Systematics, Biology, and Evolution of Microgastrine Parasitoid Wasps

Contributions to the world fauna of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) - Introduction

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Dietary Challenges for Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea); Coping with Toxic Hosts, or Not?

Many insects defend themselves against predation by being distasteful or toxic. The chemicals involved may be sequestered from their diet or synthesized de novo in the insects' body tissues. Parasitoid wasps are a diverse group of insects that play a critical role in regulating their host insect populations such as lepidopteran caterpillars. The successful parasitization of caterpillars by parasitoid wasps is contingent upon their aptitude for locating and selecting suitable hosts, thereby determining their efficacy in parasitism. However, some hosts can be toxic to parasitoid wasps, which can pose challenges to their survival and reproduction. Caterpillars employ a varied array of defensive mechanisms to safeguard themselves against natural predators, particularly parasitoid wasps. These defenses are deployed pre-emptively, concurrently, or subsequently during encounters with such natural enemies. Caterpillars utilize a range of strategies to evade detection or deter and evade attackers. These tactics encompass both measures to prevent being noticed and mechanisms aimed at repelling or eluding potential threats. Post-attack strategies aim to eliminate or incapacitate the eggs or larvae of parasitoids. In this review, we investigate the dietary challenges faced by parasitoid wasps when encountering toxic hosts. We first summarize the known mechanisms through which insect hosts can be toxic to parasitoids and which protect caterpillars from parasitization. We then discuss the dietary adaptations and physiological mechanisms that parasitoid wasps have evolved to overcome these challenges, such as changes in feeding behavior, detoxification enzymes, and immune responses. We present new analyses of all published parasitoid-host records for the Ichneumonoidea that attack Lepidoptera caterpillars and show that classically toxic host groups are indeed hosts to significantly fewer species of parasitoid than most other lepidopteran groups.

Microplitis manilae Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Biology, Systematics, and Response to Climate Change through Ecological Niche Modelling

The parasitoid wasp Microplitis manilae Ashmead (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is an important natural enemy of caterpillars and of a range of noctuids, including pest species of armyworms (Spodoptera spp.). Here, the wasp is redescribed and, for the first time, illustrated based on the holotype. An updated list of all the Microplitis species attacking the noctuid Spodoptera spp. along with a discussion on host-parasitoid-food plant associations is offered. Based on information about the actual distribution of M. manilae and a set of bioclimatic variables, the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) niche model and the quantum geographic information system (QGIS) were explored to predict the potential distribution of this wasp in a global context. The worldwide geographical distribution of potential climatic suitability of M. manilae at present and in three different periods in the future was simulated. The relative percent contribution score of environmental factors and the Jackknife test were combined to identify dominant bioclimatic variables and their appropriate values influencing the potential distribution of M. manilae. The results showed that under current climate conditions, the prediction of the maximum entropy model highly matches the actual distribution, and that the obtained value of simulation accuracy was very high. Likewise, the distribution of M. manilae was mainly affected by five bioclimatic variables, listed in order of importance as follows: precipitation during the wettest month (BIO13), annual precipitation (BIO12), annual mean temperature (BIO1), temperature seasonality (BIO4), and mean temperature during the warmest quarter (BIO10). In a global context, the suitable habitat of M. manilae would be mainly in tropical and subtropical countries. Furthermore, under the four greenhouse gas concentration scenarios (representative concentration pathways: RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0, and RCP8.5) in the future period of the 2070s, the areas with high, medium, and low suitability showed varying degrees of change from current conditions and are expected to expand in the future. This work provides theoretical backing for studies associated with the safeguarding of the environment and pest management.

Larissimusnigricans sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a new reared species of a rare neotropical genus recovered through biodiversity inventory in Ecuador

A new species of the rarely collected neotropical microgastrine braconid wasp genus Larissimus Nixon, represented previously by only a single described species, L.cassander Nixon, was recovered by the Caterpillars and Parasitoids of the Eastern Andes in Ecuador inventory project. Larissimusnigricanssp. nov. was reared from an unidentified species of arctiine Erebidae feeding on the common bamboo species Chusqueascandens Kunth at the Yanayacu Biological Station near Cosanga, Napo Province, Ecuador. The new species is described and diagnosed from L.cassander using both morphological and DNA barcode data.

