ENZYMATIC IDENTFICATION OF Glyptapanteles sp. (INSECTA: HYMENOPTERA) FROM MADEIRA ISLAND L. OLIVEIRA, V. VIEIRA, J. TAVARES & P. GAKCIA OLIVEIRA, L., V. VIEIRA, J. TAVARES & P. GARCIA. 3001. Enzymatic identification of Glyptaparzteles sp. (Insecta: Hymenoptera) from Madeira Island. Arquipélago. Life and Marine Science. Supplement 2 (Part B): 39-42. Ponta Delgada. ISSN 0873-4704. Duririg a scientific expedition carried out in Madeira Island in September 1997, Pseudaletia (=Mytlzinzrza) ui~iliilricta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were collected in maize fields and pastures. These larvae wcre parasitized by a braconid belonging to Glyptaparzteles genus. This population was characterised biochemically to identify the species. Seven enzyme systems studied by electrophoresis were analysed: aldehyde oxidase (AO), a- glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (a-GPD). tetrazolium oxidase (TO), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), glucose-6-dehydrogenase (GóPD), malic enzyme (ME). isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH). AI1 systems showed only one band, with two exceptions: a-GPD and ME which had two bands which corresponded to different loci. No polymorphic enzymes were detected. Comparing Lhis results with those obtained from G. nzilitaris collected in Azores Islands and in Quebec-Canada we can suggest that the population of Glyptapaiiteles collected in Madeira Island belongs to G. militaris species. L. Olil~ira (e-r?lail:ziza@notes.itac.pr), V. Vieira, J. lavares & P. Gnrcia, Universidade dos Açores, Departaniento de Biologia, Rua da Mãe de Deus 58, PT - 9501-801 Poiita Delgada, Port~lgul. INTRODUCTION Pseudaletia (= Mythiriiria) uilipurzcta (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a cosmopolitan species, considered as the most important pest in Azorean gramineous fields (TAVARES 1989). Severa1 studies concerning the establishment of biological control programs against this pest have been carried out in our laboratory (TAVARES 1989; VIEIRA 1992; OLIVEIRA 1996). In this sense, it is important to survey the pest natural enemies and preserve their characteristics during the severa1 steps of biological control programs, such as, the mass rearing processes and field releases. However, some problems may arise when such programs are under development such as species mis-identification (especially for sibling species) leading to a loss of effort, time and money (POWELL & WALTON 1989). Electrophoretic study, as a too1 for identification, may help to overcome some of such errors (PINTUREAIJ & VOEGELÉ 1980; PINTUREAU 1987; POWELL & WALTON 1989). ln the Azores, P. urzipuncra has few species of parasitoids from Hymenoptera (TAVARES 1989; OLIVEIRA 1996). with the braconid G. militaris being the main native biological control agent. Therefore, a larger survey for P. irnipuncta biological control agents was expanded to other Macaronesian Islands, such as Madeira. During a scientific expedition carried out in Madeira Island in September 1997, P. unipuncta larvae were collected in maize fields and pastures. These larvae were parasitized by a braconid belonging to Glyptapanteles genus, as in Azores Islands. Since electrophoretic studies have been used to identify and distinguish between sibling species (PINTUREAU & VOEGELÉ 1980; PINTUREAU 1987; PINTUREAU et al. 1990) we analyzed seven enzyme systems by gel electrophoresis to compare the parasitoids from Madeira with the Azorean population of G.