Braconidae diversity (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., fields of some Western Desert Oases in Egypt

A total of ۲۹ species in ۱۶ genera and ۸ subfamilies of the braconids (Hym., Braconidae) were collected from alfalfa fields in Bahariya and Farafra oases (Western Desert, Egypt) These species were identified, together with details of the sites where they were found and an indication of their relative abundance in each site. Among the samples, ۴ species in ۴ genera and ۳ subfamilies are recorded as new to the Egyptian fauna. These are: Aphidius asteris Haliday, ۱۸۳۴, Ephedrus plagiator (Nees, ۱۸۱۱) (Aphidiinae), Homolobus (Chartolobus) infumator (Lyle, ۱۹۱۴) (Homolobinae) and Opius lugens Haliday, ۱۸۳۷ (Opiinae). Thirteen braconid species are also newly recorded in association with alfalfa fields, namely A. asteris; Praon necans Mackaeur, ۱۹۵۹ (Aphidiinae); Habrobracon hebetor (Say, ۱۸۳۶) (Braconinae); Chelonus basalis Curtis, ۱۸۳۷; Ch. blackburni Cameron, ۱۸۸۶; Ch. oculator (Fabricius, ۱۷۷۵); Phanerotoma leucobasis Kriechbaumeri, ۱۸۹۴ (Cheloninae); Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank, ۱۸۰۲) (Euphorinae); H. (C.) infumator (Lyle, ۱۹۱۴) (Homolobinae); Apanteles appellator Telenga, ۱۹۴۹; Cotesia glomerata (Linnaeus, ۱۷۵۸) (Microgastrinae); Psyttalia concolor (Szépligeti, ۱۹۱۰) and P. nilotica (Schmiedeknechti, ۱۹۰۰) (Opiinae).