Parasite reliance on its host gut microbiota for nutrition and survival

Studying the microbial symbionts of eukaryotic hosts has revealed a range of interactions that benefit host biology. Most eukaryotes are also infected by parasites that adversely affect host biology for their own benefit. However, it is largely unclear whether the ability of parasites to develop in hosts also depends on host-associated symbionts, e.g., the gut microbiota. Here, we studied the parasitic wasp Leptopilina boulardi (Lb) and its host Drosophila melanogaster. Results showed that Lb successfully develops in conventional hosts (CN) with a gut microbiota but fails to develop in axenic hosts (AX) without a gut microbiota. We determined that developing Lb larvae consume fat body cells that store lipids. We also determined that much larger amounts of lipid accumulate in fat body cells of parasitized CN hosts than parasitized AX hosts. CN hosts parasitized by Lb exhibited large increases in the abundance of the bacterium Acetobacter pomorum in the gut, but did not affect the abundance of Lactobacillus fructivorans which is another common member of the host gut microbiota. However, AX hosts inoculated with A. pomorum and/or L. fructivorans did not rescue development of Lb. In contrast, AX larvae inoculated with A. pomorum plus other identified gut community members including a Bacillus sp. substantially rescued Lb development. Rescue was further associated with increased lipid accumulation in host fat body cells. Insulin-like peptides increased in brain neurosecretory cells of parasitized CN larvae. Lipid accumulation in the fat body of CN hosts was further associated with reduced Bmm lipase activity mediated by insulin/insulin-like growth factor signaling (IIS). Altogether, our results identify a previously unknown role for the gut microbiota in defining host permissiveness for a parasite. Our findings also identify a new paradigm for parasite manipulation of host metabolism that depends on insulin signaling and the gut microbiota.

Many evolutionary roads led to virus domestication in ichneumonoid parasitoid wasps

The investigation of endogenous viral elements (EVEs) has historically focused on only a few lineages of parasitoid wasps, with negative results consistently underreported. Recent studies show that multiple viral lineages were integrated in at least seven instances in Ichneumonoidea and may be much more widespread than previously thought. Increasingly affordable genomic and bioinformatic approaches have made it feasible to search for viral sequences within wasp genomes, opening an extremely promising research avenue. Advances in wasp phylogenetics have shed light on the evolutionary history of EVE integration, although many questions remain. Phylogenetic proximity can be used as a guide to facilitate targeted screening, to estimate the number and age of integration events and to identify taxa involved in major host switches.

Cotesiacassina sp. nov. from southwestern Colombia: a new gregarious microgastrine wasp (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) reared from the pest species Opsiphanescassina Felder & Felder (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) feeding on Elaeis oil palm trees (Arecaceae)

A new species of microgastrine wasp, Cotesiacassina Salgado-Neto, Vásquez & Whitfield, sp. nov., is described from southwestern Colombia in Tumaco, Nariño. This species is a koinobiont gregarious larval endoparasitoid, and spins a common mass of cocoons underneath the host caterpillars of Opsiphanescassina (Felder & Felder) (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae), feeding on oil palm trees (interspecific hybrid Elaeisoleifera × E.guineensis) (Arecaceae). While superficially similar, both morphologically and biologically, to C.invirae Salgado-Neto & Whitfield from southern Brazil, the two species are distinct based on DNA barcodes, host species, geographical range and morphological characters.

Reproductive context of extremely short sperm in the parasitic wasp Cotesia congregata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Among adaptive traits under sexual selection, the length of spermatozoa shows high interspecific variation. In insects, extremes exist for both short and long sperm. The spermatozoa of the endoparasitic wasp Cotesia congregata (Say) are the shortest flagellated sperm described in animals, 6.6 µm in length. By comparison, the sperm of Drosophila bifurca are almost 6000 times longer. Thus, C. congregata has the potential to shed light on the selection pressures that drive variation in sperm length in relation to their production and use. The reproductive organs, sperm counts, controlled oviposition and sex ratios were investigated. The testes showed stratified differentiation stages of spermatogenesis, and sperm counts revealed continuous spermatogenesis in the late pupal stage. The small female spermatheca stored ~1000 sperm, resulting in an extremely high sperm concentration. The number of progeny per brood decreased over time until depletion of eggs. Females produced up to 370 daughters, corresponding to the effective use of 34% of the average sperm stock. Haploid males made up a greater proportion of broods in later parasitisms. Sperm miniaturization may be an adaptation to transfer increased quantities for the entire reproductive life of females in the absence of sperm competition but in the reduced space offered by the spermatheca.

