BRACONIDAE (HYMENOPTERA) FROM TAMAULIPAS, MEXICO: Parasitic wasps series of pests and other insects

The braconids are important parasitoid wasps in the natural control of the populations of other insects, especially lepidoptera, coleoptera and homoptera. In addition, they have been used extensively in various programs of Biological Control of insect pests in forests, vegetables and fruit trees throughout the world, achieving savings of millions of dollars per year in each country in which they have been successfully released.

The study of the braconids in Mexico has not been adequate since only a little more than 700 species have been identified, estimating that there may be at least 3,000 species in our country. Neither have studied aspects of biology, genetics and behavior of the vast majority.

The present book, "Braconidae (Hymenoptera) of Tamaulipas, Mexico", contributes to the advance in the knowledge of these beneficial insects in one of the states with greater diversity, due to its geographical situation in the northeast of the country that includes neartic and neotropical components . The state has the main types of vegetation that occur in Mexico, both forests and shrubs and grasslands, which favors the presence of phytophagous insects that are hosts of braconids.