Stanković, S. et al.  Potential candidates for biological control of the black...


BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 6 (1)  September 2015: 49-54  Stanković, S. et al.  Potential candidates for biological control of the black... 

  

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Original Article 

Received: 08 July 2015 

Revised: 13 July 2015 

Accepted: 01 August 2015  

 

Potential candidates for biological control of the black bean aphid 
Aphis fabae in Serbia 
 
 

Saša S. Stanković*, Marijana Ilić Milošević, Vladimir Žikić 
 

 

University of Niš, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Biology and Ecology, 

Višegradska 33, 18000 Niš, Serbia  

* E-mail: sasasta@gmail.com 
 

 

Abstract:  

Stanković, S.S., Ilić Milošević, M., Žikić, V.: Potential candidates for biological control of the black bean 

aphid Aphis fabae in Serbia. Biologica Nyssana, 6 (1), September 2015: 49-54. 

The black bean aphid is widely spread aphid species in the Palaearctic, known to attack over 1150 plant species. 

Because some of the host plants are of great agricultural interest, Aphis fabae represent a very important pest. 

We assembled all data concerning the presence of this pest and connected it in tritrophic associations. In the 

period of 24 years investigation on the territory of Serbia it has been recorded in 107 trophic associations. In 

total there are 145 findings of A. fabae parasitized by 19 taxa of Aphidiinae (Brackonidae) from seven genera. 

The most suitable biocontrol agents for the black bean aphid are Lysiphlebus fabarum, Binodoxys angelicae, 

Lipolesis gracilis and the introduced species Lysiphlebus testaceipes. 

Key words: Aphis fabae, parasitoids, Aphidiinae, tritrophic associations 

 

Apstrakt: 

Stanković, S.S., Ilić Milošević, M., Žikić, V.: Potencijalni kandidati za biološku kontrolu crne repine vaši 

Aphis fabae u Srbiji. Biologica Nyssana, 6 (1), Septembar 2015: 49-54. 

Crna repina vaš je rasprostranjena širom palearktika. Ova biljna vaš je zabeležena na preko 1150 vrsta biljaka. 

S obzirom na to da su mnoge biljke domaćini veoma bitne sa agrikulturnog stanovišta, Aphis fabae predstavlja 

veoma vašnu štetočinu u zasadima gajenih biljaka. Prikupljeni su podaci o prisustvu crne repine vaši u periodu 

od 24 godine na teritoriji Srbije, a rezultati su predstavljeni u vidu tritrofičkih asocijacija. Tokom istaraživanog 

perioda zabeleženo je 107 asocijacija. Ukupno je registrovano 145 nalaza A. fabae koju je parazitiralo ukupno 

19 taksona potfamilije Aphidiinae (Braconidae) iz sedam rodova. Najpogodnije vrste za biološku kontrolu crne 

repine vaši su Lysiphlebus fabarum, Binodoxys angelicae, Lipolesis gracilis, a takođe i introdukovana vrsta 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes. 

Key words: Aphis fabae, parasitoidi, Aphidiinae, tritrofičke asocijacije  

  

Introduction 
 
The black bean aphid, Aphis fabae Scopoli 1763 

(Aphididae) is one of the most common aphid in 

Europe. It is notorious for attacking many crops, 

especially broad bean Vicia faba (Fabaceae) and beet 

Beta vulgaris (Amaranthaceae), but also many other 

host plants which are of agricultural importance. 

According to H o l m a n  (2008) A. fabae has been 

reported on over 1150 host plants. This species has 

almost global distribution; it is especially common in 

temperate regions (B l a c k m a n  & E a s t o p , 2008). 

Regarding its wide plant host range it is very difficult 

to comprehend biology and ecology of this particular 

group. Therefore A. fabae (sensu lato) has long been 

6 (1) • September 2015: 49-54 

 



BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 6 (1)  September 2015: 49-54  Stanković, S. et al.  Potential candidates for biological control of the black... 

