. Comparison of the DNA nucleotide (nt) sequence of the mtCOI gene of three Iranian isolates with the same region of Chalcidoid species (Hymenoptera) available in the GenBank indicated that the mtCOI gene of Iranian isolates of E. mundus shares 98.8-99.5 % sequence homology. Among the Chalcidoid species compared, the Iranian isolates of E. mundus were more closely related to two Moroccan isolates of E. mundus; their mtCOI gene shared 96.7-97.7 % homology, being more distantly related to a Heterandrium species (family Agaonidae), and their mtCOI gene nt sequence sharing 81.2-83.8 % homology.