A taxonomic study of Cheiloneurus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) from China

Fourteen species of Cheiloneurus from China are studied. Cheiloneurusguangxiensis Zu, sp. nov., is described as new to science, and C.boldyrevi Trjapitzin & Agekyan, 1978, C.bouceki Anis & Hayat, 2002, C.gonatopodis Perkins, 1906, and C.hadrodorys Anis & Hayat, 2002 are newly recorded from China. A key to Chinese species based on females is also presented.

Three new species of Quadrastichus Girault (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China with a key to Chinese species

Six species of Quadrastichus Girault (Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) from China are reviewed, including three new species: Q.longisetasp. nov., Q.flavomaculatussp. nov., Q.longiscapussp. nov. and one new country record, Q.vacuna (Walker, 1839). New distributional data for Q.anysis (Walker, 1839) and Q.sajoi (Szelényi, 1941), and a key to the Chinese species of Quadrastichus based on females, are included.

Description of three new species and new distributional data for three species of Homalotylus (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) from China

Homalotylustianjinensis Zu, sp. nov., H.bicolor Zu, sp. nov. and H.guangxiensis Zu, sp. nov. are described as new to science; H.agarwali Anis & Hayat, 1998, H.hemipterinus (De Stefani, 1898) and H.varicolorus Krishnachaitanya & Manickavasagam, 2016 are newly recorded from China. A key to Chinese species based on females is also presented.

Terebra steering in chalcidoid wasps

Various chalcidoid wasps can actively steer their terebra (= ovipositor shaft) in diverse directions, despite the lack of terebral intrinsic musculature. To investigate the mechanisms of these bending and rotational movements, we combined microscopical and microtomographical techniques, together with videography, to analyse the musculoskeletal ovipositor system of the ectoparasitoid pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus (Förster, 1841) and the employment of its terebra during oviposition. The ovipositor consists of three pairs of valvulae, two pairs of valvifers and the female T9 (9th abdominal tergum). The paired 1st and the 2nd valvulae are interlocked via the olistheter system, which allows the three parts to slide longitudinally relative to each other, and form the terebra. The various ovipositor movements are actuated by a set of nine paired muscles, three of which (i.e. 1st valvifer-genital membrane muscle, ventral 2nd valvifer-venom gland reservoir muscle, T9-genital membrane muscle) are described here for the first time in chalcidoids. The anterior and posterior 2nd valvifer-2nd valvula muscles are adapted in function. (1) In the active probing position, they enable the wasps to pull the base of each of the longitudinally split and asymmetrically overlapping halves of the 2nd valvula that are fused at the apex dorsally, thus enabling lateral bending of the terebra. Concurrently, the 1st valvulae can be pro- and retracted regardless of this bending. (2) These muscles can also rotate the 2nd valvula and therefore the whole terebra at the basal articulation, allowing bending in various directions. The position of the terebra is anchored at the puncture site in hard substrates (in which drilling is extremely energy- and time-consuming). A freely steerable terebra increases the chance of contacting a potential host within a concealed cavity. The evolution of the ability actively to steer the terebra can be considered a key innovation that has putatively contributed to the acquisition of new hosts to a parasitoid's host range. Such shifts in host exploitation, each followed by rapid radiations, have probably aided the evolutionary success of Chalcidoidea (with more than 500,000 species estimated).

A new species of Entedon Dalman (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and three newly recorded species from China

In this paper, a new species of Entedon Dalman, E.flavifemursp. nov. is described from Tibet and three species, E.albifemur Kamijo, E.crassiscapus Erdös, and E.nomizonis Kamijo are reported from China for the first time. A detailed description and illustrations of the new species are provided, as well as diagnoses and illustrations of the three newly recorded species.

Evolutionary timescale of chalcidoid wasps inferred from over one hundred mitochondrial genomes

Chalcidoidea is one of the most biologically diverse groups among Hymenoptera. Members are characterized by extraordinary parasitic lifestyles and extensive host ranges, among which several species attack plants or serve as pollinators. However, higher-level chalcidoid relationships remain controversial. Here, we performed mitochondrial phylogenomic analyses for major clades (18 out of 25 families) of Chalcidoidea based on 139 mitochondrial genomes. The compositional heterogeneity and conflicting backbone relationships in Chalcidoidea were assessed using various datasets and tree inferences. Our phylogenetic results supported the monophyly of 16 families and polyphyly of Aphelinidae and Pteromalidae. Our preferred topology recovered the relationship (Mymaridae+(Signiphoridae+Leucospidae)+(Chalcididae+((Perilampidae+Eucharitidae)+ remaining Chalcidoidea)))). The monophyly of Agaonidae and Sycophaginae was rejected, while the gall-associated ((Megastigmidae+Ormyridae)+(Ormocerinae+Eurytomidae)) relationship was supported in most results. A six-gene inversion may be a synapomorphy for most families, whereas other derived gene orders may introduce confusion in phylogenetic signals at deeper nodes. Dating estimates suggested that Chalcidoidea arose near the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary and that two dynamic shifts in diversification occurred during the evolution of Chalcidoidea. We hypothesized that the potential codiversification between chalcidoids and their hosts may be crucial for accelerating the diversification of Chalcidoidea. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses supported the hypothesis that gall-inducers were mainly derived from parasitoids of gall-inducers, while other gall-inducers were derived from phytophagous groups. Taken together, these findings advance our understanding of mitochondrial genome evolution in the major interfamilial phylogeny of Chalcidoidea.

Chinese Species of the Genus Pseudanaphes Noyes & Valentine (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) with Description of a New Species

The fairyfly Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are widely distributed worldwide, but species of this family have rarely been collected and recorded from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In this study, mymarids collected in Tibet, China, are identified based on morphology and molecular data. Two species of the genus Pseudanaphes Noyes & Valentine are treated and illustrated here, including a known species, P. zhaoi Lin, and a new species, P. yadongicus Aishan & Cao sp. nov. In addition, a key to the world species of Pseudanaphes (females) and DNA barcodes for P. yadongicus and P. zhaoi are provided.

