Ophiclypeus, a new genus of Cardiochilinae Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the Oriental region with descriptions of three new species

A new genus of the braconid subfamily Cardiochilinae, Ophiclypeusgen. nov., is described and illustrated based on three new species: O.chiangmaiensis Kang, sp. nov. type species (type locality: Chiang Mai, Thailand), O.dvaravati Ghafouri Moghaddam, Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. (type locality: Saraburi, Thailand), and O.junyani Kang, sp. nov. (type locality: Dalin, Taiwan). We provide morphological diagnostic characters to separate the new genus from other cardiochiline genera. A modified key couplet (couplet 5) and a new key couplet (couplet 16) are provided with detailed images for Dangerfield's key to the world cardiochiline genera to facilitate recognition of Ophiclypeusgen. nov.

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.

Two new genera and one new species of the tribe Adeshini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from India and South Africa

Two new genera and one new species of the Braconinae tribe Adeshini are described and illustrated: Crenuladesha Ranjith & Quicke, gen. nov., type species Adeshanarendrani Ranjith, 2017, comb. nov. from India, and Protadesha Quicke & Butcher, gen. nov., type species Protadeshaintermedia Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. from South Africa. The former lacks the mid-longitudinal propodeal carina characteristic of the tribe, and the latter displays less derived fore wing venation with two distinct abscissae of vein 2CU. A molecular phylogenetic analysis is included to confirm their correct placement. Since neither of the two new genera displays all of the characters given in the original diagnosis of the Adeshini a revised diagnosis is provided, as well as an illustrated key to the genera.

A new species of the long-tailed wasp genus Euurobracon Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Braconinae) from Java, Indonesia, is described and the type species redescribed

A new species, Euurobraconbhaskarai Quicke, sp. nov., from West Java, Indonesia, is described, illustrated and differentiated from other members of the genus. It is closely related to the type species of the genus, E.yokahamae Dalla Torre, 1898, which is known from China, India, Japan, Laos, South Korea and Thailand. Euurobraconyokahamae is redescribed and illustrated for comparative purposes. The two species are separable mainly on colouration, but differ markedly based on their mitochondrial gene sequences (cytochrome c oxidase I, cytochrome b and 16S rDNA). The slower-evolving nuclear 28S rDNA and elongation factor 1-alpha did not differentiate E.bhaskarai sp. nov. from E.yokahamae, but consistently split Euurobracon into two species groups.

Mitochondrial phylogenomics and mitogenome organization in the parasitoid wasp family Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea)

Background

Mitochondrial (mt) nucleotide sequence data has been by far the most common tool employed to investigate evolutionary relationships. While often considered to be more useful for shallow evolutionary scales, mt genomes have been increasingly shown also to contain valuable phylogenetic information about deep relationships. Further, mt genome organization provides another important source of phylogenetic information and gene reorganizations which are known to be relatively frequent within the insect order Hymenoptera. Here we used a dense taxon sampling comprising 148 mt genomes (132 newly generated) collectively representing members of most of the currently recognised subfamilies of the parasitoid wasp family Braconidae, which is one of the largest radiations of hymenopterans. We employed this data to investigate the evolutionary relationships within the family and to assess the phylogenetic informativeness of previously known and newly discovered mt gene rearrangements.

Results

Most subfamilial relationships and their composition obtained were similar to those recovered in a previous phylogenomic study, such as the restoration of Trachypetinae and the recognition of Apozyginae and Proteropinae as valid braconid subfamilies. We confirmed and detected phylogenetic signal in previously known as well as novel mt gene rearrangements, including mt rearrangements within the cyclostome subfamilies Doryctinae and Rogadinae.

Conclusions

Our results showed that both the mt genome DNA sequence data and gene organization contain valuable phylogenetic signal to elucidate the evolution within Braconidae at different taxonomic levels. This study serves as a basis for further investigation of mt gene rearrangements at different taxonomic scales within the family.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12862-022-01983-1.

Completely predatory development is described in a braconid wasp

Hymenopteran parasitoids are well known for their ubiquitous diversity, important ecological roles and biocontrol potential. We report the first detailed documentation of mite predation by a parasitoid wasp, Bracon predatorius Ranjith & Quicke sp. nov., (Insecta: Hymenoptera), first case of obligate predatory behaviour in the family Braconidae and first case of mite feeding within the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. Larvae of a new wasp species are shown to develop entirely as predators of eriophyid mites that induce leaf galls in a commercially important plant. They display highly modified head capsule morphology that we interpret as being associated with this atypical life style. We propose that the new feeding strategy evolved separately from recently described entomophytophagy in another species of the same genus. The divergent larval morphological adaptations of both species indicate a high degree of evolutionary developmental plasticity in the developmental stage.