Kinship effects in quasi-social parasitoids II: co-foundress relatedness and host dangerousness interactively affect host exploitation

Sclerodermus brevicornis is a parasitoid that exhibits cooperative multi-foundress brood production. Prior work showed that the time lag to paralysis of small-sized hosts is shorter when co-foundress relatedness is higher and predicted that the greater risks and greater benefits of attacking larger hosts would combine with co-foundress relatedness to determine the limits to the size of a host that a female is selected to attack as a public good. It was also predicted that the time to host attack would be affected by an interaction between host size and relatedness. Here, we show empirically that both host size and kinship affect S. brevicornis reproduction and that they interact to influence the timing of host attack. We also find effects of co-foundress relatedness after hosts have been suppressed successfully. A public goods model using parameters estimated for S. brevicornis again suggests that selection for individual foundresses to attack and, if successful, to share hosts will be dependent on both the size of the host and the relatedness of the foundresses to any co-foundresses present. Females will not be selected to bear the individual cost of a public good when hosts are large and dangerous or when their relatedness to the co-foundress is low. We conclude that although reproductive behaviours exhibited by Sclerodermus females can be cooperative, they are unlikely to be exhibited without reference to kinship or to the risks involved in attempting to suppress and share large and dangerous hosts.

A five-gene molecular phylogeny reveals Parapanteles Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to be polyphyletic as currently composed

Parapanteles Ashmead (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is a medium-sized genus of microgastrine wasps that was erected over a century ago and lacks a unique synapomorphic character, and its monophyly has not been tested by any means. Parapanteles usually are parasitoids of large, unconcealed caterpillars (macrolepidoptera) and have been reared from an unusually large diversity of hosts for a relatively small microgastrine genus. We used Cytochrome Oxidase I sequences ("DNA barcodes") available for Parapanteles and other microgastrines to sample the generic diversity of described and undescribed species currently placed in Parapanteles, and then sequenced four additional genes for this subsample (wingless, elongation factor 1-alpha, ribosomal subunit 28s, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1). We constructed individual gene trees and concatenated Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenies for this 5-gene subsample. In these phylogenies, most Parapanteles species formed a monophyletic clade within another genus, Dolichogenidea, while the remaining Parapanteles species were recovered polyphyletically within several other genera. The latter likely represent misidentified members of other morphologically similar genera. Species in the monophyletic clade containing most Parapanteles parasitized caterpillars from only five families - Erebidae (Arctiinae), Geometridae, Saturniidae, Notodontidae, and Crambidae. We do not make any formal taxonomic decisions here because we were not able to include representatives of type species for Parapanteles or other relevant genera, and because we feel such decisions should be reserved until a comprehensive morphological analysis of the boundaries of these genera is accomplished.

Annotated and illustrated world checklist of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