A Compositional Heterogeneity Analysis of Mitochondrial Phylogenomics in Chalcidoidea Involving Two Newly Sequenced Mitogenomes of Eupelminae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

As next-generation sequencing technology becomes more mature and the cost of sequencing continues to fall, researchers are increasingly using mitochondrial genomes to explore phylogenetic relationships among different groups. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the complete mitochondrial genomes of Eupelmus anpingensis and Merostenus sp. We predicted the secondary-structure tRNA genes of these two species and found that 21 of the 22 tRNA genes in Merostenus sp. exhibited typical clover-leaf structures, with trnS1 being the lone exception. In E. anpingensis, we found that, in addition to trnS1, the secondary structure of trnE was also incomplete, with only DHU arms and anticodon loop remaining. In addition, we found that compositional heterogeneity and variable rates of evolution are prevalent in Chalcidoidea. Under the homogeneity model, a Eupelmidae + Encyrtidae sister group relationship was proposed. Different datasets based on the heterogeneity model produced different tree topologies, but all tree topologies contained Chalcididae and Trichogrammatidae in the basal position of the tree. This is the first study to consider the phylogenetic relationships of Chalcidoidea by comparing a heterogeneity model with a homogeneity model.

A new species and three newly recorded species of Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China

Five species of five genera in Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China are reviewed, including one new species, Mestocharellaqingdaoensis sp. nov., and three new country record species: Nesolynxthymus (Girault, 1916), Holcotetrastichusrhosaces (Walker, 1839), and Peckelachertusdiprioni Yoshimoto, 1970. New distributional data for Ceratoneuraindi Girault, 1917 are provided.

Two new species and a new record of the Encarsialongifasciata-group (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from Malaysia and China

Background

The genus Encarsia Förster, 1878, which is the largest genus of the family Aphelinidae, contains 453 valid species worldwide. Most species of Encarsia with known biology are primary endoparasitoids of Aleyrodidae and Diaspididae.

New information

Species of the Encarsialongifasciata-group from Malaysia and China are reviewed. This is the first record of this group from Malaysia. Two new species, E.borneensis Geng & Li sp. n. and E.pauroseta Geng & Li sp. n., are described and illustrated. Encarsialongifasciata is newly recorded from Malaysia (Borneo). An updated key to the longifasciata-group species (females) worldwide is provided.

Two new species of Deutereulophus Schulz (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species

Two new species of Deutereulophus Schulz, D.felix sp. nov. and D.daguisiensis sp. nov., are described from China. A key to species of Deutereulophus known from China is provided.

Delimiting the cryptic diversity and host preferences of Sycophila parasitoid wasps associated with oak galls using phylogenomic data

Cryptic species diversity is a major challenge for the species-rich community of parasitoids attacking oak gall wasps due to a high degree of sexual dimorphism, morphological plasticity, small size, and poorly known biology. As such, we know very little about the number of species present, nor the evolutionary forces responsible for generating this diversity. One hypothesis is that trait diversity in the gall wasps, including the morphology of the galls they induce, has evolved in response to selection imposed by the parasitoid community, with reciprocal selection driving diversification of the parasitoids. Using a rare, continental-scale data set of Sycophila parasitoid wasps reared from 44 species of cynipid galls from 18 species of oak across the US, we combined mitochondrial DNA barcodes, Ultraconserved Elements (UCEs), morphological, and natural history data to delimit putative species. Using these results, we generate the first large-scale assessment of ecological specialization and host association in this species-rich group, with implications for evolutionary ecology and biocontrol. We find most Sycophila target specific subsets of available cynipid host galls with similar morphologies, and generally attack larger galls. Our results suggest that parasitoid wasps such as Sycophila have adaptations allowing them to exploit particular host trait combinations, while hosts with contrasting traits are resistant to attack. These findings support the tritrophic niche concept for the structuring of plant-herbivore-parasitoid communities.

Revision of the World Species of Megaphragma Timberlake (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae)

Megaphragma species are important models for basic organismal research, and many are potential biological control agents. We present the first extensive revision of species of the genus Megaphragma based on morphological and molecular data. Our revision includes all previously described species, 6 of which are synonymized, and 22 of which are described here as new. We also provide the first key to all species of the genus and reconstruct their phylogeny based on 28S and CO1 molecular markers. The following species are synonymized with M. longiciliatum Subba Rao: M. aligarhensis Yousuf and Shafee syn. nov.; M. amalphitanum Viggiani syn. nov.; M. decochaetum Lin syn. nov.; M. magniclava Yousuf and Shafee syn. nov.; M. shimalianum Hayat syn. nov.M. anomalifuniculi Yuan and Lou syn. nov. is synonymized with M. polychaetum Lin. The following species are described as new: M. antecessor Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. breviclavum Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. chienleei Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. cockerilli Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. digitatum Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. fanenitrakely Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. funiculatum Fusu, Polaszek, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. giraulti Viggiani, Fusu, and Polaszek sp. nov.; M. hansoni Polaszek, Fusu, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. kinuthiae Polaszek, Fusu, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. liui Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. momookherjeeae Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. nowickii Polaszek, Fusu, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. noyesi Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. pintoi Viggiani sp. nov.; M. polilovi Polaszek, Fusu, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. rivelloi Viggiani sp. nov.; M. tamoi Polaszek, Fusu, and Viggiani sp. nov.; M. tridens Fusu, and Polaszek sp. nov.; M. uniclavum Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. vanlentereni Polaszek and Fusu sp. nov.; M. viggianii Fusu, Polaszek, and Polilov sp. nov.

Two new species of Hemiptarsenus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species

Two new species of Hemiptarsenus Westwood, H.tianshuiensis sp. nov. and H.longjiangensis sp. nov., are described from China. New distributional data for H.jilinus Tao, 2021 are provided, and a key to Chinese species of the genus is given based on females.

Notes on the Genus Aceratoneuromyia Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Fruit flies in the family Tephritidae are well known as economically important pests of edible fruits and can often cause serious damage and losses to both agriculture and the economy. One of the common parasitoids of fruit flies, Aceratoneuromyia indica (Silvestri), has been used in biological programs. However, the biocontrol utilities of parasitoids are impeded by the difficulties of proper identification. Species of the genus Aceratoneuromyia Girault (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), usually developed as parasitoids of fruit flies, are studied here. Trjapitzinichus Kostjukov and Kosheleva is proposed as a new synonym under Aceratoneuromyia. Three new species of Aceratoneuromyia, A. bilinis Huangfu and Cao sp. nov., A. carinata Cao and Zhu sp. nov., and A. trilinus Cao and Zhu sp. nov., are described and illustrated from China. Aceratoneuromyia indica is also treated here with diagnosis and illustrations. DNA barcodes of A. bilinis and A. indica and a key to the world species of Aceratoneuromyia are provided. This study provided important identification information of parasitoids with morphology and molecular evidence, which is useful for imperative needs regarding the identity of parasitoids attacking fruit flies.