Kerevata Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) is no longer a Papua New Guinean endemic with descriptions of three new species from the Indomalayan Region

The rogadine genus Kerevata Belokobylskij is newly reported from the Indomalayan region. We describe and illustrate three new species, two from India (K. kethai sp. nov. and K. orientalia sp. nov.) and one from Vietnam (K. longi sp. nov.) and provide an illustrated key to the extant species of the genus along with the photographic illustration of the type species of K. pacifica Belokobylskij. Range extension and morphological characters of Kerevata are discussed.

Minimalist revision and description of 403 new species in 11 subfamilies of Costa Rican braconid parasitoid wasps, including host records for 219 species

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: Aerophiluspaulmarshi, Mesocoelusdavidsmithi, Neothlipsisbobkulai, Plesiocoelusvanachterbergi, Pneumagathiserythrogastra (Cameron, 1905), Therophilusbobwhartoni, T.donaldquickei, T.gracewoodae, T.maetoi, T.montywoodi, T.penteadodiasae, Zacremnopsbrianbrowni, Z.coatlicue Sharkey, 1990, Zacremnopscressoni (Cameron, 1887), Z.ekchuah Sharkey, 1990, Z.josefernandezi, Zelomorphasarahmeierottoae. BRACONINAE: Braconalejandromarini, 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, Digonogastramontylloydi, D.montywoodi, D.motohasegawai, D.natwheelwrighti, D.nickgrishini. CHELONINAE: Adeliusadrianguadamuzi, A.gauldi Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, A.janzeni Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, Ascogastergloriasihezarae, A.grettelvegae, A.guillermopereirai, A.gustavoecheverrii, A.katyvandusenae, A.luisdiegogomezi, Chelonusalejandrozaldivari, 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, Leptodrepanaalexisae, L.erasmocoronadoi, L.felipechavarriai, L.freddyquesadai, L.gilbertfuentesi, L.manuelriosi, Phanerotomaalmasolisae, 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, Pseudophanerotomaalanflemingi, Ps.albanjimenezi, Ps.alejandromarini, Ps.alexsmithi, Ps.allisonbrownae, Ps.bobrobbinsi. HOMOLOBINAE: Exasticolusjennyphillipsae, E.randallgarciai, E.robertofernandezi, E.sigifredomarini, E.tomlewinsoni. HORMIINAE: Hormiusanamariamongeae, 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: Oligoneuruskriskrishtalkai, O.jorgejimenezi, Paroligoneuruselainehoaglandae, P.julianhumphriesi, P.mikeiviei. MACROCENTRINAE: Austrozelejorgecampabadali, A.jorgesoberoni, Dolichozelegravitarsis (Muesebeck, 1938), D.josefernandeztrianai, D.josephinerodriguezae, Hymenochaoniakalevikulli, H.kateperezae, H.katherinebaillieae, H.katherineellisonae, H.katyvandusenae, H.kazumifukunagae, H.keithlangdoni, H.keithwillmotti, H.kenjinishidai, H.kimberleysheldonae, H.krisnorvigae, H.lilianamadrigalae, H.lizlangleyae, Macrocentrusfredsingeri, 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: Orgilusamyrossmanae, 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, Stantoniabillalleni, S.brookejarvisae, S.donwilsoni, S.erikabjorstromae, S.garywolfi, S.henrikekmani, S.luismirandai, S.miriamzunzae, S.quentinwheeleri, S.robinkazmierae, S.ruthtifferae. PROTEROPINAE: Hebichneutestricolor Sharkey & Wharton, 1994, Proteropsiangauldi, P.vickifunkae, Michenercharlesi. RHYSIPOLINAE: Pseudorhysipolisluisfonsecai, P. mailyngonzalezaeRhysipolisjulioquirosi. ROGADINAE: Aleiodesadrianaradulovae, 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, Bioalfapedroleoni, B.alvarougaldei, B.rodrigogamezi, Choreborogasandydeansi, C.eladiocastroi, C.felipechavarriai, C.frankjoycei, Clinocentrusandywarreni, Cl.angelsolisi, Cystomastaxalexhausmanni, Cy.angelagonzalezae, Cy.ayaigarashiae, Hermosomastaxclavifemorus Quicke sp. nov., Heterogamusdonstonei, Pseudoyeliconesbernsweeneyi, Stiropiusbencrairi, S.berndkerni, S.edgargutierrezi, S.edwilsoni, S.ehakernae, Triraphisbillfreelandi, 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, Yeliconesdirksteinkei, Y.markmetzi, Y.monserrathvargasae, Y.tricolor Quicke, 1996. Y.woldai Quicke, 1996.