 

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considered as a species complex and there were many 

attempts to resolve this problem (M ü l l e r  & 

S t e i n e r , 1986; T h i e m e  & D i x o n , 1996; 

R a y m o n d  et al., 2001). Today there are five 

recognized taxa of the A. fabae complex, three of 

them considered on a subspecies level: A. fabae fabae 

Scopoli 1763, A. fabae cirsiiacanthoidis Scopoli 

1763, A. fabae mordvilkoi Börner & Janisch 1922; 

while A. evonymi Fabricius 1775 and A. solanella 

Theobald 1914 have the species status (V a n  

E m d e n  & H a r r i n g t o n , 2007). 

Beside direct damages inflicted by probing and 

sucking plant juices, A. fabae is an important vector 

of many plant viruses among other aphid species. 

One of the most important viruses is BYV (beet 

yellows virus) which causes a yellowing disease in 

Beta vulgaris and some other plants, but also BMV 

(brome mosaic virus) which primarily infects plants 

from Poaceae family and cause damages to wheat 

plants. 

Traditionally, aphids are treated chemically to 

prevent damages on agricultural plants; however, 

nowadays the biological control concept is of the 

highest importance. Biologically, aphid number is 

controlled by predators, such are coccinellids, some 

hoverfly larvae; parasites, such are entomo-

pathogenic nematodes, fungi and bacteria; and also 

by parasitoids, where the most important are wasps 

from the family Braconidae, precisely the subfamily 

Aphidiinae which are exclusive parasitoids of aphids. 

Many Aphidiinae species are economically very 

important as biological control agents in 

agroecosystems, therefore it is of great importance to 

know their taxonomy, biology and ecology for their 

successful usage against aphids (H å g v a r  & 

H o f s v a n g , 1991; V ö l k l  & M a c k a u e r , 2000). 

One of the most common parasitoid of A. fabae 

is an aphidiine wasp Lysiphlebus fabarum (Marshall 

1896) which has been frequently reared from A. fabae 

feeding on crops and other plants (V ö l k l  & 

S t e c h m a n n , 1998). Beside L. fabarum, the black 

bean aphid is attacked by many other aphidiines such 

are Ephedrus plagiator (Nees 1811), Binodoxys 

angelicae (Haliday 1833), Praon abjectum (Haliday 

1833) and others (S t a r ý , 1970). Along native and 

common parasitoid wasps, A. fabae is very frequently 

parasitized by Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson 

1880) which is now rather invasive species 

previously introduced into the Mediterranean area for 

biological control of citrus aphids (S t a r ý  et al., 

1988; Ž i k i ć  et al., 2015). Research on A. fabae on 

the territory of Serbia has been conducted since 1952 

(M i l e t i ć , 1952a, 1952b), also aphid parasitoids 

were studied intensively in Serbia (V u k a s o v i ć , 

1928; T o m a n o v i ć  & B r a j k o v i ć , 2001; 

T o m a n o v i ć  et al., 1998; K a v a l l i e r a t o s  et 

al., 2004, 2010; P e t r o v i ć  et al., 2009). One of the 

recent surveys of aphidiine parasitoids in Serbia was 

done three years ago where several parasitoids were 

recorded to attack A. fabae (Ž i k i ć  et al., 2012). 

Having in mind the economic importance of A. 

fabae in crop productions, as well as its natural 

enemies such is wasps from the family Aphidiinae, 

the authors strived to present tritrophic associations 

of the black bean aphid and its aphidiine parasitoids, 

but as well the host plant species on which aphids 

were found. Also, we think this paper will serve as a 

good starting point toward practical usage of 

afidiinae parasitoids for biological control of A. fabae 

in Serbia and beyond.  
 

Material and methods 

The material was collected in a period of 24 years 

(1990-2014) research and collecting throughout the 

territory of Serbia. Most of the material was collected 

during 2000s, although some of the samples date 

from 1990s (Table 1). Infested plants were cut and 

placed into plastic cups along with aphids, a muslin 

cloth were put on the top of the cups to prevent the 

exit of insects but allowing ventilation. Such 

prepared plastic cups were kept in laboratory 

condition with the constant temperature of 23 °C, 

relative humidity of 65%, and the photoperiod (L:D) 

16:8h. Each plant was prepared and photographed for 

later identification following J o s i f o v i ć  (1972) 

and S a r i ć  & D i k l i ć  (1986). Live aphids were 

preserved in 90% ethyl-alcohol and identified, 

following nomenclature R e m a u d i è r e  & 

R e m a u d i è r e  (1997). Parasitoid wasps were 

preserved as dry material but most of them were put 

in plastic tubes with 90% ethyl-alcohol. 