Multiple Data Demonstrate That Bacteria Regulating Reproduction Could Be Not the Cause for the Thelytoky of Diglyphus wani (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

In Hymenoptera parasitoids, the reproductive mode is arrhenotoky, while a few species reproduce by thelytoky. The thelytoky of Hymenoptera parasitoids is generally genetically determined by the parasitoids themselves or induced by bacteria, including Wolbachia, Cardinium, and Rickettsia. Diglyphus wani (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a recently reported thelytokous species is a main parasitoid attacking agromyzid leafminers. To assess whether endosymbionts induce thelytoky in D. wani, we performed universal PCR detection and sequenced the V3-V4 region of 16S ribosomal RNA gene. In addition, bacteria were removed through high-temperature and antibiotic treatments, and the localized bacteria were detected using FISH. Based on general PCR detection, Wolbachia, Cardinium, Rickettsia, Arsenophonus, Spiroplasma, and Microsporidia were absent in laboratory and field individuals of thelytokous D. wani. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the dominant endosymbionts in thelytokous D. wani were not reproductive manipulators. High-temperature and antibiotic treatment for five consecutive generations cannot reverse the thelytokous pattern of D. wani, and no male offspring were produced. Moreover, no bacterial spots were found in the ovaries of D. wani. Thus, it is considered that the thelytoky of D. wani does not result in the presence of endosymbionts. This species is thus the second reported eulophid parasitoid whose thelytoky appears not to be associated with endosymbionts.

First report of Eutrichosomella Girault (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from China, with description of a new species

The genus Eutrichosomella Girault is recorded for the first time from China (Yunnan Province), and Eutrichosomellayunnanensis sp. nov. (♀, ♂) is described and illustrated. A distribution map of this genus is presented.

Two Complete Mitogenomes of Chalcididae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea): Genome Description and Phylogenetic Implications

Simple Summary

The Chalcididae are a moderate-sized family of the superfamily Chalcidoidea in Hymenoptera, comprising 1548 species in 87 genera worldwide. Some species are potential natural enemies of pests in agriculture and forestry. Currently, there are still some controversies about the monophyly of Chalcididae and the phylogenetic relationships between Chalcididae and other families in Chalcidoidea. Based on the fact that no mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses of all of the published mitogenomes of Chalcidoidea have been conducted and no complete mitogenome of Chalcididae species has been reported, two newly completed mitochondrial genomes of Chalcididae species (Brachymeria lasus and Haltichella nipponensis) were sequenced and analyzed. The results show that the two chalcidid mitogenomes have quite similar structures and features. In phylogenetic analyses based on 13 PCGs of mitogenomes, the basal position and monophyly of Chalcididae within Chalcidoidea were supported by all trees derived from maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods.

Abstract

The complete mitochondrial genomes of two species of Chalcididae were newly sequenced: Brachymeria lasus and Haltichella nipponensis. Both circular mitogenomes are 15,147 and 15,334 bp in total length, respectively, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) and an A+T-rich region. The nucleotide composition indicated a strong A/T bias. All PCGs of B. lasus and H. nipponensis began with the start codon ATD, except for B. lasus, which had an abnormal initiation codon TTG in ND1. Most PCGs of the two mitogenomes are terminated by a codon of TAR, and the remaining PCGs by the incomplete stop codon T or TA (ATP6, COX3, and ND4 in both species, with an extra CYTB in B. lasus). Except for trnS1 and trnF, all tRNAs can be folded into a typical clover structure. Both mitogenomes had similar control regions, and two repeat units of 135 bp were found in H. nipponensis. Phylogenetic analyses based on two datasets (PCG123 and PCG12) covering Chalcididae and nine families of Chalcidoidea were conducted using two methods (maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference); all the results support Mymaridae as the sister group of the remaining Chalcidoidea, with Chalcididae as the next successive group. Only analyses of PCG123 generated similar topologies of Mymaridae + (Chalcididae + (Agaonidae + remaining Chalcidoidea)) and provided one relative stable clade as Eulophidae + (Torymidae + (Aphelinidae + Trichogrammatidae)). Our mitogenomic phylogenetic results share one important similarity with earlier molecular phylogenetic efforts: strong support for the monophyly of many families, but a largely unresolved or unstable “backbone” of relationships among families.

Three new species of Stenomesius Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species

Three new species of Stenomesius Westwood, S.guanshanensissp. nov., S.hanisp. nov., and S.harbinensissp. nov., are described from China. A key to all species of the genus Stenomesius in China is provided.

Ophelimus bipolaris sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae), a New Invasive Eucalyptus Pest and Its Host Plants in China

Eucalyptus species have become one of the most commonly planted trees worldwide, including China, due to their fast growth and various commercial applications. However, the productivity of Eucalyptus plantations has been threatened by exotic invasive insect pests in recent years. Among these pests, gall inducers of the genus Ophelimus of the Eulophidae family are among the most important invasive species in Eucalyptus plantations. We report here for the first time the presence of a new invasive Eucalyptus gall wasp, Ophelimus bipolaris sp. n., in Guangzhou, China, which also represents the first species of the genus reported from China. The identity of the new species was confirmed by an integrative approach combing biological, morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is described and illustrated. This wasp induces galls only on the leaf blade surface of four Eucalyptus species: E. grandis, E. grandis × E. urophylla, E. tereticornis and E. urophylla. Our preliminary observation showed that O. bipolaris could complete a life cycle on E. urophylla in approximately 2 months under local climatic conditions (23.5-30 °C). Considering the severe damage it may cause to Eucalyptus production, further investigations of its biology and control are urgently needed in China.