A checklist of world species of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is provided. A total of 81 genera and 2,999 extant species are recognized as valid, including 36 nominal species that are currently considered as species inquirendae. Two genera are synonymized under Apanteles. Nine lectotypes are designated. A total of 318 new combinations, three new replacement names, three species name amendments, and seven species status revised are proposed. Additionally, three species names are treated as nomina dubia, and 52 species names are considered as unavailable names (including 14 as nomina nuda). A total of three extinct genera and 12 extinct species are also listed. Unlike in many previous treatments of the subfamily, tribal concepts are judged to be inadequate, so genera are listed alphabetically. Brief diagnoses of all Microgastrinae genera, as understood in this paper, are presented. Illustrations of all extant genera (at least one species per genus, usually more) are included to showcase morphological diversity. Primary types of Microgastrinae are deposited in 108 institutions worldwide, although 76% are concentrated in 17 collections. Localities of primary types, in 138 countries, are reported. Recorded species distributions are listed by biogeographical region and by country. Microgastrine wasps are recorded from all continents except Antarctica; specimens can be found in all major terrestrial ecosystems, from 82°N to 55°S, and from sea level up to at least 4,500 m a.s.l. The Oriental (46) and Neotropical (43) regions have the largest number of genera recorded, whereas the Palaearctic region (28) is the least diverse. Currently, the highest species richness is in the Palearctic region (827), due to more historical study there, followed by the Neotropical (768) and Oriental (752) regions, which are expected to be the most species rich. Based on ratios of Lepidoptera and Microgastrinae species from several areas, the actual world diversity of Microgastrinae is expected to be between 30,000–50,000 species; although these ratios were mostly based on data from temperate areas and thus must be treated with caution, the single tropical area included had a similar ratio to the temperate ones. Almost 45,000 specimens of Microgastrinae from 67 different genera (83% of microgastrine genera) have complete or partial DNA barcode sequences deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System; the DNA barcodes represent 3,545 putative species or Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), as estimated from the molecular data. Information on the number of sequences and BINs per genus are detailed in the checklist. Microgastrinae hosts are here considered to be restricted to Eulepidoptera, i.e., most of the Lepidoptera except for the four most basal superfamilies (Micropterigoidea, Eriocranioidea, Hepialoidea and Nepticuloidea), with all previous literature records of other insect orders and those primitive Lepidoptera lineages being considered incorrect. The following nomenclatural acts are proposed: 1) Two genera are synonymyzed under Apanteles: Cecidobracon Kieffer & Jörgensen, 1910, new synonym and Holcapanteles Cameron, 1905, new synonym; 2) Nine lectotype designations are made for Alphomelondisputabile (Ashmead, 1900), Alphomelonnigriceps (Ashmead, 1900), Cotesiasalebrosa (Marshall, 1885), Diolcogasterxanthaspis (Ashmead, 1900), Dolichogenideaononidis (Marshall, 1889), Glyptapantelesacraeae (Wilkinson, 1932), Glyptapantelesguyanensis (Cameron, 1911), Glyptapantelesmilitaris (Walsh, 1861), and Pseudapantelesannulicornis Ashmead, 1900; 3) Three new replacement names are a) Diolcogasteraurangabadensis Fernandez-Triana, replacing Diolcogasterindicus (Rao & Chalikwar, 1970) [nec Diolcogasterindicus (Wilkinson, 1927)], b) Dolichogenideaincystatae