The following new combinations are proposed: Neothlipsissmithi (Ashmead), new combination for Microdussmithi Ashmead, 1894; Neothlipsispygmaeus (Enderlein), new combination for Microduspygmaeus Enderlein, 1920; Neothlipsisunicinctus (Ashmead), new combination for Microdusunicinctus Ashmead, 1894; Therophilusanomalus (Bortoni and Penteado-Dias) new combination for Plesiocoelusanomalus Bortoni and Penteado-Dias, 2015; Aerophilusareolatus (Bortoni and Penteado-Dias) new combination for Plesiocoelusareolatus Bortoni and Penteado-Dias, 2015; Pneumagathiserythrogastra (Cameron) new combination for Agathiserythrogastra Cameron, 1905. Dolichozelecitreitarsis (Enderlein), new combination for Paniscozelecitreitarsis Enderlein, 1920. Dolichozelefuscivertex (Enderlein) new combination for Paniscozelefuscivertex Enderlein, 1920. Finally, Bassusbrooksi Sharkey, 1998 is synonymized with Agathiserythrogastra Cameron, 1905; Paniscozelegriseipes Enderlein, 1920 is synonymized with Dolichozelekoebelei Viereck, 1911; Paniscozelecarinifrons Enderlein, 1920 is synonymized with Dolichozelefuscivertex (Enderlein, 1920); and Paniscozelenigricauda Enderlein,1920 is synonymized with Dolichozelequaestor (Fabricius, 1804). (originally described as Ophionquaestor Fabricius, 1804).

Review of Venoms of Non-Polydnavirus Carrying Ichneumonoid Wasps

Parasitoids are predominantly insects that develop as larvae on or inside their host, also usually another insect, ultimately killing it after various periods of parasitism when both parasitoid larva and host are alive. The very large wasp superfamily Ichneumonoidea is composed of parasitoids of other insects and comprises a minimum of 100,000 species. The superfamily is dominated by two similarly sized families, Braconidae and Ichneumonidae, which are collectively divided into approximately 80 subfamilies. Of these, six have been shown to release DNA-containing virus-like particles, encoded within the wasp genome, classified in the virus family Polydnaviridae. Polydnaviruses infect and have profound effects on host physiology in conjunction with various venom and ovarial secretions, and have attracted an immense amount of research interest. Physiological interactions between the remaining ichneumonoids and their hosts result from adult venom gland secretions and in some cases, ovarian or larval secretions. Here we review the literature on the relatively few studies on the effects and chemistry of these ichneumonoid venoms and make suggestions for interesting future research areas. In particular, we highlight relatively or potentially easily culturable systems with features largely lacking in currently studied systems and whose study may lead to new insights into the roles of venom chemistry in host-parasitoid relationships as well as their evolution.

A new genus and species of Neotropical gregarious braconine parasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of a caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae)

A new genus of braconine parasitoid wasp, Acgorium Sharkey Quicke gen. nov., based on a new species from Costa Rica, Acgorium felipechavarriai Sharkey sp. nov., is described and illustrated, based on specimens reared from wild-caught hesperiid caterpillars of Dyscophellus phraxanor (Hewitson). Acgorium felipechavarriai is the first known braconine gregarious ectoparasitoid of a butterfly caterpillar.

Phylogenetic reassignment of basal cyclostome braconid parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) with description of a new, enigmatic Afrotropical tribe with a highly anomalous 28S D2 secondary structure

A new tribe of braconid wasps provisionally included in the Rhyssalinae, Laibaleini trib. nov., type genus Laibalea gen. nov. (type species Laibalea enigmatica sp. nov.), from Kenya and the Central African Republic, is described. A molecular dataset, with emphasis on basally derived taxa based on four gene fragments (28S D2–D3 expansion region, COI barcode, elongation factor 1-alpha and 16S ribosomal DNA), was analysed both alone and in combination with a morphological dataset. Molecular phylogenetic placement of the new species into an existing subfamily is complicated by the extreme sequence divergence of the three sequences obtained for Laibalea. In both the combined sequence analysis and the combined DNA plus morphological tree, Laibalea is recovered as a sister group to the Rhyssalinae plus all non-cyclostome lineage braconids excluding Mesostoinae, Maxfischeriinae and Aphidiinae. A consensus of morphological characters and molecular analyses suggests inclusion of Laibalea either in the otherwise principally Holarctic subfamily Rhyssalinae or perhap more basally, in the principally Gondwanan Mesostoinae s.l., although we cannot exclude the possibility that it might represent a separate basal lineage. We place Laibalea in its own tribe, provisionally included in Rhyssalinae. The DNA sequence data are presented for several genera for the first time. Avga, the type genus of Avgini, is shown not to belong to Mesostoinae s.l. or Hormiinae, but its exact relationships remain uncertain. The generic compositions of Rhyssalinae and Mesostoinae s.l. are revised. Anachyra, Apoavga, Neptihormius, Neoavga and Opiopterus are shown to belong to Mesostoinae s.s. A key to the tribes of Rhyssalinae is provided.