Integrative Techniques Confirms the Presence of Bemisia tabaci Parasitoids: Encarsia formosa, Encarsia porteri and Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) on Soybean and Tomatoes in South Brazil

Parasitoid wasps from the Aphelinidae family (Hymenoptera) are important control agents of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius, 1889) cryptic species, both through reproduction and feeding processes. Identifying native parasitoid species within agricultural systems affected by Bemisia whitefly species is the first step to developing guidelines for the creation and release of biological control agents aiming at this highly damaging pest species complex. Taxonomic and phylogenetic analyses based on morphological and molecular characters, respectively, confirmed the occurrence of Encarsia formosa (Gahan, 1924) in greenhouse tomatoes from Santa Maria, Encarsia porteri (Mercet, 1928) in open-field soybean from Santa Maria, and Eretmocerus mundus Mercet, 1931 in greenhouse tomatoes from São José do Hortêncio, all within Rio Grande do Sul state (South Brazil). This is the first report of En. formosa, En. porteri and Er. mundus parasitising B. tabaci in South Brazil, and the first En. porteri partial mtCOI gene sequence being reported and characterised. The high temperature inside the tomato greenhouses can be a possible cause for the predominance of Er. mundus in São José do Hortêncio, and sex ratios in the surveyed populations point to female and male prevalence within Encarsia and Eretmocerus genera, respectively. The combined use of taxonomic and molecular characterisation highlights the importance of combining both morphological and molecular approaches in the assessment of previously unidentified whitefly parasitoids.

A new species of Asecodes Förster (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) and first record of A. reticulatum (Kamijo) from China, with a key to Chinese species

A new species of Asecodes Förster, A.medogensesp. nov. is described from Tibet, China and A.reticulatum (Kamijo) is reported from China for the first time. A key to all known species of genus Asecodes in China is provided.

The complete mitochondrial genome of an egg parasitoid (Trichogramma chilonis)

Trichogramma chilonis Ishii is an important natural enemy of several lepidopterous pests on crops. In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of T. chilonis (GenBank accession number MW789210). The length of the complete mitochondrial genome was 16,147 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes, and a non-coding control region. The overall base composition of the genome in descending order was 44.8% T, 41.8% A, 9.0% G and 4.5% C, with a significant AT bias of 86.6%. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that T. chilonis had a close relationship with Trichogramma ostriniae.

A new species of Hemiptarsenus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species

A new species, Hemiptarsenusjilinus Tao, sp. nov., is described and illustrated. All the type specimens were reared from Chromatomyiahorticola (Goureau) (Diptera: Agromyzidae), a leafminer attacking the plants Ixerispolycephala Cass. and Pterocypselaindica (L.) Shih, in Jilin Province, north-eastern China. A key to Chinese species of the genus is provided.

The mitochondrial genome of a parasitic wasp, Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) and phylogenetic analysis

Chouioia cunea Yang 1989 is a parasitic wasp and natural enemy of several lepidopteran pests during their pupal stage. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the mitochondrial genome of C. cunea, and obtained a complete DNA molecule that is 14,930 bp in size with 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), and 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs) (GenBank accession number MW192646). All the 13 PCGs started with typical ATN (ATA, ATG, and ATT) and terminated with the stop codon TAA or TAG. Phylogenetic analysis showed that C. cunea formed the sister group with Tamarixia radiata, which belongs to the same family.

Two new species of Neotrichoporoides Girault (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China and a key to Chinese species

Seven species of Neotrichoporoides Girault from China are reviewed, including two new species: N.basiflavussp. nov., N.flavothoraxsp. nov. and two new country record species: N.cavigena Graham, 1991, N.szelenyii (Erdös, 1951). New distributional data for N.mediterraneus Graham, 1986, N.nyemitawus (Rohwer, 1921) and N.viridimaculatus (Fullaway, 1955) are provided and a key to Chinese species is given based on females.

Two new species of Paraphytis (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from Southwest China

Two new species of Paraphytis Compere, P.bannaensissp. nov. and P.pseudovittatussp. nov., are described from the Xishuangbanna Rainforest (Southwest China). A key to species from China based on females is provided.

Four new species of Closterocerus Westwood (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with a key to Chinese species

Four new species of Closterocerus Westwood, C. rectisulcus sp. nov., C. shaanxiensis sp. nov., C. separatus sp. nov. and C. unifasciatus sp. nov. are described from China, each with a distinct pattern on the fore wings, and belonging to subgenus Closterocerus. A key to all species of the genus Closterocerus in China is provided.

Tetramesa amica and its parasitoid Eurytoma amicophaga (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae): two new species associated with medusahead, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (Poaceae)

Medusahead, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (Poales: Poaceae), is an annual grass native to central Asia and the Mediterranean region. It is a noxious, invasive weed in much of western North America. During field explorations carried out in Greece in 2017, the new phytophagous eurytomid Tetramesa amica Lotfalizadeh, sp. nov. and its parasitoid Eurytoma amicophaga Lotfalizadeh, sp. nov., also new to science, were recorded for the first time on medusahead. These new species are described and characters that enable to recognize them from their closest relatives are summarized. Tetramesa species are generally species-specific gall-inducers. They induce damages that may have a significant impact on the physiology of infested plants by reducing the productivity of flowering heads and seed weight. Based on these data, T. amica Lotfalizadeh, sp. nov. is currently being investigated as a candidate biological control agent of medusahead.

Two new species of Dzhanokmenia (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) from China, with first report on a host association for the genus

Two new species of Dzhanokmenia Kostjukov (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae), D.stefaniolae Li, Wang & Hu, sp. nov. and D.yuxuannis Li, Wang & Hu, sp. nov., are described and illustrated from Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. D.stefaniolae was reared from stem-galls made by Stefaniola sp. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on black saxaul, Haloxylonammodendron (Chenopodiaceae); D.yuxuannis was collected by sweeping from both black saxaul and white saxaul, H.persicum, in Beishawo Desert near Fukang. A key to females of all known species of Dzhanokmenia is provided.