Fernandez-Triana, replacing Dolichogenidealobesia Liu & Chen, 2019 [nec Dolichogenidealobesia Fagan-Jeffries & Austin, 2019], and c) Microplitisvitobiasi Fernandez-Triana, replacing Microplitisvariicolor Tobias, 1964 [nec Microplitisvaricolor Viereck, 1917]; 4) Three names amended are Apantelesirenecarrilloae Fernandez-Triana, 2014, Cotesiaayerzai (Brèthes, 1920), and Cotesiariverai (Porter, 1916); 5) Seven species have their status revised: Cotesiaarctica (Thomson, 1895), Cotesiaokamotoi (Watanabe, 1921), Cotesiaukrainica (Tobias, 1986), Dolichogenideaappellator (Telenga, 1949), Dolichogenideamurinanae (Capek & Zwölfer, 1957), Hypomicrogasteracarnas Nixon, 1965, and Nyererianigricoxis (Wilkinson, 1932); 6) New combinations are given for 318 species: Alloplitiscongensis, Alloplitisdetractus, Apantelesasphondyliae, Apantelesbraziliensis, Apantelessulciscutis, Choerasaper, Choerasapollion, Choerasdaphne, Choerasfomes, Choerasgerontius, Choerashelle, Choerasirates, Choeraslibanius, Choeraslongiterebrus, Choerasloretta, Choerasrecusans, Choerassordidus, Choerasstenoterga, Choerassuperbus, Choerassylleptae, Choerasvacillatrix, Choerasvacillatropsis, Choerasvenilia, Cotesiaasavari, Cotesiabactriana, Cotesiabambeytripla, Cotesiaberberidis, Cotesiabhairavi, Cotesiabiezankoi, Cotesiabifida, Cotesiacaligophagus, Cotesiacheesmanae, Cotesiacompressithorax, Cotesiadelphinensis, Cotesiaeffrena, Cotesiaeuphobetri, Cotesiaelaeodes, Cotesiaendii, Cotesiaeuthaliae, Cotesiaexelastisae, Cotesiahiberniae, Cotesiahyperion, Cotesiahypopygialis, Cotesiahypsipylae, Cotesiajujubae, Cotesialesbiae, Cotesialevigaster, Cotesializeri, Cotesiamalevola, Cotesiamalshri, Cotesiamenezesi, Cotesiamuzaffarensis, Cotesianeptisis, Cotesianycteus, Cotesiaoeceticola, Cotesiaoppidicola, Cotesiaopsiphanis, Cotesiapachkuriae, Cotesiapaludicolae, Cotesiaparbhanii, Cotesiaparvicornis, Cotesiapratapae, Cotesiaprozorovi, Cotesiapterophoriphagus, Cotesiaradiarytensis, Cotesiarangii, Cotesiariverai, Cotesiaruficoxis, Cotesiasenegalensis, Cotesiaseyali, Cotesiasphenarchi, Cotesiasphingivora, Cotesiatransuta, Cotesiaturkestanica, Diolcogasterabengouroui, Diolcogasteragama, Diolcogasterambositrensis, Diolcogasteranandra, Diolcogasterannulata, Diolcogasterbambeyi, Diolcogasterbicolorina, Diolcogastercariniger, Diolcogastercincticornis, Diolcogastercingulata, Diolcogastercoronata, Diolcogastercoxalis, Diolcogasterdipika, Diolcogasterearina, Diolcogasterepectina, Diolcogasterepectinopsis, Diolcogastergrangeri, Diolcogasterheterocera, Diolcogasterhomocera, Diolcogasterindica, Diolcogasterinsularis, Diolcogasterkivuana, Diolcogastermediosulcata, Diolcogastermegaulax, Diolcogasterneglecta, Diolcogasternigromacula, Diolcogasterpalpicolor, Diolcogasterpersimilis, Diolcogasterplecopterae, Diolcogasterplutocongoensis, Diolcogasterpsilocnema, Diolcogasterrufithorax, Diolcogastersemirufa, Diolcogasterseyrigi, Diolcogastersubtorquata, Diolcogastersulcata, Diolcogastertorquatiger, Diolcogastertristiculus, Diolcogasterturneri, Diolcogastervulcana, Diolcogasterwittei, Distatrixanthedon, Distatrixcerales, Distatrixcuspidalis, Distatrixeuproctidis, Distatrixflava, Distatrixgeometrivora, Distatrixmaia, Distatrixtookei, Distatrixtermina, Distatrixsimulissima, Dolichogenideaagamedes, Dolichogenideaaluella, Dolichogenideaargiope, Dolichogenideaatreus, Dolichogenideabakeri, Dolichogenideabasiflava, Dolichogenideabersa, Dolichogenideabiplagae, Dolichogenideabisulcata, Dolichogenideacatonix, Dolichogenideachrysis, Dolichogenideacoffea, Dolichogenideacoretas, Dolichogenideacyane, Dolichogenideadiaphantus, Dolichogenideadiparopsidis, Dolichogenideadryas, Dolichogenideaearterus, Dolichogenideaensiger, Dolichogenideaeros, Dolichogenideaevadne, Dolichogenideafalcator, Dolichogenideagelechiidivoris, Dolichogenideagobica, Dolichogenideahyalinis, Dolichogenideairiarte, Dolichogenidealakhaensis, Dolichogenidealampe, Dolichogenidealaspeyresiella, Dolichogenidealatistigma, Dolichogenidealebene, Dolichogenidealucidinervis, Dolichogenideamalacosomae, Dolichogenideamaro, Dolichogenideamendosae, Dolichogenideamonticola, Dolichogenideanigra, Dolichogenideaolivierellae, Dolichogenideaparallelis, Dolichogenideapelopea, Dolichogenideapelops, Dolichogenideaphaenna, Dolichogenideapisenor, Dolichogenidearoepkei, Dolichogenideascabra, Dolichogenideastatius, Dolichogenideastenotelas, Dolichogenideastriata, Dolichogenideawittei, Exoryzaasotae, Exoryzabelippicola, Exoryzahylas, Exoryzamegagaster, Exoryzaoryzae, Glyptapantelesaggestus, Glyptapantelesagynus, Glyptapantelesaithos, Glyptapantelesamenophis, Glyptapantelesantarctiae, Glyptapantelesanubis, Glyptapantelesarginae, Glyptapantelesargus, Glyptapantelesatylana, Glyptapantelesbadgleyi, Glyptapantelesbataviensis, Glyptapantelesbistonis, Glyptapantelesborocerae, Glyptapantelescacao, Glyptapantelescadei, Glyptapantelescinyras, Glyptapanteleseryphanidis, Glyptapanteleseuproctisiphagus, Glyptapanteleseutelus, Glyptapantelesfabiae, Glyptapantelesfulvigaster, Glyptapantelesfuscinervis, Glyptapantelesgahinga, Glyptapantelesglobatus, Glyptapantelesglyphodes, Glyptapantelesguierae, Glyptapanteleshorus, Glyptapantelesintricatus, Glyptapanteleslamprosemae, Glyptapanteleslefevrei, Glyptapantelesleucotretae, Glyptapanteleslissopleurus, Glyptapantelesmadecassus, Glyptapantelesmarquesi, Glyptapantelesmelanotus, Glyptapantelesmelissus, Glyptapantelesmerope, Glyptapantelesnaromae, Glyptapantelesnepitae, Glyptapantelesnigrescens, Glyptapantelesninus, Glyptapantelesnkuli, Glyptapantelesparasundanus, Glyptapantelespenelope, Glyptapantelespenthocratus, Glyptapantelesphilippinensis, Glyptapantelesphilocampus, Glyptapantelesphoebe, Glyptapantelesphytometraduplus, Glyptapantelespropylae, Glyptapantelespuera, Glyptapantelesseydeli, Glyptapantelessiderion, Glyptapantelessimus, Glyptapantelesspeciosissimus, Glyptapantelesspilosomae, Glyptapantelessubpunctatus, Glyptapantelesthespis, Glyptapantelesthoseae, Glyptapantelesvenustus, Glyptapanteleswilkinsoni, Hypomicrogastersamarshalli, Iconellacajani, Iconelladetrectans, Iconellajason, Iconellalynceus, Iconellapyrene, Iconellatedanius, Illidopsazamgarhensis, Illidopslamprosemae, Illidopstrabea, Keylimepiestriatus, Microplitisadisurae, Microplitismexicanus, Neoclarkinellaariadne, Neoclarkinellacurvinervus, Neoclarkinellasundana, Nyereriaituriensis, Nyererianioro, Nyereriaproagynus, Nyereriataoi, Nyereriavallatae, Parapantelesaethiopicus, Parapantelesalternatus, Parapantelesaso, Parapantelesatellae, Parapantelesbagicha, Parapantelescleo, Parapantelescyclorhaphus, Parapantelesdemades, Parapantelesendymion, Parapantelesepiplemicidus, Parapantelesexpulsus, Parapantelesfallax, Parapantelesfolia, Parapantelesfurax, Parapanteleshemitheae, Parapanteleshyposidrae, Parapantelesindicus, Parapantelesjavensis, Parapantelesjhaverii, Parapantelesmaculipalpis, Parapantelesmaynei, Parapantelesneocajani, Parapantelesneohyblaeae, Parapantelesnydia, Parapantelesprosper, Parapantelesprosymna, Parapantelespunctatissimus, Parapantelesregalis, Parapantelessarpedon, Parapantelessartamus, Parapantelesscultena, Parapantelestransvaalensis, Parapantelesturri, Parapantelesxanthopholis, Pholetesoracutus, Pholetesorbrevivalvatus, Pholetesorextentus, Pholetesoringenuoides, Pholetesorkuwayamai, Promicrogasterapidanus, Promicrogasterbriareus, Promicrogasterconopiae, Promicrogasteremesa, Promicrogastergrandicula, Promicrogasterorsedice, Promicrogasterrepleta, Promicrogastertyphon, Sathonbekilyensis, Sathonflavofacialis, Sathonlaurae, Sathonmikeno, Sathonruandanus, Sathonrufotestaceus, Venanidesastydamia, Venanidesdemeter, Venanidesparmula, and Venanidessymmysta.

