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Providing sugar resources for parasitoids is an important component of habitat management approaches to bolster biological control. We screened three flowering cover crop species, and one aphid species, for their potential to increase the longevity of the parasitoid wasp, Bracon cephi (Gahan) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an important biological control agent of the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus cinctus Norton (Hymenoptera: Cephidae). We found that buckwheat and honeydew from the cereal aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi (Linnaeus) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), increased longevity of B. cephi females by over threefold, while longevity on sunflower and coriander was not significantly different from controls on wheat.The results suggest that incorporating buckwheat into cover crop mixes could enhance parasitoid performance. However, the finding that honeydew associated with a common aphid in wheat provides a suitable resource suggests that a better understanding of the varying quality, and spatial and temporal availability, of aphid honeydew will be a critical consideration in evaluating the potential benefits of managing floral resources for parasitoid conservation in this system.

Synthetic insecticide application is one tactic for reducing boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), infestations during the cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., reproductive stage. We assessed the susceptibility of the boll weevil and its natural enemies to ethiprole (mode of action 2B), a phenylpyrazole insecticide, and diagnostic concentrations of ethiprole indicative of boll weevil susceptibility. Differences in the lethal concentrations of ethiprole were calculated with susceptibility ratios based on LC50 ranging from 2.89- to 10.34-fold relative to a natural susceptible population.The lowest and the highest recommended field rates of ethiprole, 100 and 200 g a.i./ha, produced residues that caused 83.3% and 93.7% mortality of weevils caged with cotton leaves from field-treated plants for 8 d. We found that ethiprole was less toxic than fipronil to the boll weevil parasitoid Bracon vulgaris Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), while fipronil was highly toxic to both. Adult earwigs, Euborellia annulipes Lucas (Dermaptera: Anisolabididae), were relatively tolerant to ethiprole and fipronil at the highest field rates. Pooled LC50-and LC95-concentrations of ethiprole calculated from studied populations were used as diagnostic for boll weevil mortality, and the outcome fitted to the expected mortality for boll weevil populations from different locations serving for further control failure assessment. Ethiprole appears to be suitable for boll weevil control with low impact on natural enemy communities. Graphical Abstract

Three new genera are described: Michener (Proteropinae), Bioalfa (Rogadinae), and Hermosomastax (Rogadinae). Keys are given for the New World genera of the following braconid subfamilies: Agathidinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae, Ichneutinae, Macrocentrinae, Orgilinae, Proteropinae, Rhysipolinae, and Rogadinae. In these subfamilies 416 species are described or redescribed. Most of the species have been reared and all but 13 are new to science. A consensus sequence of the COI barcodes possessed by each species is employed to diagnose the species, and this approach is justified in the introduction. Most descriptions consist of a lateral or dorsal image of the holotype, a diagnostic COI consensus