Novel gene rearrangement in the mitochondrial genome of Pachyneuron aphidis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Species in Hymenoptera usually show exceptionally high rates of mitochondrial molecular evolution and dramatic gene rearrangements, which has been attributed to their parasitic lifestyle. However, mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of chalcidoid wasps is still poorly understood and the evolution of gene rearrangements is still unclear. In this study, the nearly complete mitogenome of Pachyneuron aphidis, a chalcidoid wasp mainly hyperparasitizes the Aphidius gifuensis, was sequenced using a next-generation sequencing strategy. This genome is 15,137 bp in length, including 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, two rRNAs and a partial control region. Alignment with other Chalcidoidea mitogenomes revealed a novel inversion in the srRNA-trnV gene cluster in P. aphidis, which is the first of its kind to be reported in Chalcidoidea. Breakpoint distances analysis showed the high value of chalcidoid wasps compare to the ancestral arrangement pattern, which reflected as extensive gene rearrangements. Despite the high frequency of gene rearrangements in these insects, analyses of gene rearrangement and phylogenetic trees showed that species from the same family and the genus tent to have similar gene orders, and the conserved gene blocks (ND3-trnG, srRNA-trnV and COIII-ATP6-ATP8-trnD-trnK-COII-trnL2-COI) can usually be identified, especially at the family level of chalcidoid wasps.

Anastatus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae): egg parasitoids of Caligula japonica Moore (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) in China

Four species of Anastatus Motschulsky (Hymenoptera, Eupelmidae, Eupelminae) are newly reported as egg parasitoids of the Japanese giant silkworm, Caligulajaponica Moore and, as an alternate laboratory host, the Chinese oak silk moth, Antheraeapernyi (Guérin-Méneville) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) in China. The four species, A.fulloi Sheng & Wang, 1997, A.gansuensis Chen & Zang, sp. nov., A.japonicus Ashmead, 1904, and A.meilingensis Sheng, 1998, were reared initially from eggs of C.japonica collected in Gansu, Jilin and Liaoning provinces and subsequently cultured in the laboratory on eggs of A.pernyi. An illustrated key to differentiate females of the four species, and males of some of the species is provided. Key features are illustrated, both sexes of the new species are described, and diagnoses of females of the other species are given.

Ophelimus mediterraneus sp. n. (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae): a new Eucalyptus gall wasp in the Mediterranean region

We report here for the first time the presence of Ophelimus mediterraneus sp. n. in Mediterranean Europe. This species appears to be closely related to Ophelimus maskelli, a well-known invasive pest of Eucalyptus. Based on molecular (cytochrome oxidase I, 28S), morphological (multivariate ratio analysis) and bio-ecological investigations, our study gives unambiguous relevant criteria that allow the discrimination between these two species. A full description of O. mediterraneus sp. n. is also provided. The geographic distribution of O. mediterraneus sp. n. as well as its impact on Eucalyptus species needs to be more widely assessed since its presence may have been confused with O. maskelli in their sympatric introduced areas. Further investigations of potential parasitoids in the native area may thus be welcomed to evaluate classical biological control achievability.

Neotropical Species of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) Parasitoids of Ceroplastes (Hemiptera, Coccidae): New Species, Interaction Records, and a Checklist

Parasitoids of Ceroplastes Gray were surveyed in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Among the parasitoids reared, seven species of Metaphycus Mercet (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) were obtained. Metaphycusanaluciaesp. nov., M. floridensissp. nov., and M. grandissp. nov., are described as new species, and M. ceros Noyes, M. comes Noyes, M. dardanus Noyes, M. opis Noyes are recorded for the first time from Brazil. Ten new host-parasitoid associations are reported: M. analuciaesp. nov. parasitizing C. formicarius Hempel, C. glomeratus Peronti and C. iheringi Cockerel; M. ceros parasitizing C. cirripediformis Comstock; M. comes parasitizing C. formicarius; M. dardanus parasitizing C. glomeratus; M. floridensissp. nov. parasitizing C. floridensis; M. grandissp. nov. parasitizing C. grandis Hempel; and M. opis parasitizing C. glomeratus and C. janeirensis (Gray). A checklist of Metaphycus species associated with Ceroplastes, their distribution and host ranges are summarized and discussed.

Optimized DNA extraction and library preparation for minute arthropods: Application to target enrichment in chalcid wasps used for biocontrol

Target enrichment is increasingly used for genotyping of plant and animal species or to better understand the evolutionary history of important lineages through the inference of statistically robust phylogenies. Limitations to routine target enrichment are both the complexity of current protocols and low input DNA quantity. Thus, working with tiny organisms such as microarthropods can be challenging. Here, we propose easy to set up optimizations for DNA extraction and library preparation prior to target enrichment. Prepared libraries were used to capture 1,432 ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from microhymenoptera (Chalcidoidea), which are among the tiniest insects on Earth and the most commercialized worldwide for biological control purposes. Results show no correlation between input DNA quantities (1.8-250 ng, 0.4 ng with an extra whole genome amplification step) and the number of sequenced UCEs on an Illumina MiSeq. Phylogenetic inferences highlight the potential of UCEs to solve relationships within the families of chalcid wasps, which has not been achieved so far. The protocol (library preparation + target enrichment) allows processing 96 specimens in five working days, by a single person, without requiring the use of expensive robotic molecular biology platforms, which could help to generalize the use of target enrichment for minute specimens.

The Mt Halimun-Salak Malaise Trap project - releasing the most species rich DNA Barcode library for Indonesia

The Indonesian archipelago features an extraordinarily rich biota. However, the actual taxonomic inventory of the archipelago remains highly incomplete and there is hardly any significant taxonomic activity that utilises recent technological advances. The IndoBioSys project was established as a biodiversity information system aiming at, amongst other goals, creating inventories of the Indonesian entomofauna using DNA barcoding. Here, we release the first large scale assessment of the megadiverse insect groups that occur in the Mount Halimun-Salak National Park, one of the largest tropical rain-forest ecosystem in West Java, with a focus on Hymenoptera, Coleoptera, Diptera and Lepidoptera collected with Malaise traps. From September 2015 until April 2016, 34 Malaise traps were placed in different localities in the south-eastern part of the Halimun-Salak National Park. A total of 4,531 specimens were processed for DNA barcoding and in total, 2,382 individuals produced barcode compliant records, representing 1,195 exclusive BINs or putative species in 98 insect families. A total of 1,149 BINs were new to BOLD. Of 1,195 BINs detected, 804 BINs were singletons and more than 90% of the BINs incorporated less than five specimens. The astonishing heterogeneity of BINs, as high as 1.1 exclusive BIN per specimen of Diptera successfully processed, shows that the cost/benefit relationship of the discovery of new species in those areas is very low. In four genera of Chalcidoidea, a superfamily of the Hymenoptera, the number of discovered species was higher than the number of species known from Indonesia, suggesting that our samples contain many species that are new to science. Those numbers shows how fast molecular pipelines contribute substantially to the objective inventorying of the fauna giving us a good picture of how potentially diverse tropical areas might be.

Mitochondrial DNA and their nuclear copies in the parasitic wasp Pteromalus puparum: A comparative analysis in Chalcidoidea

Chalcidoidea (chalcidoid wasps) are an abundant and megadiverse insect group with both ecological and economical importance. Here we report a complete mitochondrial genome in Chalcidoidea from Pteromalus puparum (Pteromalidae). Eight tandem repeats followed by 6 reversed repeats were detected in its 3308 bp control region. This long and complex control region may explain failures of amplifying and sequencing of complete mitochondrial genomes in some chalcidoids. In addition to 37 typical mitochondrial genes, an extra identical isoleucine tRNA (trnI) was detected at the opposite end of the control region. This recent mitochondrial gene duplication indicates that gene arrangements in chalcidoids are ongoing. A comparison among available chalcidoid mitochondrial genomes reveals rapid gene order rearrangements overall and high protein substitution rates in most chalcidoid taxa. In addition, we identified 24 nuclear sequences of mitochondrial origin (NUMTs) in P. puparum, summing up to 9989 bp, with 3617 bp of these NUMTs originating from mitochondrial coding regions. NUMTs abundance in P. puparum is only one-twelfth of that in its relative, Nasonia vitripennis. Based on phylogenetic analysis, we provide evidence that a faster nuclear degradation rate contributes to the reduced NUMT numbers in P. puparum. Overall, our study shows unusually high rates of mitochondrial evolution and considerable variation in NUMT accumulation in Chalcidoidea.

Ankyrin domain encoding genes from an ancient horizontal transfer are functionally integrated into Nasonia developmental gene regulatory networks

BACKGROUND

How regulatory networks incorporate additional components and how novel genes are functionally integrated into well-established developmental processes are two important and intertwined questions whose answers have major implications for understanding the evolution of development. We recently discovered a set of lineage-restricted genes with strong and specific expression patterns along the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis of the embryo of the wasp Nasonia that may serve as a powerful system for addressing these questions. We sought to both understand the evolutionary history of these genes and to determine their functions in the Nasonia DV patterning system.

RESULTS

We have found that the novel DV genes are part of a large family of rapidly duplicating and diverging ankyrin domain-encoding genes that originated most likely by horizontal transfer from a prokaryote in a common ancestor of the wasp superfamily Chalcidoidea. We tested the function of those ankyrin-encoding genes expressed along the DV axis and found that they participate in early embryonic DV patterning. We also developed a new wasp model system (Melittobia) and found that some functional integration of ankyrin genes have been preserved for over 90 million years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that regulatory networks can incorporate novel genes that then become necessary for stable and repeatable outputs. Even a modest role in developmental networks may be enough to allow novel or duplicate genes to be maintained in the genome and become fully integrated network components.

The first two mitochondrial genomes of the family Aphelinidae with novel gene orders and phylogenetic implications

Chalcidoidea is one of the most diverse group in Hymenoptera by possessing striking mitochondrial gene arrangement. By using next generation sequencing method, the first two nearly complete mitochondrial genomes in the family Aphelinidae (Insecta, Hymenopetra, Chalcidoidea) were obtained in this study. Almost all previously sequenced mitochondrial genome of Chalcidoidea species have a large inversion including six genes (atp6-atp8-trnD-trnK-cox2-trnL2-cox1) as compared with ancestral mitochondrial genome, but these two Encarsia mitochondrial genomes had a large inversion including nine genes (nad3-trnG-atp6-atp8-trnD-trnK-cox2-trnL2-cox1), which was only congruent with the species in the genus Nasonia. Moreover, we found that one shuffling changes (trnD and trnK) happened in the species E. obtusiclava but not in another species E. formosa within the same genus, of which such shuffling within the same genus at this region was only detected in Polisters within Insecta. Phylogenetic analysis displayed that different data matrix (13PCG+ 2 rRNA or 13 PCG) and inference methods (BI or ML) indicate the identical topology with high nodal supports that Aphelinidae formed a sister group with (Trichogrammatidae + Aganoidae) and the monophyly of Pteramalidae. Our results also indicated the validity of assembling and feasibility of next-generation technology to obtain the mitochondrial genomes of parasitic Hymenoptera.

Comparative genomics of the miniature wasp and pest control agent Trichogramma pretiosum

Background

Trichogrammatids are minute parasitoid wasps that develop within other insect eggs. They are less than half a millimeter long, smaller than some protozoans. The Trichogrammatidae are one of the earliest branching families of Chalcidoidea: a diverse superfamily of approximately half a million species of parasitoid wasps, proposed to have evolved from a miniaturized ancestor. Trichogramma are frequently used in agriculture, released as biological control agents against major moth and butterfly pests. Additionally, Trichogramma are well known for their symbiotic bacteria that induce asexual reproduction in infected females. Knowledge of the genome sequence of Trichogramma is a major step towards further understanding its biology and potential applications in pest control.

Results

We report the 195-Mb genome sequence of Trichogramma pretiosum and uncover signatures of miniaturization and adaptation in Trichogramma and related parasitoids. Comparative analyses reveal relatively rapid evolution of proteins involved in ribosome biogenesis and function, transcriptional regulation, and ploidy regulation. Chalcids also show loss or especially rapid evolution of 285 gene clusters conserved in other Hymenoptera, including many that are involved in signal transduction and embryonic development. Comparisons between sexual and asexual lineages of Trichogramma pretiosum reveal that there is no strong evidence for genome degradation (e.g., gene loss) in the asexual lineage, although it does contain a lower repeat content than the sexual lineage. Trichogramma shows particularly rapid genome evolution compared to other hymenopterans. We speculate these changes reflect adaptations to miniaturization, and to life as a specialized egg parasitoid.