Revision of the western Palaearctic species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae). Part 2: Revision of the A. apicalis group

The West Palaearctic species of the Aleiodesapicalis group (Braconidae: Rogadinae) as defined by van Achterberg & Shaw (2016) are revised. Six new species of the genus Aleiodes Wesmael, 1838, are described and illustrated: A.carbonaroides van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov., A.coriaceus van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov., A.improvisus van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov., A.nigrifemur van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov., A.turcicus van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov., and A.zwakhalsi van Achterberg & Shaw, sp. nov. An illustrated key to 42 species is included. Hyperstemma Shestakov, 1940, is retained as subgenus to accommodate A.chloroticus (Shestakov, 1940) and similar species. Fourteen new synonyms are proposed: Rogasbicolor Lucas, 1849 (not Spinola, 1808), Rogasrufo-ater Wollaston, 1858, Rhogasbicolorinus Fahringer, 1932, Rhogasreticulatorvar.atripes Costa, 1884, and Rhogassimilis Szépligeti, 1903, of Aleiodesapicalis (Brullé, 1832); Rogas (Rogas) vicinus Papp, 1977, of Aleiodesaterrimus (Ratzeburg, 1852); Rogasaffinis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838, of Aleiodescruentus (Nees, 1834); Bracondimidiatus Spinola, 1808, and Rhogas (Rhogas) dimidiatusvar.turkestanicus Telenga, 1941, of Aleiodesgasterator (Jurine, 1807); Rogasalpinus Thomson, 1892, of Aleiodesgrassator (Thunberg, 1822); Rhogasjaroslawensis Kokujev, 1898, of Aleiodesperiscelis (Reinhard, 1863); Rhogascarbonariusvar.giraudi Telenga, 1941, of Aleiodesruficornis (Herrich-Schäffer, 1838); Ichneumonductor Thunberg, 1822, of Aleiodesunipunctator (Thunberg, 1822); Rogasheterostigma Stelfox, 1953, of Aleiodespallidistigmus (Telenga, 1941). Neotypes are designated for Rogasaffinis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838; Rogasnobilis Haliday (in Curtis), 1834; Rogaspallidicornis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838; Rogasruficornis Herrich-Schäffer, 1838. Lectotypes are designated for Rhogas (Rhogas) dimidiatusvar.turkestanicus Telenga, 1941, and Rhogashemipterus Marshall, 1897.

The genus Vipio Latreille (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in the Neotropical Region

The genus Vipio Latreille is revised for the Neotropical region (south of Nicaragua). All species are fully illustrated. Thirteen species are recognised of which five (V.boliviensis, V.carinatus, V.godoyi, V.hansoni, and V.lavignei) are described as new, all with descriptions attributable to Inayatullah, Shaw & Quicke. All previously described Neotropical species are redescribed. A key is included for the identification of the Vipio species known from the Americas south of Nicaragua, and all species are illustrated.

A highly resolved food web for insect seed predators in a species-rich tropical forest

The top-down and indirect effects of insects on plant communities depend on patterns of host use, which are often poorly documented, particularly in species-rich tropical forests. At Barro Colorado Island, Panama, we compiled the first food web quantifying trophic interactions between the majority of co-occurring woody plant species and their internally feeding insect seed predators. Our study is based on more than 200 000 fruits representing 478 plant species, associated with 369 insect species. Insect host-specificity was remarkably high: only 20% of seed predator species were associated with more than one plant species, while each tree species experienced seed predation from a median of two insect species. Phylogeny, but not plant traits, explained patterns of seed predator attack. These data suggest that seed predators are unlikely to mediate indirect interactions such as apparent competition between plant species, but are consistent with their proposed contribution to maintaining plant diversity via the Janzen-Connell mechanism.

First record of Odontosphaeropyx Cameron, 1910 from the Oriental Region with description of a new species from Thailand (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae)

Odontosphaeropyxmatasi Quicke & Butcher, sp. n. from Thailand is described and illustrated. The new species represents the first known record of Odontosphaeropyx from outside of the Afrotropical Region. A key is provided to separate it from the apparently closely related O.flavifasciatus Zettel, 1990, with which it shares almost identical colouration, very different from the other five known species.

