Abstract: Based on samples collected in 2017 and 2024, Eupelmus (Eupelmus) urozonus (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is recorded as a new egg parasitoid of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) in Bulgaria. Seven male specimens of E. urozonus were reared from egg samples of the host: one specimen from Dabnitsa Village (Blagoevgrad Region; 2017), five specimens from Dobromirtsi Village (Kardzhali Region; 2017) and one specimen from Gorno Varshilo Village (Pazardzhik Region; 2024). Four primary and one secondary parasitoids (Anastatus bifasciatus, Baryscapus servadeii, Baryscapus transversalis, Ooencyrtus pityocampae and Trichogramma sp.) also emerged from the T. pityocampa egg batches with E. urozonus comprising only 0.1% of the parasitoid complex. The impact of egg parasitoids on host numbers varied between 18.7% (Dabnitsa Village) and 33.0% (Dobromirtsi Village).
Keywords: Bulgaria, new trophic association, limiting factor, parasitism, pine processionary moth
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Additional information
Received: 29 December 2025 · Accepted: 9 February 2026
Editor: Stanislav Abadjiev
Conflicts of interest:
No potential conflict of interest has been reported by the authors, reviewers, or subject editor.
Authors’ contributions (using CrediT ↗):
Miroslav Antov: resources, writing—original draft; Maria Dobreva: investigation, resources; Peter Boyadzhiev: resources, writing—original draft; Plamen Mirchev: investigation, methodology, writing—original draft; Georgi Georgiev: project administration, writing—original draft.
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Cite as
Antov M., Dobreva M., Boyadzhiev P., Mirchev P., Georgiev G. 2026 Eupelmus (Eupelmus) urozonus Dalman (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) – a new egg parasitoid of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae) in Bulgaria. Historia naturalis bulgarica 48: 71–75.