barcode, the Barcode Index Number (BIN) code with a link to the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD), and the holotype specimen information required by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The following species are treated and those lacking authorship are newly described here with authorship attributable to Sharkey except for the new species of Macrocentrinae which are by Sharkey & van Achterberg: AGATHIDINAE: Aerophilus paulmarshi , Mesocoelus davidsmithi , Neothlipsis bobkulai , Plesiocoelus vanachterbergi , Pneumagathis erythrogastra (Cameron, 1905), Therophilus bobwhartoni , T. donaldquickei , T. gracewoodae , T. maetoi , T. montywoodi , T. penteadodiasae , Zacremnops brianbrowni , Z. coatlicue Sharkey, 1990, Zacremnops cressoni (Cameron, 1887), Z. ekchuah Sharkey, 1990, Z. josefernandezi , Zelomorpha sarahmeierottoae . BRACONINAE: Bracon alejandromarini , B. alejandromasisi , B. alexamasisae , B. andresmarini , B. andrewwalshi , B. anniapicadoae , B. anniemoriceae , B. barryhammeli , B. bernardoespinozai , B. carlossanabriai , B. chanchini , B. christophervallei , B. erasmocoronadoi , B. eugeniephillipsae , B. federicomatarritai , B. frankjoycei , B. gerardovegai , B. germanvegai , B. isidrochaconi , B. jimlewisi , B. josejaramilloi , B. juanjoseoviedoi , B. juliodiazi , B. luzmariaromeroae , B. manuelzumbadoi , B. marialuisariasae , B. mariamartachavarriae , B. mariorivasi , B. melissaespinozae , B. nelsonzamorai , B. nicklaphami , B. ninamasisae , B. oliverwalshi , B. paulamarinae , B. rafamoralesi , B. robertofernandezi , B. rogerblancoi , B. ronaldzunigai , B. sigifredomarini , B. tihisiaboshartae , B. wilberthbrizuelai , Digonogastra montylloydi , D. montywoodi , D. motohasegawai , D. natwheelwrighti , D. nickgrishini . CHELONINAE: Adelius adrianguadamuzi , A. gauldi Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, A. janzeni Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, Ascogaster gloriasihezarae , A. grettelvegae , A. guillermopereirai , A. gustavoecheverrii , A. katyvandusenae , A. luisdiegogomezi , Chelonus alejandrozaldivari , C. gustavogutierrezi , C. gustavoinduni , C. harryramirezi , C. hartmanguidoi , C. hazelcambroneroae , C. iangauldi , C. isidrochaconi , C. janecheverriae , C. jeffmilleri , C. jennyphillipsae , C. jeremydewaardi , C. jessiehillae , C. jesusugaldei , C. jimlewisi , C. jimmilleri , C. jimwhitfieldi , C. johanvalerioi , C. johnburnsi , C. johnnoyesi , C. jorgebaltodanoi , C. jorgehernandezi , C. josealfredohernandezi , C. josefernandeztrianai , C. josehernandezcortesi , C. josemanuelperezi , C. josephinerodriguezae , C. juanmatai , C. junkoshimurae , C. kateperezae , C. luciariosae , C. luzmariaromeroae , C. manuelpereirai , C. manuelzumbadoi , C. marianopereirai , C. maribellealvarezae , C. markmetzi , C. markshawi , C. martajimenezae , C. mayrabonillae , C. meganmiltonae , C. melaniamunozae , C. michaelstroudi , C. michellevanderbankae , C. mingfangi , C. minorcarmonai , C. monikaspringerae , C. moniquegilbertae , C. motohasegawai , C. nataliaivanovae , C. nelsonzamorai , C. normwoodleyi , C. osvaldoespinozai , C. pamelacastilloae , C. paulgoldsteini , C. paulhansoni , C. paulheberti , C. petronariosae , C. ramyamanjunathae , C. randallgarciai , C. rebeccakittelae , C. robertoespinozai , C. robertofernandezi , C. rocioecheverriae , C. rodrigogamezi , C. ronaldzunigai , C. rosibelelizondoae , C. rostermoragai , C. ruthfrancoae , C. scottmilleri , C. scottshawi , C. sergioriosi , C. sigifredomarini , C. stevearonsoni , C. stevestroudi , C. sujeevanratnasinghami , C. sureshnaiki , C. torbjornekremi , C. yeimycedenoae , Leptodrepana