V. Summary
l. Taxonomic Studies:
1.1.	Hosts and Distribution of genus Aphytis in Egypt:
Samples of Aphytis species collected were associated with 26 armored scale insects on 20 host plants in 19 governorates in Egypt.
The present work showed that A. lingnanensis to be the most effective species of genus Aphytis, followed by A. diaspidis and A. mytilaspidis. A. lingnanensis was collected from 11 species of armored scale insects on 6 plant hosts distributed over 4 governorates; A. diaspidis was collected from 6 species of armored scale insects found on 6 plant hosts distributed over 7 governorates and A. mytilaspidis was collected from 6 species of armored scale insects on 5 plant hosts found in 5 governorates. governorate. The remaining Aphytis species were each associated with one species of armored scale insect on 1 to 2 plant hosts, in 1 to 2 governorates.
A. chilensis is associated with 4 species of armored scale insects on 5 host plants found in 5 governorates. A. africanus, A. aonidiae, A. hispanicus and A. melinus are associated with 2 to 3 species of armored scale insects each. A. africanus and its host insects were collected from 5 host plant species in 5 governorates, A. aonidiae and its host insects were found on 3 plant hosts distributed over 3 governorates, A. hispanicus and its host insects were collected from 4 host plant species in 4 governorates and A. melinus and its host insects were found on 2 plant hosts in only 1.
1.2. Taxonomy:
In the present work, 18 species of the genus Aphytis Howard were collected, identified, described, and illustrated. These species are: Aphytis africanus Quednau*, Aphytis aonidiae (Mercet)*, Aphytis chilensis Howard*, Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet), Aphytis coheni DeBach,
Aphytis diaspidis (Howard), Aphytis hispanicus (Mercet), Aphytis holoxanthus DeBach*, Aphytis lepidosaphes Compere, Aphytis libanicus Traboulsi*, Aphytis lingnanensis Compere, Aphytis melinus DeBach, Aphytis mytilaspidis (LeBaron), Aphytis opuntiae (Mercet)*, Aphytis paramaculicornis DeBach & Rosen*, Aphytis philippinensis DeBach & Rosen*, Aphytis phoenicis DeBach & Rosen* and Aphytis vandenboshi DeBach & Rosen*. Ten of these species are recorded in this work for the first time in Egypt, and are marked in the forementioned list with an asterisk (*).
The most important characteristics of the genus Aphytis Howard are summarized in the following: Number of setae on mesoscutum; setae of submarginal vein and parapsis; presence or absence of overlapping crenulae; length of propodeum; variation in the relative lengths of propodeum, scutellum, and metanotum ;number of sensilla on club; length of ovipositor and sheath and the variation in the relative lengths of the midtibia and basitarsus.
A key is provided for the identification and differentiation of Egyptian Aphytis species based on the characteristics of the adult female.
2. Population dynamics of the genus Aplrytis Howard in Egypt: 
The population dynamics of 18 species of the genus Aphytis in Egypt were observed on ten host plants infested by eleven armored scale insect species in seven governorates between 1997 and 2000.
2.1. Aphytis africanus associated with Aonidiella aurantii on Citrus Qalyubiya:
The results indicated that this species had two peaks occurring in January and November of the first year (1997). In the second year (1998),

the population of A. africanus followed the same trend and also had two peaks of abundance occurring in January and November.
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T., and D.M.R. H. had insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism in the first year. In the second year, the effects of D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H. were highly significant, while D.Mn.T. did not show any significant effect on the rate of parasitism.
2.2. Aphytis aonidiae associated with Aonidia lauri on ALaurus nobilis in Alexandria:
This species is a rare parasitoid. The population was very low and only three individuals were collected during 1997 and five individuals during 1998, respectively.
2.3. Aphytis chilensis associated with Chrysomphalus dictyospermi on Ficirs nitida in El-Minya:
This species had four peaks during the two years of 1997 and 1998. The average rates of parasitism were 0.7% and 0.5% during the first and second years, respectively.
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were of insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism in the first year. In the second year, the effect of D.Mn.T. was highly significant, while those of D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H. were insignificant.
2.4. Aphytis chrysomphali associated with Chrysomphalus dictyospermi on Ficus nitida in Qalyubiya:
In the present work, the rates of parasitism of this species experienced four peaks during the first and second years (1997 and 1998). The highest peak was 41.4%, achieved in November of 1997.
Statistical analysis indicated that during the first year, D.M.R.H was of highly significant effect on the rate of parasitism, while D.Mx.T. and D.Mn.T. were of insignificant effect. In the second year, the same was observed once more, with D.M.R.H. being of significant effect on the rate of parasitism, while D.Mx.T. and D.Mn.T. were of insignificant effect.
2.5. Aphytis coheni associated with Aonidiella aurantii on Citrus sp.in Alexandria:
This species experienced four peaks during the present work in 1997 and 1998. The highest rates of parasitism were 3.9% and 5.3% during the first and second years, respectively. The average rates of parasitism were 0.6% and 0.8% during the first and second years, respectively.
Statistical analysis indicated that during both the first and second years, the effects of D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. on the rates of parasitism were insignificant.
2.6. Aphytis diaspidis associated with Parlatoria oleae on Olea sp. on the Northern Coast:
In this work, this species experienced two peaks during May and December of the first year (1999). It also experienced two peaks during May and November of the second year (2000).
