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Höcherl A, Shaw MR, Boudreault C, Rabl D, Haszprunar G, Raupach MJ, Schmidt S, Baranov V, Fernández-Triana J. Scratching the tip of the iceberg: integrative taxonomy reveals 30 new species records of Microgastrinae (Braconidae) parasitoid wasps for Germany, including new Holarctic distributions. Zookeys 2024; 1188:305-386. [PMID: 38250474 PMCID: PMC10797786 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1188.112516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Substantial parts of the European and German insect fauna still remain largely unexplored, the so-called "dark taxa". In particular, midges (Diptera) and parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are abundant and species-rich throughout Europe, yet are often neglected in biodiversity research. One such dark taxon is Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a group of parasitoids of lepidopteran caterpillars with 252 species reported in Germany so far. As part of the German Barcode of Life Project GBOL III: Dark Taxa, reverse DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomic approaches were used to shed some light on the German Fauna of Microgastrinae wasps. In our workflow, DNA barcoding was used for molecular clustering of our specimens in a first step, morphological examination of the voucher specimens in a second step, and host data compared in a third step. Here, 30 species are reported for the first time in Germany, adding more than 10% to the known German fauna. Information for four species is provided in a new Holarctic context, reporting them for the Nearctic or, respectively, Palaearctic region, and 26 additional country records are added from sequenced material available in the collections accessible to us. Molecular clusters that show signs of discrepancies are discussed. Results show that we are just scratching the tip of the iceberg of the unexplored Microgastrinae diversity in Germany.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelie Höcherl
- SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, GermanySNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung MünchenMünchenGermany
| | - Mark R. Shaw
- National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UKNational Museums of ScotlandEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Caroline Boudreault
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, K1A0C6, CanadaCanadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and NematodesOttawaCanada
| | - Dominik Rabl
- Field Station Fabrikschleichach, Department of Animal Ecology and Tropical Biology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Glashüttenstr. 5, Würzburg, 96181 Rauhenebrach, GermanyUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Gerhard Haszprunar
- Department Biology II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU), Großhaderner Str. 2, Martinsried, 82152 Planegg, GermanyLudwig-Maximilians-Universität MünchenPlaneggGermany
| | - Michael J. Raupach
- SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, GermanySNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung MünchenMünchenGermany
| | - Stefan Schmidt
- SNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Münchhausenstr. 21, 81247 München, GermanySNSB-Zoologische Staatssammlung MünchenMünchenGermany
| | - Viktor Baranov
- Estación Biológica de Doñana-CSIC/Doñana Biological Station-CSIC, Seville, SpainEstación Biológica de Doñana-CSICSevilleSpain
| | - José Fernández-Triana
- Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, K1A0C6, CanadaCanadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and NematodesOttawaCanada
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