alexisae , L. erasmocoronadoi , L. felipechavarriai , L. freddyquesadai , L. gilbertfuentesi , L. manuelriosi , Phanerotoma almasolisae , P. alvaroherrerai , P. anacordobae , P. anamariamongeae , P. andydeansi , P. angelagonzalezae , P. angelsolisi , P. barryhammeli , P. bernardoespinozai , P. calixtomoragai , P. carolinacanoae , P. christerhanssoni , P. christhompsoni , P. davesmithi , P. davidduthiei , P. dirksteinkei , P. donquickei , P. duniagarciae , P. duvalierbricenoi , P. eddysanchezi , P. eldarayae , P. eliethcantillanoae , P. jenopappi , Pseudophanerotoma alanflemingi , Ps. albanjimenezi , Ps. alejandromarini , Ps. alexsmithi , Ps. allisonbrownae , Ps. bobrobbinsi . HOMOLOBINAE: Exasticolus jennyphillipsae , E. randallgarciai , E. robertofernandezi , E. sigifredomarini , E. tomlewinsoni . HORMIINAE: Hormius anamariamongeae , H. angelsolisi , H. anniapicadoae , H. arthurchapmani , H. barryhammeli , H. carmenretanae , H. carloswalkeri , H. cesarsuarezi , H. danbrooksi , H. eddysanchezi , H. erikframstadi , H. georgedavisi , H. grettelvegae , H. gustavoinduni , H. hartmanguidoi , H. hectoraritai , H. hesiquiobenitezi , H. irenecanasae , H. isidrochaconi, H. jaygallegosi , H. jimbeachi , H. jimlewisi , H. joelcracrafti , H. johanvalerioi , H. johnburleyi , H. joncoddingtoni , H. jorgecarvajali , H. juanmatai , H. manuelzumbadoi , H. mercedesfosterae , H. modonnellyae , H. nelsonzamorai , H. pamelacastilloae , H. raycypessi , H. ritacolwellae , H. robcolwelli , H. rogerblancosegurai , H. ronaldzunigai , H. russchapmani , H. virginiaferrisae , H. warrenbrighami , H. willsflowersi . ICHNEUTINAE: Oligoneurus kriskrishtalkai , O. jorgejimenezi , Paroligoneurus elainehoaglandae , P. julianhumphriesi , P. mikeiviei . MACROCENTRINAE: Austrozele jorgecampabadali , A. jorgesoberoni , Dolichozele gravitarsis (Muesebeck, 1938), D. josefernandeztrianai , D. josephinerodriguezae , Hymenochaonia kalevikulli , H. kateperezae , H. katherinebaillieae , H. katherineellisonae , H. katyvandusenae , H. kazumifukunagae , H. keithlangdoni , H. keithwillmotti , H. kenjinishidai , H. kimberleysheldonae , H. krisnorvigae , H. lilianamadrigalae , H. lizlangleyae , Macrocentrus fredsingeri , M. geoffbarnardi , M. gregburtoni , M. gretchendailyae , M. grettelvegae , M. gustavogutierrezi , M. hannahjamesae , M. harisridhari , M. hillaryrosnerae , M. hiroshikidonoi , M. iangauldi , M. jennyphillipsae , M. jesseausubeli , M. jessemaysharkae , M. jimwhitfieldi , M. johnbrowni , M. johnburnsi , M. jonathanfranzeni , M. jonathanrosenbergi , M. jorgebaltodanoi , M. lucianocapelli . ORGILINAE: Orgilus amyrossmanae , O. carrolyoonae , O. christhompsoni , O. christinemcmahonae , O. dianalipscombae , O. ebbenielsoni , O. elizabethpennisiae , O. evertlindquisti , O. genestoermeri , O. jamesriegeri , O. jeanmillerae , O. jeffmilleri , O. jerrypowelli , O. jimtiedjei , O. johnlundbergi , O. johnpipolyi , O. jorgellorentei , O. larryspearsi , O. marlinricei , O. mellissaespinozae , O. mikesmithi , O. normplatnicki , O. peterrauchi , O. richardprimacki , O. sandraberriosae , O. sarahmirandae , O. scottmilleri , O. scottmorii , Stantonia billalleni , S. brookejarvisae , S. donwilsoni , S. erikabjorstromae , S. garywolfi , S. henrikekmani , S. luismirandai , S. miriamzunzae , S. quentinwheeleri , S. robinkazmierae , S. ruthtifferae . PROTEROPINAE: Hebichneutes tricolor Sharkey & Wharton, 1994, Proterops iangauldi , P. vickifunkae , Michener charlesi . RHYSIPOLINAE: Pseudorhysipolis luisfonsecai , P. mailyngonzalezaeRhysipolis julioquirosi . ROGADINAE: Aleiodes adrianaradulovae , A. adrianforsythi , A. agnespeelleae , A. alaneaglei , A. alanflemingi , A. alanhalevii , A. alejandromasisi , A. alessandracallejae , A. alexsmithi , A. alfonsopescadori , A. alisundermieri , A. almasolisae , A. alvarougaldei , A. alvaroumanai , A. angelsolisi , A. annhowdenae , A. bobandersoni , A. carolinagodoyae , A. charlieobrieni , A. davefurthi , A. donwhiteheadi , A. doylemckeyi , A. frankhovorei , A. henryhowdeni , A. inga Shimbori & Shaw, 2020, A. johnchemsaki , A. johnkingsolveri , A. gonodontovorus Shimbori & Shaw, 2020, A. manuelzumbadoi , A. mayrabonillae , A. michelledsouzae , A. mikeiviei , A. normwoodleyi , A. pammitchellae , A. pauljohnsoni , A. rosewarnerae , A. steveashei , A. terryerwini , A. willsflowersi , Bioalfa pedroleoni , B. alvarougaldei , B. rodrigogamezi , Choreborogas andydeansi , C. eladiocastroi , C. felipechavarriai , C. frankjoycei , Clinocentrus andywarreni , Cl. angelsolisi , Cystomastax alexhausmanni , Cy. angelagonzalezae , Cy. ayaigarashiae , Hermosomastax clavifemorus Quicke sp. nov., Heterogamus donstonei , Pseudoyelicones bernsweeneyi , Stiropius bencrairi , S. berndkerni , S. edgargutierrezi , S. edwilsoni , S. ehakernae , Triraphis billfreelandi , T. billmclarneyi , T. billripplei , T. bobandersoni , T. bobrobbinsi , T. bradzlotnicki , T. brianbrowni , T. brianlaueri , T. briannestjacquesae , T. camilocamargoi , T. carlosherrerai , T. carolinepalmerae , T. charlesmorrisi , T. chigiybinellae , T. christerhanssoni , T. christhompsoni , T. conniebarlowae , T. craigsimonsi , T. defectus Valerio, 2015, T. danielhubi , T. davidduthiei , T. davidwahli , T. federicomatarritai , T. ferrisjabri , T. mariobozai , T. martindohrni , T. matssegnestami , T. mehrdadhajibabaei , T. ollieflinti , T. tildalauerae , Yelicones dirksteinkei , Y. markmetzi , Y. monserrathvargasae , Y. tricolor Quicke, 1996. Y. woldai Quicke, 1996. The following new combinations are proposed: Neothlipsis smithi (Ashmead), new combination for Microdus smithi Ashmead, 1894; Neothlipsis pygmaeus (Enderlein), new combination for Microdus pygmae

Aim: To identify natural incidence pattern of pink bollworm larval parasitoids across different cotton growing zones in India. Methodology: Green bolls of cotton were collected from farmers field across India encompassing Northern, Central and Southern regions of cotton cultivation. In total 59 locations were selected for sampling and from each cotton field, five hundred matured green bolls were collected, packed and transferred to laboratory at CICR, Nagpur. Dead/inactive larvae were placed individually in plastic tubes under controlled laboratory conditions to monitor párásítóid emergence. Percent parasitization and párásítóid emergence were calculated accordingly. Results: The pink bollworm larval recovery varied among locations, with the highest average recovery and parasitised larvae observed in the Northern zone (480.50 and 12.10 larvae). Additionally, the average parasitization rate was higher in the Northern cotton zone (2.46 %) compared to the Southern (2.16 %) and Central zones (1.70 %). In terms of parasitoids, the Southern zone exhibited the highest average number of Bracon lefroyi (9.17 ± 3.59) with a range of 3.0-17.0 parasitoids, while the Northern zone recorded the highest average number of Apanteles angaleti (9.70 ± 2.83) with a range of 6.0-15.0 parasitoids. Interpretation: The natural parasitization of pink bollworm larvae by Bracon lefroyi and Apanteles angaleti ranged from 0.43 to 4.33 per cent across various cotton-growing zones. This natural occurrence presents a hopeful strategy for controlling pink bollworm populations, potentially reducing the need for chemical interventions and minimizing crop damage.

