Identification and Parasitism Rates of Larval Parasitoids of Tineola bisselliella (Hummel, 1823) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae) in Usak Province, Turkiye

The clothes moth, Tineola bisselliella (Hummel, 1823) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae), is a significant pest, particularly affecting clothing made from materials such as wool and cotton, as well as items stored and exhibited in museums. Data on parasitism rates of T. bisselliella are limited. Tineola bisselliella larvae were collected from infected materials from three different locations in Uşak province and incubated in separate tubes at 26±2 °C, 65±10% RH, and a photoperiod of L16:D8 hours. Obtained parasitoids were identified based on morphological characteristics. Apanteles carpatus (Say, 1836) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Baryscapus tineivorus (Ferriére, 1941) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were identified as larval parasitoids of the clothes moth, and their parasitism rates were determined for the first time. Apanteles carpatus parasitized 5.7±7.71% (n = 18) of the host larvae, whereas B. tineivorus caused parasitism in 20.3±4.28% (n = 65). In total, the parasitism rate was 26.0±12.00% (n = 83), based on an average of 106.6±4.72 (n = 3) larvae examined across three locations. Furthermore, it was determined that an average of 6.6±3.01 (n = 29) individuals of B. tineivorus emerged from T. bisselliella larvae parasitized by this species, of which 84.3% (n = 162) were female. An identification key for parasitoid species along with images of key taxonomic characters is provided.