Conclusions

The genomes of Trichogramma and related parasitoids are a valuable resource for future studies of these diverse and economically important insects, including explorations of parasitoid biology, symbiosis, asexuality, biological control, and the evolution of miniaturization. Understanding the molecular determinants of parasitism can also inform mass rearing of Trichogramma and other parasitoids for biological control.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0520-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Conserved community structure and simultaneous divergence events in the fig wasps associated with Ficus benjamina in Australia and China

Background

Localised patterns of species diversity can be influenced by many factors, including regional species pools, biogeographic features and interspecific interactions. Despite recognition of these issues, we still know surprisingly little about how invertebrate biodiversity is structured across geographic scales. In particular, there have been few studies of how insect communities vary geographically while using the same plant host. We compared the composition (species, genera) and functional structure (guilds) of the chalcid wasp communities associated with the widespread fig tree, Ficus benjamina, towards the northern (Hainan province, China) and southern (Queensland, Australia) edges of its natural range. Sequence data were generated for nuclear and mtDNA markers and used to delimit species, and Bayesian divergence analyses were used to test patterns of community cohesion through evolutionary time.

Results

Both communities host at least 14 fig wasp species, but no species are shared across continents. Community composition is similar at the genus level, with six genera shared although some differ in species diversity between China and Australia; a further three genera occur in only China or Australia. Community functional structure remains very similar in terms of numbers of species in each ecological guild despite community composition differing a little (genera) or a lot (species), depending on taxonomic level. Bayesian clustering analyses favour a single community divergence event across continents over multiple events for different ecological guilds. Molecular dating estimates of lineage splits between nearest inter-continental species pairs are broadly consistent with a scenario of synchronous community divergence from a shared “ancestral community”.

Conclusions

Fig wasp community structure and genus-level composition are largely conserved in a wide geographic comparison between China and Australia. Moreover, dating analyses suggest that the functional community structure has remained stable for long periods during historic range expansions. This suggests that ecological interactions between species may play a persistent role in shaping these communities, in contrast to findings in some comparable temperate systems.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12898-018-0167-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A literature-based review of HymenopteraParasitica and Chrysidoidea from Reunion Island

A review of the genera and species of Hymenoptera Parasitica and Chrysidoidea reported so far from Reunion Island is provided with host information. Data presented here is based on a review of the existing literature by the authors. The list includes: (1) 156 species of Ichneumonoidea belonging to 65 genera and 25 subfamilies (Braconidae: Agathidinae, Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Charmontinae, Cheloninae, Doryctinae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Microgastrinae, Opiinae; Ichneumonidae: Banchinae, Campopleginae, Cremastinae, Cryptinae, Diplazontinae, Ichneumoninae, Mesochorinae, Metopiinae, Ophioninae, Orthocentrinae, Pimplinae, Tersilochinae, Tryphoninae); (2) 121 species of Chalcidoidea belonging to 56 genera and 8 families (Agaonidae, Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae, Pteromalidae, Signophoridae, Torymidae and Trichogrammatidae); (3) seven species of Cynipoidea (family Figitidae); (4) six species of Chrysidoidea in three families (Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Dryinidae); (5) five species of Platygastroidea (families Platygastridae and Scelionidae); (6) five species of Diaprioidea (family Diapriidae); (7) four species of Ceraphronoidae (families Ceraphronidae and Megaspilidae); and (8) two species of Evanioidea (family Evaniidae). This review records a total of 306 species.

Description of a new species of Euderus Haliday from the southeastern United States (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Eulophidae): the crypt-keeper wasp

A new species of the genus Euderus Haliday, Euderus setsp. n., is described and illustrated from the southeastern United States, where it parasitizes the crypt gall wasp, Bassettia pallida Ashmead, 1896, on live oaks in the genus Quercus (subsection Virentes). This is the 1st species of the genus reported from the southeastern United States to parasitize cynipid gall wasps and the 3rd species of the genus reported to attack cynipids in North America. Modified sections of the identification keys to subgenera and species of Euderus (Yoshimoto, 1971) are included to integrate the new species.

Taxonomic revision and molecular phylogenetics of the Idarnes incertus species-group (Hymenoptera, Agaonidae, Sycophaginae)

Sycophaginae is a group of non-pollinating fig wasps considered closely related to the fig pollinators (Agaoninae, Tetrapusiinae, and Kradibiinae) in the most recent phylogenetic analyses. They occur in all tropical regions and are associated with Ficus subgenera Urostigma and Sycomorus. There are six described genera of Sycophaginae, and two are native and confined to the Neotropics, namely Idarnes Walker, 1843 and Anidarnes Bouček, 1993. Genus Idarnes is divided into three morphologically distinct groups that were proven to be monophyletic by recent molecular phylogenetic analyses. In this paper we reviewed the Idarnes incertus species-group and provide detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations for the species belonging to this group. Three previously described species were redescribed: I. brasiliensis (Mayr, 1906) comb. nov., I. hansoni Bouček, 1993, and I. incertus (Ashmead, 1900). Seventeen new species are described by Farache and Rasplus: I. amacayacuensissp. n., I. amazonicussp. n., I. americanaesp. n., I. badiovertexsp. n., I. brevissp. n., I. brunneussp. n., I. comptonisp. n., I. cremersiaesp. n., I. dimorphicussp. n., I. flavicrussp. n., I. flaviventrissp. n., I. gibberosussp. n., I. gordhisp. n., I. maximussp. n., I. nigriventrissp. n., I. pseudoflavussp. n. and I. ramirezisp. n. We provided keys for the identification of the species as well as for recognising the different species-groups of Idarnes and a closely related genus (Sycophaga Westwood, 1840). Additionally, phylogenetic relationships among 13 species of the I. incertus species-group were inferred using four molecular markers and discussed in the light of Ficus taxonomy and host specificity.

Transcriptome analysis provides insight into venom evolution in a seed-parasitic wasp, Megastigmus spermotrophus

One of the most striking host range transitions is the evolution of plant parasitism from animal parasitism. Parasitoid wasps that have secondarily evolved to attack plants (ie gall wasps and seed-feeders) demonstrate intimate associations with their hosts, yet the mechanism of plant-host manipulation is currently not known. There is, however, emerging evidence suggesting that ovipositional secretions play a role in plant manipulation. To investigate whether parasites have modified pre-existing adaptations to facilitate dramatic host shifts we aimed to characterize the expression of venom proteins in a plant parasite using a collection of parasitoid venom sequences as a guide. The transcriptome of a seed-feeding wasp, Megastigmus spermotrophus, was assembled de novo and three putative venoms were found to be highly expressed in adult females. One of these putative venoms, aspartylglucosaminidase, has been previously identified as a major venom component in two distantly related parasitoid wasps (Asobara tabida and Leptopilina heterotoma) and may have originated via gene duplication within the Hymenoptera. Our study shows that M. spermotrophus, a specialized plant parasite, expresses putative venom transcripts that share homology to venoms identified in Nasonia vitripennis (both superfamily Chalcidoidea), which suggests that M. spermotrophus may have co-opted pre-existing machinery to develop as a plant parasite.