Morphological terminology of parasitoids follows 

S h a r k e y  & W h a r t o n  (1997). Some of the wasp 

specimens were dissected and mounted onto 

microscopic slides in order to facilitate identification 

on the species level. 
 

Results  
 

Here we present 145 findings of A. fabae on 50 plant 

taxa. Eight plant specimens were identified to the 

generic level, while for one plant specimen we have 

data only to the family level (Tab. 1). In total, A. 

fabae was parasitized by 19 Aphidiinae taxa from 

seven genera; Aphidius, Binodoxys, Ephedrus, 

Lipolexis, Lysiphlebus, Praon and Trioxys. Twelve 

taxa were  identified  to  the  species  level,  and  the 

remaining seven taxa were identified to the generic



BIOLOGICA NYSSANA 6 (1)  September 2015: 49-54  Stanković, S. et al.  Potential candidates for biological control of the black... 

 

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Table 1. The list of Aphis fabae findings with its host plants and parasitoids. Legend: ♂– male; ♀ – female; 

(+) – over the presented number; XX – no data about number of specimens. Legator abbreviations: AP – 

Anđeljko Petrović, MĐ – Maja Đorđević, MM – Majda Mehanović, SS – Saša Stanković, VŽ – Vladimir 

Žikić, ZK – Zorana Kojičić, ŽT – Željko Tomanović, X – no data about legator. 

 

Plant Parasitoid 
No of 
spec. 

Locality, date, legator initials 

Aegopodium podagraria 
Praon sp. 2♂ 3♀ Niš, Trošarina; 11.06.2014; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 4♂ Niš, Trošarina; 11.06.2014; VŽ 

Amaranthus retroflexus 
Lipolexis gracilis 1♀ Lebane, Konjino; 06.07.2010; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 17♀ 20♂ Lebane, Konjino; 06.07.2010; SS 

Anthriscus sylvestris Lysiphlebus fabarum 50+♀ Tara, Perućac; 25.06.2014; SS 

Apiaceae Lipolexis gracilis 3♀ 2♂ Brzeće; 29.07.2010; VŽ 

Arctium lappa 

Binodoxys angelicae 50+♀  Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Lipolexis gracilis 2♀  Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 100+♀♂  Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 2♀ 6♂ Sićevačka klisura; 23.06.2012; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 50+♀ 1♂ Sićevačka klisura; 23.06.2012; SS 

Lysiphlebus cardui  1♂ Tara, Mitrovac; 25.06.2013; VŽ 

Beta vulgaris Lysiphlebus fabarum 13♀ 7♂ Zemun; 27.09.1990; X 

Bifora radians Lysiphlebus testaceipes 6♀ 5♂ Niš, Trošarina; 22.05.2013; MĐ 

Calendula officinalis Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ 2♂ Kruševac; 18.06.2013; ZK 

Capsella bursa pastoris Lysiphlebus fabarum  3♂ Vlasina, Čemernik; 04.08.2011; VŽ 

Carduus acanthoides Lysiphlebus fabarum 13♀ Slankamen; 24.06.2011; X 

Carduus sp. 
Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀ Petnica; 12.06.2011; AP 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 22♀ Kragujevac, Ilićevo; 06.06.2011; X 

Centaurea cyanus Lysiphlebus fabarum 13♀ 7♂ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Chenopodium album 

Aphidius matricariae 1♀ Niš, Popovac; 22.05.2010; VŽ 

Binodoxys acalephae 23♀ 14♂ Niš, Popovac; 22.05.2010; VŽ 

Ephedrus plagiator 1♂ Niš, Popovac; 22.05.2010; VŽ 

Lipolexis gracilis 11♀ Niš, Popovac; 22.05.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀ Niš, Popovac; 22.05.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 18♀ 4♂ Sićevačka klisura; 04.06.2011; VŽ 

Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ Sićevačka klisura; 04.06.2011; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 18♀ 3♂ Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 17.07.2013; SS 

Binodoxys angelicae 1♂ Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 17.07.2013; SS 

Binodoxys angelicae  11♀ Niš, Popovac; 25.06.2010; VŽ 

Lipolexis gracilis 9♀ 3♂ Niš, Popovac; 24.07.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 23♀ 11♂ Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 23.06.2012; VŽ 

Lipolexis gracilis 2♀ 5♂ Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 23.06.2012; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ 3♂ Sićevačka klisura; 06.06.2013; VŽ 

Binodoxys angelicae 2♀ 8♂  Sićevačka klisura; 06.06.2013; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus orientalis 4♀ Slankamen; 24.06.2011; X 

Praon volucre 1♀ 1♂ Slankamen; 24.06.2011; X 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 3♀ Lebane; 01.06.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 21♀ 1♂   Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 17.07.2013; SS 

Binodoxys sp. 1♂ Sićevačka klisura, Sićevo; 17.07.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ Surčin; 15.06.2010; AP 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 20♀ Zemun; 17.10.1991; X 

Lysiphlebus fabarum  14♀ Zemun; 15.06.2011; AP 

Lysiphlebus orientalis 28♀ Zemun, Galenika; 07.06.2011; AP 

Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ Zemun, Galenika; 07.06.2011; AP 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 21♀ 26♂ Niš; 03.06.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀ Prokuplje, Bresničić; 15.06.2014; SS 

Cichorium sp. 
Lipolexis gracilis 12♀ 2♂ Sićevačka klisura; 04.06.2011; SS 

Binodoxys angelicae 2♀ Sićevačka klisura; 04.06.2011; SS 

Cirsium arvense 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 116♀ 37♂ Vlasina; 03.08.2011; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 83♀ 85♂ Vlasina; 03.08.2011; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 15♀ 4♂ Vlasina, Čemernik; 07.08.2010; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀ 14♂ Brzeće; 29.07.2010; SS 

Lipolexis gracilis 6♀ 4♂ Brzeće; 29.07.2010; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀ 2♂ Merošina, Oblačinsko jezero; 15.06.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 22♀ 1♂ Ostružnica; 06.07.2011; X 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 8♂ 9♀ Niš; 25.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus confusus 7♂ 2♀ Niš; 25.05.2014; SS 



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Cirsium arvense 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 8♀ 4♂ Vlasina; 21.07.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 15♀ 3♂ Vlasina, Čemernik; 07.08.2010; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ Vlasina; 15.06.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus cardui  66♀ 16♂ Suva planina, Bojanine vode; 11.07.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 7♀ 1♂ Vlasina; 11.08.2006; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum  62♂ Vlasina; 28.06.2012; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 27♀ 15♂ Vlasina; 06.08.2010; VŽ 

Binodoxys acalephae 3♀  Zlatibor; 26.06.2013; SS 

Cirsium eriophorum Lipolexis gracilis  4♀ 2♂ Dukat; 07.08.2011; SS 

Cirsium palustre  Lysiphlebus fabarum 9♀ 24♂ Goč; 13.07.2011; X 

Cirsium sp. Lysiphlebus fabarum 12♀ 21♂ Kopaonik; 17.07.2013; SS 

Coreopsis verticillata Lysiphlebus fabarum  XX Zemun; 17.10.1991; ŽT 

Coronilla varia Lysiphlebus testaceipes 2♀ Niš, Pantelej; 10.07.2014; VŽ 

Digitalis ambigua 
Lysiphlebus fabarum 12♀ Tara, Derventa; 03.07.2012; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 8♀ Tara, Derventa; 03.07.2012; VŽ 

Eryngium campestre Lipolexis gracilis 7♀ 5♂ Jerma canyon; 19.07.2013; VŽ 

Euonymus japonicus Lysiphlebus fabarum 11♀ 12♂ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Euonymus europaeus 
Trioxys sp.  XX Beograd, Radmilovac; 21.04.1995; X 