Statistical analysis indicated that during the first year, the effect of D.Mn.T. on the rate of parasitism was highly significant, while those of D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H. were insignificant. In the second year, D.Mn.T. again had a highly significant effect on the rate of parasitism, while D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H. were once more of insignificant effect.
2.7. Aphytis hispanicus associated with Insulaspis pallidula on Mangifera indica in Ismailia:
In 1999, A. hispanicus experienced peak rates of parasitism of 4.2% and 9.4%. In 2000, there were also two peak rates of parasitism, these being 5.7% and 6.4%.
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were of insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism during the first year. However, in the second year, the effect of D.Mx.T. on the rate of parasitism was highly significant, while those of D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were insignificant.
2.8. Aphytis holoxanthus associated with Chrysomphalus aonidum on Citrus sp. in Giza:
In the present work, the parasitism rate of this species experienced four peaks during 1997 and 1998. The highest peak was 70.9%, achieved during November of 1997.
Statistical analysis indicated that during the first year, the effects on the rate of parasitism of D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were significant, while that of D.Mx.T. was insignificant. In the second year, the inverse is true, with the D.Mx.T. being of significant effect on the rate of parasitism, while D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H were insignificant.
2.9. Aplzytis lepidosaplaes associated with Lepidosaplzes beckii on Mangifera indica in Ismailia:
This species was abundant all throughout 1999 and 2000, these being the two years during which it was subjected to study in the present work. Its maximum rates of parasitism were 59.2% and 49.9% during 1999 and 2000, respectively.
Statistical analysis indicated that during both years, the effects of D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. on the rates of parasitism were insignificant.
2.10. Aphytis libanicus associated with Lucaspis riccae on Olea sp. in Fayoum:
This species was observed to achieve two peaks in its rate of parasitism during 1999, these occurring in April and November, respectively. In 2000, two peaks were also recorded, these occurring in May and October of that year.
Statistical analysis indicated that in 1999, D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. had insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism of this species. In 2000, however, D.Mn.T. was of highly significant effect on the rate of parasitism, while D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H. remained of insignificant effect.
2.11. Aphytis lingnanensis associated with Parlatoria ziziphi on Citrus sp. in Giza:
In the present work, this species was studied during 1997 and 1998. During the first year, it achieved three peaks in its rate of parasitism, these occurring in March, July, and November. During the second year, three peaks were once again recorded, these being observed during March, August, and November of that year.
Statistical analysis indicated that during both years, the effects of D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. on the rates of parasitism were insignificant.
2.12. Aphytis melinus associated with Aonidiella aurantii on Citrus sp. in Minya:
This species was abundant all throughout 1997 and 1998, these being the two years during which it was subjected to study in the present work. A. melinus experienced two peaks in its rate of parasitism during each of these two years. During 1997, these peak rates were 34.9% and 66.4%, while in 1998 they were 41.3% and 56.5%, respectively. 
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were of insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism during the first year. However, in the second year, the effects of D.Mx.T. and D.M.R.H on the rate of parasitism were highly significant, while that of D.Mn.T. was insignificant.
2.13. Aphytis mytilaspidis associated with Parlatoria oleae on Prunus armeniaca in Qalyubiya:
In the present work, this species was studied during 1997 and 1998. During the first year, it achieved three peaks in its rate of parasitism, these occurring in January, June, and November. During the second year, three peaks were once again recorded, these occurring in the same months as the previous year, namely January, June, and November.
Statistical analysis indicated that during both years, the effects of D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. on the rates of parasitism were insignificant.
2.14. Aplzytis opuntiae associated with Aonidiella aurantii on Psidium guajava in Alexandria:
This species was observed to achieve four peaks in its rate of parasitism during 1997 and 1998. The highest peak rate of parasitism experienced was 9.8%, achieved during December of 1998.
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were of insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism during the first year. However, in the second year, the effect of D.Mx.T. on the rate of parasitism was highly significant, while those of D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were insignificant.
2.15. Aphytis paramaculicornis associated with Parlatoria oleae on Olea sp. on the Northern Coast:
This species was abundant all throughout 1999 and 2000, these being the two years during which it was subjected to study in the present work. The maximum rates of parasitism recorded were 57.0% and 38.7% during the first and second years, respectively.
Statistical analysis indicated that during both years, the effects of D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. on the rates of parasitism were insignificant.
2.16. Aplzytis philippinensis associated with Chrysomphalccs aonidicrm on Jasininum sp. in Alexandria:
The parasitism rates of A. philippinensis were very low. Only 18 individual specimens were collected in all of 1997, and only 10 in all of 1998, respectively.
2.17. Aphytis phoenicis associated with Parlatoria blanchardi on Phoenix dactylifera in Ismailia:
This species was observed to achieve four peaks in its rate of parasitism during 1999 and 2000 combined. The highest peak rate of parasitism experienced was 20.4%, achieved during August of 1999.
Statistical analysis indicated that D.Mx.T., D.Mn.T. and D.M.R.H. were of insignificant effect on the rate of parasitism during the first year.

In the second year, the effects of D.Mx.T. and D.Mn.T. were highly significant, while D.M.R.H. did not show any significant effect on the rate of parasitism.
2.18. Aphytis vandenboshi associated with Aspidiotus nerii on Oleander sp. in Qalyubiya:
The parasitism rate of A. vandenboshi was very low. Only five individual females were collected throughout of 1997, and only seven individual specimens in all of 1998, respectively.