Zoophagous insects of Egypt

Zoophagous insects (Predators & Parasitoids) constitute a major part of the insect fauna in any agro-ecosystem. Nearly about 10% of described insects are zoophagous insects in the orders Hymenoptera Diptera Coleoptera Neuroptera Lepidoptera Strepsiptera and Trichoptera. In general the majority are within the Hymenoptera belonging to the Parasitica group and most of them are wasps where they are highly specialized for a parasitoidal way of life; most of the others are dipteran flies. They play an important ecological role in maintaining the natural balance of an ecosystem because they act as natural regulators of other insect populations that could damage the environment or even if their populations grow excessively. Thus they are considered as a great biological control agents against different insect pests. The disappearance of zoophagous insects could entail an excessive increase of some insect populations. This work is presented hopping to be of benefit to whom it may concern as a reference for zoophagous insects and their host insects in Egypt. In addition the work provides also a highly selected list of reference concerned with the subject in Egypt.