A new species of Acanthormius (Braconidae: Lysiterminae) reared as a gregarious parasitoid of psychid caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) from India

Acanthormius indicus Gupta Quicke sp. nov. is described and illustrated. It is a gregarious larval parasitoid of an unidentified bagworm moth caterpillar (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) from southern India. The biology and host associations of members of subfamily Lysiterminae are also discussed.

A revision of the tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae), with description of a new genus from Australia

The tribe Planitorini van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) is revised. One new genus Paramannokeraiagen. n. (type species: P.gibsonisp. n.) and five new species from Australia are described and illustrated: Mannokeraiaalbipalpis van Achterberg, sp. n., M.nigrita van Achterberg, sp. n., M.punctata van Achterberg, sp. n., Paramannokeraiagibsoni van Achterberg & Quicke, sp. n. and P.juliae van Achterberg, sp. n. The tribe Mannokeraiini van Achterberg, 1995, is synonymized with the tribe Planitorini (syn. n.).

A new species of Cedria Wilkinson (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Lysiterminae) from Thailand

The Old World, cyclostome braconid wasp genus Cedria Wilkinson is recorded from Thailand for the first time based on a new species, Cedria wichasei Quicke, Belokobylskij Butcher, sp. nov., which is described, illustrated, and a key provided to enable its separation from the closely-related species, C. galinae Belokobylskij and C. africana Belokobylskij which share strong peri-occular carina and at least rather rugose frons. Similarities to Apocedria van Achterberg Chen, from China, are discussed.

An enigmatic new genus of Hormiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from South India

A new Hormiinae genus Indohormius gen. nov. with type species I. keralensis sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Comparison of this genus with some Hormiinae and Rhyssalinae genera are provided. The composition of the subfamily Hormiinae and the position of the new genus on a molecular phylogenetic tree are discussed.

New species of Bacuma Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) from Kenya and West Darfur with a key to species

Three new species of the Afrotropical braconine wasp genus Bacuma are described, and biological observations (nectar feeding) by one of them are noted. The new species are: B. kayserae Quicke & Butcher sp. nov. from Kenya, B. madiensis Quicke & Butcher sp. nov. from Uganda and B. darfurensis Quicke & Butcher sp. nov. from Sudan. A group of four large nominal species with red metasomas and finely sculptured tergites (B. granulatus, B. maculipennis, B. rufa and B. whitei) may represent a single widespread species or a pair of species separated by mesoscutum colour, or four separate but morphologically very similar species. However, given the small number of specimens available for study and the poor condition of some of these, including the types, they are not formally synonymised here. A partial key to the species of Bacuma is presented, which recognizes those species that are clearly distinct, including three new species. Interactive Lucid dichotomous and matrix keys are available on www.waspweb.org.

Revision of the non-Afrotropical species of <i>Trigastrotheca</i> Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) with descriptions of four new species

The Asian species of Trigastrotheca are revised. Four species are described as new: T. pariyanonthae sp. nov. from Thailand, T. sureeratae sp. nov. from Thailand, T. luzonensis sp. nov. from the Philippines, and T. maetoi sp. nov. from Indonesia (Kalimantan). Trigastrotheca tridentata (Enderlein) is redescribed and recorded from India for the first time. A key is provided to differentiate all non-Afrotropical species of the genus.

Entomophytophagy ('Sequential Predatory, then Phytophagous Behaviour') in an Indian Braconid 'Parasitoid' Wasp (Hymenoptera): Specialized Larval Morphology, Biology and Description of a New Species

The vast majority of braconid wasps are parasitoids of other insects. Although a few cases of pure phytophagy (primary gall production and seed predation) are known, no previous entomophytophagous species (i.e. ones that display entomophagy and phytophagy sequentially), has been discovered among braconids. We describe the detailed biology and specialized larval morphology for the first confirmed entomophytophagous braconid species. Leaf galls on Garuga pinnata Roxb. (Burseraceae) in India, induced by the psyllid, Phacopteron lentiginosum Buckton (Hemiptera: Psylloidea, Phacopteronidae) were sampled throughout a period of several months and found to suffer a high level of attack by a new species Bracon garugaphagae Ranjith & Quicke which is here described and illustrated. The wasps oviposit singly into the galls without paralysing the psyllids. The larvae first attack psyllid nymphs which they seek out within the gall, kill them with a single bite and consume them. Unique dorsal abdominal tubercles, with eversible tips present on the abdominal segments of the larvae that are used to help maintain larval position while feeding, are illustrated. After consuming all available prey, the larvae continue feeding on gall tissue until mature enough to spin cocoons and pupate. The new species illustrates, for the first time, a possible intermediate stage in the evolution of pure phytophagy within the Braconidae. Interestingly, the two unrelated seed predator Bracon species are also associated with Burseraceae, perhaps indicating that this plant family is particularly suited as a food for braconine wasps.