A new species of Glyptapanteles Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) within Macrobrochis gigas (Lepidoptera, Arctiidae, Lithosiidae) in Fujian, China

The south-east coastal area of Fujian, China, belongs to the Oriental Realm, and is characterized by a high insect species richness. In this work, a new species of Hymenopteran parasitoid, Glyptapantelesgigas Liang & Song, sp. nov. found in Jinjiang within hosts of caterpillars Macrobrochisgigas (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae), is described and illustrated, with differences from similar species. Additionally, we presumed that both parasitoid and host species play very important role in the coevolution and tritrophic interaction between plants, phytophagous insects, and their parasitoids, because these insects probably broke the sporangia and made contributions to their colonization, or some spores were spread for long distances by adult moths after their emergence, or some parasitoids were attracted by the eggs and larvae of these caterpillars, which was also thought to be helpful to spread of spores.

Microbial Symbionts of Parasitoids

Parasitoids depend on other insects for the development of their offspring. Their eggs are laid in or on a host insect that is consumed during juvenile development. Parasitoids harbor a diversity of microbial symbionts including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. In contrast to symbionts of herbivorous and hematophagous insects, parasitoid symbionts do not provide nutrients. Instead, they are involved in parasitoid reproduction, suppression of host immune responses, and manipulation of the behavior of herbivorous hosts. Moreover, recent research has shown that parasitoid symbionts such as polydnaviruses may also influence plant-mediated interactions among members of plant-associated communities at different trophic levels, such as herbivores, parasitoids, and hyperparasitoids. This implies that these symbionts have a much more extended phenotype than previously thought. This review focuses on the effects of parasitoid symbionts on direct and indirect species interactions and the consequences for community ecology.

A species-level taxonomic review and host associations of Glyptapanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with an emphasis on 136 new reared species from Costa Rica and Ecuador

The descriptive taxonomic study reported here is focused on Glyptapanteles, a species-rich genus of hymenopteran parasitoid wasps. The species were found within the framework of two independent long-term Neotropical caterpillar rearing projects: northwestern Costa Rica (Área de Conservación Guanacaste, ACG) and eastern Andes, Ecuador (centered on Yanayacu Biological Station, YBS). One hundred thirty-six new species of Glyptapanteles Ashmead are described and all of them are authored by Arias-Penna. None of them was recorded in both countries; thus, 78 are from Costa Rica and the remaining 58 from Ecuador. Before this revision, the number of Neotropical described Glyptapanteles did not reach double digits. Reasonable boundaries among species were generated by integrating three datasets: Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing data, natural history (host records), and external morphological characters. Each species description is accompanied by images and known geographical distribution. Characteristics such as shape, ornamentation, and location of spun Glyptapanteles cocoons were imaged as well. Host-parasitoid associations and food plants are also here published for the first time. A total of 88 species within 84 genera in 15 Lepidoptera families was encountered as hosts in the field. With respect to food plants, these wild-caught parasitized caterpillars were reared on leaves of 147 species within 118 genera in 60 families. The majority of Glyptapanteles species appeared to be relatively specialized on one family of Lepidoptera or even on some much lower level of taxonomic refinement. Those herbivores in turn are highly food-plant specialized, and once caterpillars were collected, early instars (1-3) yielded more parasitoids than later instars. Glyptapanteles jimmilleri Arias-Penna, sp. nov. is the first egg-larval parasitoid recorded within the genus, though there may be many more since such natural history requires a more focused collection of eggs. The rate of hyperparasitoidism within the genus was approximately 4% and was represented by Mesochorus spp. (Ichneumonidae). A single case of multiparasitoidism was reported, Copidosoma floridanum Ashmead (Encyrtidae) and Glyptapanteles ilarisaaksjarvi Arias-Penna, sp. nov. both parasitoid species emerged from the caterpillar of Noctuidae: Condica cupienta (Cramer). Bodyguard behavior was observed in two Glyptapanteles species: G. howelldalyi Arias-Penna, sp. nov. and G. paulhansoni Arias-Penna, sp. nov. A dichotomous key for all the new species is provided. The numerous species described here, and an equal number already reared but not formally described, signal a far greater Glyptapanteles species richness in the Neotropics than suggested by the few described previously.

Systematics, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Braconid Wasps: 30 Years of Progress

The parasitoid wasp family Braconidae is likely the second-most species-rich family in the animal kingdom. Braconid wasps are widely distributed and often encountered. They constitute one of the principal groups of natural enemies of phytophagous insects, of which many are serious pest species. The enormous biological diversification of braconid wasps has led to many homoplasies, which contributed widely to instabilities in historical classifications. Recent studies using combinations of genetic markers or total mitochondrial genomes allow for better founded groupings and will ultimately lead to a stable classification. We present the current status of the phylogenetics of the Braconidae in a historical perspective and our understanding of the effects on higher classification.