Binodoxys angelicae 5♂ Obedska bara; 01.04.2001; X 

Galium aparine 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 1♂ 2♀ Niš, Gornji Matejevac; 25.05.2014; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 37♀ 9♂ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Ephedrus sp. 30♀ Sićevačka klisura, Ravni do; 29.05.2014; VŽ 

Lipolexis sp. 7♀ 4♂ Sićevačka klisura, Ravni do; 29.05.2014; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus cardui  10♂ Vlasina; 05.08.2011; VŽ 

Binodoxys sp. 2♀ 1♂ Niš, Bubanj; 28.05.2014; SS 

Lactuca serriola Lysiphlebus cardui  89♂ Vlasina; 05.08.2011; SS 

Levisticum officinale Lysiphlebus fabarum 7♀ Užice; 14.08.1999; ŽT 

Matricaria chamomilla 

Lipolexis sp. 2♀ 4♂ Grdelička klisura; 05.06.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum  4♀ 1♂ Grdelička klisura; 05.06.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus cardui 3♀  Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Binodoxys angelicae  3♀ 1♂ Lebane; 01.06.2013; SS 

Praon volucre 3♀ 1♂ Lebane; 01.06.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum  6♀ 2♂ Lebane; 01.06.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 4♀ 10♂ Lebane; 01.06.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus testacepies 50+♀ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 50+♀ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus confusus 50+♀ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Matricaria perforata Lysiphlebus fabarum 88♀ 60♂ Vlasina; 05.08.2011; SS 

Musa sapientum Lysiphlebus fabarum 21♀ 4♂ Kruševac; 21.06.2012; ZK 

Oenanthe stenoloba Lysiphlebus fabarum  75♀ 31♂ Vlasina; 05.08.2011; SS 

Onopordum acanthium Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀  Niš, Lalinac; 08.06.2013; SS 

Orlaya grandiflora Lysiphlebus testaceipes 4♀ Niš, Gornji Matejevac; 25.05.2014; VŽ 

Papaver dubium Praon sp. 1♀ Niš, Gornji Matejevac; 25.05.2014; VŽ 

Papaver rhoeas 

Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ 1♂ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 3♂ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus orientalis 1♀ 2♂ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Praon volucre 1♀ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 2♀ 3♂ Niš, Tvrdjava; 05.06.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 3♀ 1♂ Niš, Gornji Matejevac; 25.05.2014; VŽ 

Papaver sp. 

Binodoxys angelicae 3♀ Beograd, Botanička bašta; 06.12.2013; X 

Lysiphlebus orientalis 4♀ Beograd, Botanička bašta; 06.12.2013; X 

Praon abjectum 3♀ 2♂ Beograd, Botanička bašta; 06.12.2013; X 

Pastinaca sativa 
Lysiphlebus fabarum 3♀ 1♂ Beograd, Radmilovac; 22.08.1996; X 

Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ Vlasina; 03.08.2011; SS 

Pastinaca sp. 
Binodoxys angelicae 1♀ Nova Varoš, Suljova česma; 07.07.2013; X 

Praon sp. 3♀ Nova Varoš, Suljova česma; 07.07.2013; X 

Philadelphus coronarius 

Aphidius matricariae  1♂ Niš; 05.05.2009; VŽ 

Aphidius sp. 2♂ Niš; 07.05.2014; SS 

Praon sp. 2♂ 2♀ Niš; 07.05.2014; SS 

Binodoxys sp. 3♀ 5♂ Niš; 07.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 1♀ 1♂ Niš; 07.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus sp. 1♂ Niš; 25.05.2014; SS 

Aphidius sp. 1♂ Niš; 25.05.2014; SS 

Praon sp. 2♂ 2♀ Niš; 25.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 1♂ 1♀ Niš; 20.05.2014; SS 



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Philadelphus coronarius Binodoxys sp. 1♀ SRB, Niš; 20.05.2014; SS 