Major range extensions for two genera of the parasitoid subtribe Facitorina, with a new generic synonymy (Braconidae, Rogadinae, Yeliconini)

The genera Conobregma van Achterberg and Facitorus van Achterberg are recorded from the Afrotropical region and the Indian subcontinent, respectively, for the first time, and two new species are described and illustrated: Conobregma bradpitti Quicke & Butcher, sp. n. from South Africa and Facitorus nasseri Ranjith & Quicke, sp. n. from India. Conobregma bradpitti sp. n. is intermediate between Conobregma which was described originally from the New World, and Asiabregma Belokobylskij, Zaldivar-Riverón & Maetô, which was coined for the S. E. Asian and East Palaearctic (Japanese) species described under the name Conobregma, plus more recently discovered taxa, but the differences between these genera are few and slight. Of the four previously proposed diagnostic characters for separating Asiabregma from Conobregma, the new species shares two with each, and therefore, the two genera are formally synonymised. Facitorus was previously known only from the East Palaearctic region and from S. E. Asia (Japan, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam).

A new genus of Braconinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from India with remarkable head ornamentation

A new braconine genus, Stephanobracon Ranjith & Quicke (type-species: Stephanobracon narendrani Ranjith & Quicke sp. nov.) from south India is described and illustrated. It belongs to the tribe Braconini and it displays autapomorphic characters of having two pairs of sharp protuberances near to the antennal sockets and corrugated protuberances on the lateral part of the frons. Its possible relationship to other braconine genera, notably Dolabraulax Quicke, Simra Quicke and Syntomernus Enderlein, is discussed.

First record of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from the Arabian Peninsula: description of new species with remarkable wing venation convergence to Gyroneuron and Gyroneuronella

A new species of Aleiodes (Hemigyroneuron) from Saudi Arabia is described and illustrated. It represents the first species known from outside of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, South East Asia and the East Palaearctic. It belongs to a species group comprising A. (H.) plurivena, glandularis and sharkeyi, but displays even more derived wing venation which is remarkably convergent with that of two distantly related rogadine genera, Gyroneuron and Gyroneuronella.

Description of a new Betylobraconini-like parasitoid wasp genus and species (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from Chile

Gondwanocentrus gen. nov. (type species Gondwanocentrus humphriesi sp. nov.) from Chile is described and illustrated. Morphological and weak molecular evidence indicate that the new genus may be a basal member of the Betylobraconini. The molecular data analysed to assess its placement additionally draw into question the relationship between Betylobraconini and Clinocentrini. Previously, the Betylobraconini were known only from the Australasian region, Oceania and Eocene Europe (Baltic amber), thus if Gondwanocentrus gen. nov. does belong to this group it confirms the groups present day Gondwanan distribution.

Preembobracon gen. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Doryctinae: Ypsistocerini: Embobraconina) from Brazil

Preembobracon zaldivarriveroni gen et sp. nov. from Brazil is described and illustrated. It belongs to the poorly known tribe Ypsistocerini for which biology, is only partly known and then only for the genera of nominal subtribe which are both associated with termite colonies. Preembobracon displays both derived and plesiomorphic character states relative to Embobracon the only other genus of its tribe, and its position in relation to the other genera discussed. Its biology is unknown.

A new species of the genus Serrundabracon van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) from Namibia

A second species of the braconine genus Serrundabracon is described and illustrated and distinguished from the type species, S. maraisi Braet. Both species possess the unique combination of a multiple-arched ovipositor and dentate posterior margin to the metasomal tergite 5. Corrections are made to the redescription of S. maraisi. The relationships of, and possible evolutionary transitions to, the genus are discussed.

A new Australian genus and five new species of Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), one reared as a gregarious endoparasitoid of an unidentified limacodid (Lepidoptera)

Teresirogas Quicke & Shaw gen. nov. (type species T. australicolorus Quicke & Shaw sp. nov.) is described and illustrated, based on a series recently reared gregariously from a cocooned mummy of an unidentified species of Limacodidae collected under loose Eucalyptus bark in New South Wales, Australia. Older reared and unreared congeneric specimens represent four additional species, T. billbrysoni Quicke & van Achterberg sp. nov., T. nolandi Quicke & Butcher sp. nov., T. prestonae Quicke & van Achterberg sp. nov., and T. williamsi Quicke & van Achterberg sp. nov., which are also described and illustrated. Three of these additional species have also been reared from Limacodidae cocoons on Eucalyptus, with one, perhaps erroneous, record suggesting a saturniid host. Molecular analysis confirms the placement of the new type species of Teresirogas in the tribe Rogadini, as inferred initially from the claws with pointed basal lobe and host relationships of some of the species, but one species has the claw character poorly developed which had made its affinities uncertain before the more recently reared and sequenceable material became available.