Evolutionary relationships of courtship songs in the parasitic wasp genus, Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Acoustic signals play an important role in premating isolation based on sexual selection within many taxa. Many male parasitic wasps produce characteristic courtship songs used by females in mate selection. In Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), courtship songs are generated by wing fanning with repetitive pulses in stereotypical patterns. Our objectives were to sample the diversity of courtship songs within Cotesia and to identify e underlying patterns of differentiation. We compared songs among 12 of ca. 80 Cotesia species in North America, including ten species that have not been recorded previously. For Cotesia congregata, we compared songs of wasps originating from six different host-foodplant sources, two of which are considered incipient species. Songs of emergent males from wild caterpillar hosts in five different families were recorded, and pattern, frequency, and duration of song elements analyzed. Principal component analysis converted the seven elements characterized into four uncorrelated components used in a hierarchical cluster analysis and grouped species by similarity of song structure. Species songs varied significantly in duration of repeating pulse and buzz elements and/or in fundamental frequency. Cluster analysis resolved similar species groups in agreement with the most recent molecular phylogeny for Cotesia spp., indicating the potential for using courtship songs as a predictor of genetic relatedness. Courtship song analysis may aid in identifying closely related cryptic species that overlap spatially, and provide insight into the evolution of this highly diverse and agriculturally important taxon.

The Domestication of a Large DNA Virus by the Wasp Venturia canescens Involves Targeted Genome Reduction through Pseudogenization

Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are compelling examples of viral domestication, in which wasps express a large set of genes originating from a chromosomally integrated virus to produce particles necessary for their reproductive success. Parasitoid wasps generally use PDVs as a virulence gene delivery system allowing the protection of their progeny in the body of parasitized host. However, in the wasp Venturia canescens an independent viral domestication process led to an alternative strategy as the wasp incorporates virulence proteins in viral liposomes named virus-like particles (VLPs), instead of DNA molecules. Proteomic analysis of purified VLPs and transcriptome sequencing revealed the loss of some viral functions. In particular, the genes coding for capsid components are no longer expressed, which explains why VLPs do not incorporate DNA. Here a thorough examination of V. canescens genome revealed the presence of the pseudogenes corresponding to most of the genes involved in lost functions. This strongly suggests that an accumulation of mutations that leads to gene specific pseudogenization precedes the loss of viral genes observed during virus domestication. No evidence was found for block loss of collinear genes, although extensive gene order reshuffling of the viral genome was identified from comparisons between endogenous and exogenous viruses. These results provide the first insights on the early stages of large DNA virus domestication implicating massive genome reduction through gene-specific pseudogenization, a process which differs from the large deletions described for bacterial endosymbionts.

DNA barcoding of microgastrine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) using high-throughput methods more than doubles the number of species known for Australia

The Microgastrinae are a hugely diverse subfamily of endoparasitoid wasps of lepidopteran caterpillars. They are important in agriculture as biological control agents and play a significant ecological role in the regulation of caterpillar populations. Whilst the group has been the focus of intensive rearing and DNA barcoding studies in the Northern Hemisphere, the Australian fauna has received little attention. In total, 99 species have been described from or have been introduced into Australia, but the real species diversity for the region is clearly much larger than this. In this study, museum ethanol samples and recent field collections were mined for hundreds of specimens of microgastrine wasps, which were then barcoded for the COI region, ITS2 ribosomal spacer and the wingless nuclear genes, using a pooled sequencing approach on an Illumina Miseq system. Full COI sequences were obtained for 525 individuals which, when combined with 162 publicly available sequences, represented 417 haplotypes, and a total of 236 species were delimited using a consensus approach. By more than doubling the number of known microgastrine wasp species in Australia, our study highlights the value of DNA barcoding in the context of employing high-throughput sequencing methods of bulk ethanol museum collections for biodiversity assessment.

A new species of Cotesia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) reared from the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, and luna moth, Actias luna, in east Texas

The braconid wasp parasitoid Cotesianuellorum Whitfield, new species, is described from specimens reared from a caterpillar of the hickory horned devil, Citheroniaregalis (F.), and from a caterpillar of the luna moth, Actiasluna (L.), in eastern Texas. The species is diagnosed with respect to other species of Cotesia recorded from North American Saturniidae, and details of its biology are provided.

RJ, Nuelle III RJ. A new species of Cotesia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) reared from the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, and luna moth, Actias luna, in east Texas

The braconid wasp parasitoidCotesianuellorumWhitfield, new species, is described from specimens reared from a caterpillar of the hickory horned devil,Citheroniaregalis(F.), and from a caterpillar of the luna moth,Actiasluna(L.), in eastern Texas. The species is diagnosed with respect to other species ofCotesiarecorded from North American Saturniidae, and details of its biology are provided.