Successful pest management using parasitoids requires careful evaluation of host-parasitoid interactions. Here, we report the performance of larval ecto-parasitoid wasp, Bracon brevicornis (Wesmael) on important agricultural pests, Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith). Biology of B. brevicornis was studied on different host instars under laboratory and cage setup. In no-choice assay, the parasitoid development was highest on fifth-instar S. litura larvae as the wasp laid ~ 253 eggs with 62% hatching, 76% pupae formation and 78% adult emergence. Similarly, these parameters were highest on fifth instar S. frugiperda larvae (293 eggs, 57% hatching, 80% pupae formation, 70% adult emergence). In two-choice assay, B. brevicornis preferred fourth or fifth over third instar larvae of both hosts. Successful parasitism depends on host paralysis and suppression of host immunity. B. brevicornis interaction downregulated cellular immunity of both hosts as shown by reduced hemocyte viability and spreading. The percent parasitism rate of B. brevicornis was unaltered in the presence of host plant, Zea mays in cage study. 76 and 84% parasitism was observed on fifth-instar larvae of S. litura and S. frugiperda , respectively. We evaluated the performance of B. brevicornis as a biocontrol agent on S. frugiperda in maize field. Our results show 54% average reduction in infestation after release of B. brevicornis . Taken together, we report the performance of B. brevicornis on important insect pests for the first time in laboratory and field conditions. Our findings indicate that B. brevicornis is a promising candidate for integrated pest management.

Pesticide risk assessments are usually based on short-term acute toxicity tests, while longer-term population dynamic related traits, critical to the success of biological control and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, are often overlooked. This is increasingly important with respect to new biopesticides that frequently cause no short-term acute effects, but that can induce multiple physiological and behavioral sublethal effects, leading to a decrease in population growth and ecosystem services. In this study we assessed the lethal and sublethal effects of six biopesticides [abamectin, azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, borax plus citrus oil (Prev-Am®), emamectin benzoate, and spinosad], used in tomato crops to control the invasive pest Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), on adults and pupae of the parasitoid Bracon nigricans (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Data on female survival and production of female offspring were used to calculate population growth indexes as a measure of population recovery after pesticide exposure. Spinosad caused 100% and 80% mortality in exposed adults (even 10 d after the treatment) and pupae, respectively. Although most of the biopesticides had low levels of acute toxicity, multiple sublethal effects were observed. The biocontrol activity of both females that survived 1-h and 10-d old residues, and females that emerged from topically treated pupae was significantly affected by the application of the neurotoxic insecticides emamectin benzoate and abamectin. Furthermore, very low B. nigricans demographic growth indices were estimated for these two insecticides, indicating potential local extinction of the wasp populations. Among the tested products, Bt proved to be the safest for B. nigricans adults and pupae. Our findings emphasize that acute toxicity assessment alone cannot fully predict the actual impact of pesticides on non-target parasitoids. Thus, sublethal effects related to the species specific life-history variables must be carefully considered in order to assess pesticide risks and to incorporate new pesticides, including biopesticides, into IPM programmes.

Plants emit a wide array of complex blends of volatile organic compounds that can be involved in plant communication with herbivores and their natural enemies. Bracon vulgaris Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a gregarious larval ectoparasitoid that attacks the boll weevil larvae, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), an important pest in cotton plantations in Brazil. This parasitoid species has been studied as a potential biological control agent of A. grandis . However, little is known about B. vulgaris host foraging behaviour. We have previously demonstrated that female wasps respond to host-associated cues (boll weevil’s aggregation pheromone) and host habitat odours, such as cotton volatiles induced by the presence of the boll weevil’s pheromone. In the current study, we evaluated the electrophysiological and behavioural responses of B. vulgaris to constitutive and herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) emitted by A. grandis -infested cotton plants at different phenological stages. The results demonstrated that B. vulgaris recognizes and responds to reproductive cotton HIPVs and that polar compounds might not be essential for its attraction. Electroantennogram (EAG) recordings and bioassays suggested that the compounds β-myrcene, ( E )-ocimene, ( E )-4,8-dimethylnona-1,3,7-triene (DMNT), ( E )-(1 R ,9 S )-caryophyllene, and ( E,E )-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-1,3,7,11-tetraene (TMTT), as well as other minor components of cotton blend, can be used by B. vulgaris wasps in its host foraging behaviour. Our results show an important role of terpenoids in cotton indirect defence, which is discussed relative to the role of other minor plant volatiles.