Utility of the DNA barcoding gene fragment for parasitic wasp phylogeny (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea): data release and new measure of taxonomic congruence

The enormous cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence database being assembled from the various DNA barcoding projects as well as from independent phylogenetic studies constitutes an almost unprecedented amount of data for molecular systematics, in addition to its role in species identification and discovery. As part of a study of the potential of this gene fragment to improve the accuracy of phylogenetic reconstructions, and in particular, exploring the effects of dense taxon sampling, we have assembled a data set for the hyperdiverse, cosmopolitan parasitic wasp superfamily Ichneumonoidea, including the release of 1793 unpublished sequences. Of approximately 84 currently recognized Ichneumonoidea subfamilies, 2500 genera and 41,000 described species, barcoding 5'-COI data were assembled for 4168 putative species-level terminals (many undescribed), representing 671 genera and all but ten of the currently recognized subfamilies. After the removal of identical and near-identical sequences, the 4174 initial sequences were reduced to 3278. We show that when subjected to phylogenetic analysis using both maximum likelihood and parsimony, there is a broad correlation between taxonomic congruence and number of included sequences. We additionally present a new measure of taxonomic congruence based upon the Simpson diversity index, the Simpson dominance index, which gives greater weight to morphologically recognized taxonomic groups (subfamilies) recovered with most representatives in one or a few contiguous groups or subclusters.

We know too little about parasitoid wasp distributions to draw any conclusions about latitudinal trends in species richness, body size and biology

Much has been written about latitudinal trends in parasitoid diversity and biology, though it is widely recognised that they are a comparatively poorly known group. Here I show that for both braconid and ichneumonid wasps there are highly significant relationships between body size and the mean recorded latitude of species. Numbers of species per genus (surrogates of clades) peaks in the temperate zone for both families contrasting with data from the virtually complete inventories for mammals, birds and monocot plants, suggesting massive under-description of tropical parasitoid faunas. If the ichneumonoids may be expected to show similar trends to mammals, birds and other groups, the implication is that taxonomic work both in terms of active generic revisions, but also likely, the collecting and processing of museum specimens, and selection of taxa for revision, is woefully inadequate to allow latitudinal patterns in biology to be analysed.

Molecular detection of trophic links in a complex insect host-parasitoid food web

Previously, host-parasitoid links have been unveiled almost exclusively by time-intensive rearing, while molecular methods were used only in simple agricultural host-parasitoid systems in the form of species-specific primers. Here, we present a general method for the molecular detection of these links applied to a complex caterpillar-parasitoid food web from tropical rainforest of Papua New Guinea. We DNA barcoded hosts, parasitoids and their tissue remnants and matched the sequences to our extensive library of local species. We were thus able to match 87% of host sequences and 36% of parasitoid sequences to species and infer subfamily or family in almost all cases. Our analysis affirmed 93 hitherto unknown trophic links between 37 host species from a wide range of Lepidoptera families and 46 parasitoid species from Hymenoptera and Diptera by identifying DNA sequences for both the host and the parasitoid involved in the interaction. Molecular detection proved especially useful in cases where distinguishing host species in caterpillar stage was difficult morphologically, or when the caterpillar died during rearing. We have even detected a case of extreme parasitoid specialization in a pair of Choreutis species that do not differ in caterpillar morphology and ecology. Using the molecular approach outlined here leads to better understanding of parasitoid host specificity, opens new possibilities for rapid surveys of food web structure and allows inference of species associations not already anticipated.

The evolution of antennal courtship in diplazontine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Diplazontinae)

BACKGROUND

As predicted by theory, traits associated with reproduction often evolve at a comparatively high speed. This is especially the case for courtship behaviour which plays a central role in reproductive isolation. On the other hand, courtship behavioural traits often involve morphological and behavioural adaptations in both sexes; this suggests that their evolution might be under severe constraints, for instance irreversibility of character loss. Here, we use a recently proposed method to retrieve data on a peculiar courtship behavioural trait, i.e. antennal coiling, for 56 species of diplazontine parasitoid wasps. On the basis of a well-resolved phylogeny, we reconstruct the evolutionary history of antennal coiling and associated morphological modifications to study the mode of evolution of this complex character system.