Plantago lanceolata Lysiphlebus fabarum  9♀ 19♂ Vlasina; 05.08.2011; SS 

Polygonum aviculare Lysiphlebus fabarum 42♀ 23♂ Zemun; 06.10.2012; SS 

Ranunculus sp. 
Binodoxys angelicae 10♀ 5♂ Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus cardui 1♀  Sićevačka klisura, Ostrovica; 28.05.2013; MĐ 

Rumex sp. 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 40♀ Padinska skela; 06.04.2009; X 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 1♀ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus confusus 2♂ Lebane, Konjino; 31.05.2014; SS 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 4♂ Niš, Trošarina; 22.05.2013; MĐ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 10♀ Tara, Derventa; 03.07.2012; SS 

Lysiphlebus cardui 6♀ Tara, Derventa; 03.07.2012; SS 

Solanum nigrum 

Binodoxys angelicae 29♀ 16♂ Niš; 08.10.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 1♀  Niš; 08.10.2010; VŽ 

Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ Obedska bara; 15.06.1996; ŽT 

Tamarix sp. Lysiphlebus testaceipes 30+♀ Niš, Niška banja; 29.05.2014; VŽ 

Torilis microcarpa Ephedrus plagiator  1♀ Dukat; 07.08.2011; SS 

Urtica dioica Lysiphlebus fabarum  7♀ 2♂ Smederevo; 27.05.2011; X 

Valeriana officinalis 
Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ 5♂ Vlasina; 21.07.2013; SS 

Lysiphlebus testaceipes 1♀ 5♂ Vlasina; 21.07.2013; SS 

Yucca filamentosa Lysiphlebus testaceipes 7♀ 2♂ Niš; 02.07.2014; MM 

Zea mays 
Lysiphlebus fabarum 2♀ 1♂ Beljanica, Resavska pećina; 30.07.1996; X 

Lysiphlebus cardui 10♀ 10♂ Lebane, Konjino; 24.07.2012; SS 
 
 

level (Tab. 1). In this survey we found 107 tritrophic 

associations; plant/aphid/parasitoid. The results of 

this research are given in a table form where all listed 

plants were infested by A. fabae, and the very same 

species was parasitized by the listed Aphidiinae taxa 

(Tab. 1). 

Although the fauna of Aphidiinae parasitoids 

has been relatively well investigated in Serbia, we 

want to highlight the three new associations of A. 

fabae and its parasitoids since the last checklist of 

Aphidiinae in Serbia (Ž i k i ć  et al., 2012). Aphidius 

matricariae Haliday 1834 is now newly recorded to 

parasitize A. fabae in Serbia, two specimens, one 

male and one female were found on Chenopodium 

album (Chenopodiaceae) and Philadelphus 

coronarius (Hydrangiaceae) (Tab. 1). Also, two 

invasive species from the genus Lysiphlebus are 

reported to attack black bean aphid. Lysiphlebus 

orientalis Stary & Rakhshani 2010, which was 

originally described from the northeast China as a 

specialized parasitoid of the soybean aphid (Aphis 

glycines Matsumura 1917) was recently recorded on 

the territory of Serbia where as a host, among other 

aphid species, was A. fabae (P e t r o v i ć  et al., 

2013). Also, Lysiphlebus testaceipes, known to 

attack many aphids primarily in the Mediterranean 

area, in some recent researches was recognized as a 

very competitive introduced species in the European 

mainland as well as in Serbia (Ž i k i ć  et al., 2015). 

Sublimating the results of this investigation we found 

that the most suitable biological control agent of A. 

fabae is Lysiphlebus fabarum, but also Binodoxys 

angelicae, Lipolesis gracilis Foerster 1862 and the 

previously mentioned introduced species L. 

testaceipes.  

Acknowledgements. The authors wish to express great 

thankfulness to Dr Željko Tomanović and Dr Anđeljko 

Petrović from the Faculty of Biology, University of 

Belgrade, also to Maja Đorđević, Zorana Kojičić and 

Majda Mehanović for sample collection. This 

investigation was supported by Grant III 43001 (The 

Ministry of Science, Education and Technological 

Development of the Republic of Serbia). 

 

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