The cotton ecosystem comprises various arthropod pest and natural enemies with simultaneous occurrence irrespective of growing region. The use of insecticides with reduced impact on natural enemies is a major goal to conserve them and, therefore, to reduce populations of arthropod pests. The survival of twelve key natural enemies for cotton pest management exposed to dried residues using the highest and lowest recommended rates representing old and new insecticides recommended to control cotton pests (chlorantraniliprole, chlofernapyr, spinosad, lambda-cyhalotrin, methidathion, pymetrozine, and thiamethoxam) was determined. The study included parasitoids [Aphelinus gossypii Timberlake, Bracon vulgaris Ashmead, Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson), Telenomus podisi (Ashmead), Trichogramma pretiosum (Riley)] and predators [Hippodamia convergens Guérin-Méneville, Euborellia annulipes (Lucas), Podisus nigrispinus (Dallas), Solenopsis invicta Buren), Orius insidiosus (Say), Chrysoperla externa Hagen and Eriopis connexa (Germar)], with two different cohorts for these last two species. All natural enemies exposed to methidathion exhibited 100% mortality. Thiamethoxam, lambda-cyhalothrin and chlorfenapyr also caused high mortality of P. nigrispinus, S. invicta, H. convergens, O. insidiosus and all tested parasitoids. Among the natural enemies, E. annulipes exhibited high survival when exposed to all tested insecticides, except methidathion. Chlorantraniliprole and pymetrozine caused overall lower impact on the natural enemies tested followed by spinosad; hence, they are options for cotton pest management. Furthermore, the outcomes highlight the implication of knowing the background susceptibility of the species tested when addressing the impact of insecticides on natural enemies.

The coexistence and efficiency in pest control of introduced and native parasitoids can be challenging. Continuous observations of the cohabitation of parasitoid species could confirm the persistence of the introduced parasitoid in the ecosystem under co-existence scenarios. This study provides an example of such a co-existence for biocontrol of the invasive pest, Phthorimaea absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Two parasitoids, the introduced endoparasitoid Dolichogenidea gelechiidivoris (Marsh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the native ectoparasitoid Bracon nigricans Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) were released in cages containing a tomato plant infested with P. absoluta . Parasitism and killing rate of P. absoluta by both parasitoid species, and the parasitoid and P. absoluta population were monitored weekly. The parasitoid species coexisted for seven weeks in the experimental units. Parasitism by D. gelechiidivoris was significantly affected by the presence of B. nigricans, with 73% and 22% parasitism in the absence and presence of B. nigricans, respectively. Parasitism by B. nigricans was not affected by its co-existence with D. gelechiidivoris . The number of D. gelechiidivoris adults increased eight-fold in five weeks in the absence of B. nigricans , while less than the initial number of adults were present in co-existence with B. nigricans . The P. absoluta infestation declined from the fifth week to 98% lesser than the control in all the treatments, either D. gelechiidivoris or B. nigricans as standalone treatments, as well as in combination. Since B. nigricans negatively affected D. gelechiidivoris population growth, releases of this introduced parasitoid should be considered with caution in areas where B. nigricans occurs.

Currently, one of the main problems is the reform of the management system of the agricultural sector, the rational use of land and water resources, as well as the protection of harmful organisms by means of predatory and free-feeding and microbiological preparations. If we solve these problems and protect agricultural crops in a biological way, we will provide the population of our country with ecologically clean products with complete food safety. For this purpose, there are currently more than 700 bio laboratories operating in the republic, where mainly 4 types of entomophagous are bred (poacher, egg-eating Trichogramma, goldeneye, and The European mantis). Bracon hebetor paralyzes middle-aged and older hookworms and lays its eggs on their bodies. Hatched larvae feed on worms. There are 4 types of it in Uzbekistan. Bracon bites one hundred and fifty worms in one day and causes paralysis. Its many types of owlet moths damage 3-4 year old worms. After release, poachers spread to a distance of 100-150 m during the day. Bracon is highly effective for environmental and warm-blooded creatures in general