RESULTS

Our study reveals a large variation in shape, location and ultra-structure of male-specific modifications on the antennae. As for antennal coiling, we find either single-coiling, double-coiling or the absence of coiling; each state is present in multiple genera. Using a model comparison approach, we show that the possession of antennal modifications is highly correlated with antennal coiling behaviour. Ancestral state reconstruction shows that both antennal modifications and antennal coiling are highly congruent with the molecular phylogeny, implying low levels of homoplasy and a comparatively low speed of evolution. Antennal coiling is lost on two independent occasions, and never reacquired. A zero rate of regaining antennal coiling is supported by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides the first comparative evidence for a tight correlation between male-specific antennal modifications and the use of the antennae during courtship. Antennal coiling in Diplazontinae evolved at a comparatively low rate, and was never reacquired in any of the studied taxa. This suggests that the loss of antennal coiling is irreversible on the timescale examined here, and therefore that evolutionary constraints have greatly influenced the evolution of antennal courtship in this group of parasitoid wasps. Further studies are needed to ascertain whether the loss of antennal coiling is irreversible on larger timescales, and whether evolutionary constraints have influenced courtship behavioural traits in a similar way in other groups.

An evaluation of phylogenetic informativeness profiles and the molecular phylogeny of diplazontinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

How to quantify the phylogenetic information content of a data set is a longstanding question in phylogenetics, influencing both the assessment of data quality in completed studies and the planning of future phylogenetic projects. Recently, a method has been developed that profiles the phylogenetic informativeness (PI) of a data set through time by linking its site-specific rates of change to its power to resolve relationships at different timescales. Here, we evaluate the performance of this method in the case of 2 standard genetic markers for phylogenetic reconstruction, 28S ribosomal RNA and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) mitochondrial DNA, with maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian analyses of relationships within a group of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Diplazontinae). Retrieving PI profiles of the 2 genes from our own and from 3 additional data sets, we find that the method repeatedly overestimates the performance of the more quickly evolving CO1 compared with 28S. We explore possible reasons for this bias, including phylogenetic uncertainty, violation of the molecular clock assumption, model misspecification, and nonstationary nucleotide composition. As none of these provides a sufficient explanation of the observed discrepancy, we use simulated data sets, based on an idealized setting, to show that the optimum evolutionary rate decreases with increasing number of taxa. We suggest that this relationship could explain why the formula derived from the 4-taxon case overrates the performance of higher versus lower rates of evolution in our case and that caution should be taken when the method is applied to data sets including more than 4 taxa.

Molecular phylogeny and historical biogeography of the cosmopolitan parasitic wasp subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera:Braconidae)

The phylogenetic relationships among representatives of 64 genera of the cosmopolitan parasitic wasps of the subfamily Doryctinae were investigated based on nuclear 28S ribosomal (r) DNA (~650 bp of the D2–3 region) and cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) mitochondrial (mt) DNA (603 bp) sequence data. The molecular dating of selected clades and the biogeography of the subfamily were also inferred. The partitioned Bayesian analyses did not recover a monophyletic Doryctinae, though the relationships involved were only weakly supported. Strong evidence was found for rejecting the monophylies of both Doryctes Haliday, 1836 and Spathius Nees, 1818. Our results also support the recognition of the Rhaconotini as a valid tribe. A dispersal–vicariance analysis showed a strong geographical signal for the taxa included, with molecular dating estimates for the origin of Doryctinae and its subsequent radiation both occurring during the late Paleocene–early Eocene. The divergence time estimates suggest that diversification in the subfamily could have in part occurred as a result of continental break-up events that took place in the southern hemisphere, though more recent dispersal events account for the current distribution of several widespread taxa.

Two methods of assessing the mortality factors affecting the larvae and pupae of Cameraria ohridella in the leaves of Aesculus hippocastanum in Switzerland and Bulgaria

The horse-chestnut leaf miner, Cameraria ohridella, is an invasive alien species defoliating horse-chestnut, a popular ornamental tree in Europe. This paper presents quantitative data on mortality factors affecting larvae and pupae of the leaf miner in Switzerland and Bulgaria, both in urban and forest environments. Two sampling methods were used and compared: a cohort method, consisting of the surveying of pre-selected mines throughout their development, and a grab sampling method, consisting of single sets of leaves collected and dissected at regular intervals. The total mortality per generation varied between 14 and 99%. Mortality was caused by a variety of factors, including parasitism, host feeding, predation by birds and arthropods, plant defence reaction, leaf senescence, intra-specific competition and inter-specific competition with a fungal disease. Significant interactions were found between mortality factors and sampling methods, countries, environments and generation. No mortality factor was dominant throughout the sites, generations and methods tested. Plant defence reactions constituted the main mortality factor for the first two larval stages, whereas predation by birds and arthropods and parasitism were more important in older larvae and pupae. Mortality caused by leaf senescence was often the dominant mortality factor in the last annual generation. The cohort method detected higher mortality rates than the grab sampling method. In particular, mortality by plant defence reaction and leaf senescence were better assessed using the cohort method, which is, therefore, recommended for life table studies on leaf miners.