Two new species of Prionomastix Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) with a key to Indian species

BACKGROUND

Species of Prionomastix Mayr were not known from India when Manickavasagam and Rameshkumar 2011 and Rameshkumar and Poorani 2015 misidentified a new species as P. siccarius. Now it is corrected by explaining the characters as to why it is new and not P. siccarius along with another new species. As we have one another new species, P. orientialis, described by Rameshkumar and Poorani 2015 our two new species are compared with P. orientalis also.

NEW INFORMATION

Two new species of Prionomastix Mayr (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), one from Bihar state and the other from Tamil Nadu state, India, are described viz., P. tamilnadensis sp. nov and P. biharensis sp. nov. and a key to all known Indian species is provided.

Checklist of British and Irish Hymenoptera - Chalcidoidea and Mymarommatoidea

Background A revised checklist of the British and Irish Chalcidoidea and Mymarommatoidea substantially updates the previous comprehensive checklist, dating from 1978. Country level data (i.e. occurrence in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man) is reported where known. New information A total of 1754 British and Irish Chalcidoidea species represents a 22% increase on the number of British species known in 1978.

Megastigmus seed chalcids (Hymenoptera, Torymidae) radiated much more on Angiosperms than previously considered. I- Description of 8 new species from Kenya, with a key to the females of Eastern and Southern Africa

A survey of seed chalcids from woody plants in Kenya revealed 12 species belonging to the genus Megastigmus Dalman, 1820, and has increased to 16 the number of Megastigmus species presently recorded from the Afrotropical Region, of which at least 13 are seed feeders. A key to female Megastigmus of the Afrotropical Region is provided. Eight new species are described from morphological evidence: Megastigmuslanneae Roques & Copeland, Megastigmuslaventhali Roques & Copeland, Megastigmusozoroae Roques & Copeland, and Megastigmussmithi Roques & Copeland in seeds of species of the family Anacardiaceae, Megastigmuscopelandi Roques & Copeland and Megastigmusgrewianae Roques & Copeland in seeds of Malvaceae, Megastigmushelinae Roques & Copeland in seeds of Rhamnaceae, and Megastigmusicipeensis Roques & Copeland for which no host is known. These collections include the first records of Malvaceae and Rhamnaceae as hosts of Megastigmus seed chalcids, which appear to have radiated in Angiosperms much more than previously considered. Analyses of the mitochondrial (

cytochrome oxidase subunit one –

COI) and nuclear DNA (28S ribosomal region) could be carried out on 8 of the 16 African species of which 5 were newly described ones. The species associated with Anacardiaceae always clustered together in phylogenies, confirming the existence of a strong and ancestral monophyletic clade, unlike the ones associated with Malvaceae and Rhamnaceae, whose position remains unclear. All holotypes are deposited in the National Museums of Kenya.

New records of chalcidid (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) pupal parasitoids from India

Background

Chalcidids are one of the most important parasitoids of pupae of agriculturally important pests belonging to orders like Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Such an important group has not been studied consistently by any team of workers from any country apart from the notable contributions by Boucek, Steffan, Delvare and Narendran. (Boucek 1988, Steffan 1973, Delvare 1992 and Narendran 1989). On a personal note, Dr. John S Noyes of Natural History Museum London agrees with this view as expressed with the second author and hence we felt that we can initiate further work on this group within India. We currently hold hundreds of unidentified specimens of this family in our department collection confirming that we will have much work to do over a long period of time.

New information

New distribution records of Chalcididae from Andhra Pradesh (Brachymeriamegaspila, B.minuta, Dirhinusanthracia and D.auratus), Bihar (B.podagrica, B.excarinata, B.hearseyi, D.anthracia, D.auratus, D.pilifer, Epitranuserythrogaster and Psilochalciscarinigena), Karnataka (B.apicicornis), Manipur (B.euploeae, D.auratus and E.erythrogaster), Mizoram (B.euploeae and D.anthracia), Nagaland (B.euploeae), Himachal Pradesh (B.alternipes), and Tamil Nadu (B.apicicornis, D.anthracia, D.deplanatus, D.pilifer, D.bakeri, E.observator, E.elongatulus, P.keralensis and P.soudanensis) and union territories Andaman & Nicobar Islands (B.podagrica, B.excarinata, E.erythrogaster and P.carinigena) and Pudhucherry (B.albicrus, D.anthracia, D.auratus, E.erythrogaster and P.kerelensis) are documented from the unidentified material mentioned above.

Ficus (Moraceae) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in Taiwan

Although Ficus-associated wasp fauna have been extensively researched in Australasia, information on these fauna in Taiwan is not well accessible to scientists worldwide. In this study, we compiled records on the Ficus flora of Taiwan and its associated wasp fauna. Initial agronomic research reports on Ficus were published in Japanese in 1917, followed by reports on applied biochemistry, taxonomy, and phenology in Chinese. On the basis of the phenological knowledge of 15 species of the Ficus flora of Taiwan, recent research has examined the pollinating and nonpollinating agaonid and chalcid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Updating records according to the current nomenclature revealed that there are 30 taxa (27 species) of native or naturalized Ficus with an unusually high proportion of dioecious species (78%). Four species were observed to exhibit mutualism with more than one pollinating wasp species, and 18 of the 27 Ficus species were reported with nonpollinating wasp species. The number of nonpollinating wasp species associated with specific Ficus species ranges from zero (F. pumila) to 24 (F. microcarpa). Approximately half of the Taiwanese fig tree species have been studied with basic information on phenology and biology described in peer-reviewed journals or theses. This review provides a solid basis for future in-depth comparative studies. This summary of knowledge will encourage and facilitate continuing research on the pollination dynamics of Ficus and the associated insect fauna in Taiwan.