ichneumonidae

Two new Darwin wasp species of Eiphosoma Cresson, 1865 (E. nigroandinum Fernandes sp. nov. and E. merceae Fernandes sp. nov.) are described from the northwestern Andes of Colombia. Furthermore, we propose the establishment of a new species-group, E. nigroandinum species-group, to encompass these newly described species. Additionally, we expand the geographical distribution of Eiphosoma vitticolle Cresson, 1865, and complement the findings with a map and digital images.

In this study, new distributional records are given for 98 species and subspecies of Darwin wasps of the subfamily Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Maritime Southeast Asia, namely from Indonesia and Malaysia: Sabah. Four genera, 31 species and three subspecies are described as new. The new genera are: Atanyjoppoides n. gen., Moluccarches n. gen., Orientodromus n. gen. and Platylaboides n. gen. The new species are: Achaius sabahensis n. sp., Allonotus rufiventris n. sp., Amblyjoppa nigra n. sp...

The metallic-blue body coloration is a distinct characteristic found in seven species of the cosmopolitan genus Pimpla Fabricius, 1804. In this study, we focus on two externally similar species, namely P. cyanator Morley, 1914 in India and P. alishanensis (Kusigemati, 1984) in Taiwan, along with the Indian P. indra Cameron, 1899, which are the only three species in the Oriental region exhibiting this trait. By examining the type series of these two taxa and acquiring additional materials from Taiwan, we discovered female morphological variations that resemble the form of the holotype of P...

Hymenoepimecis is a genus of Darwin wasps in the Polysphincta group of genera (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) known as ectoparasitoids of a broad spectrum of spiders. The parasitoid induces production of a web known as cocoon web, which provides shelter and support for the wasp pupa. In this study, we describe for the first time the interaction between Hymenoepimecis castilloi Pádua & Sääksjärvi (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and its host spider Leucauge mariana (Taczanowski) (Araneae: Tetragnathidae) in the Colombian Andes, provide new records of wasp genus distribution, and described the behavioral modifications induced in the spider...

The corn cropping system can influence the natural enemy identity and the number of Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith, 1797 (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of this plant. The objectives were to identify the S. frugiperda natural enemies and differences in the number of individuals infesting the cartridge, ear and stem of corn plants under conventional and organic cropping systems, in Brazil after an initial collection of adult males through semiochemical traps. We also evaluated key morphometrical parameters of the larva and factors contributing with the viability of S...

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Amblyteles armatorius (an ichneumonid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Ichneumonidae). The genome sequence is 216 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 12 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.6 kilobases in length.

Understanding how biodiversity varies from place to place is a fundamental goal of ecology and an important tool for halting biodiversity loss. Parasitic wasps (Hymenoptera) are a diverse and functionally important animal group, but spatial variation in their diversity is poorly understood. We survey a community of parasitic wasps (Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) using Malaise traps up a mountain in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest, and relate the catch to biotic and abiotic habitat characteristics. We find high species richness compared with previous similar studies, with abundance, richness, and diversity peaking at low to intermediate elevation...

UNLABELLED: The correct interpretation of fossils and their reliable taxonomic placements are fundamental for understanding the evolutionary history of biodiversity. Amber inclusions often preserve more morphological information than compression fossils, but are often partially hidden or distorted, which can impede taxonomic identification. Here, we studied four new fossil species of Darwin wasps from Baltic and Dominican amber, using micro computed tomography (micro-CT) scans and 3D reconstructions to accurately interpret and increase the availability of morphological information...

Applying consistent terminology for morphological traits across different taxa is a highly pertinent task in the study of morphology and evolution. Different terminologies for the same traits can generate bias in phylogeny and prevent correct homology assessments. This situation is exacerbated in the male genitalia of Hymenoptera, and specifically in Ichneumonoidea, in which the terminology is not standardized and has not been fully aligned with the rest of Hymenoptera. In the current contribution, we review the terms used to describe the skeletal features of the male genitalia in Hymenoptera, and provide a list of authors associated with previously used terminology...

Eriogynapyretorum Westwood is a notorious defoliator of Camphoraofficinarum Nees that causes large economic and ecological losses in planted forests. To understand the importance of suppressing the population of E.pyretorum on natural parasitoids, a four-years investigation was conducted in the field. Four egg parasitoid species Ooencyrtuskuvanae Howard, Trichogrammachionis Ishii, Telenomus sp. and Anastatusdexingensis Sheng & Wang were captured in the wild. One of these is the dominant endoparasitoid species T...

A new monotypic genus of ichneumonine parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) is described from Peru; Capitojoppa gen. nov. is described to accommodate Capitojoppaamazonica sp. nov. The new genus is morphologically very distinctive and can be easily separated from all known ichneumonine genera. By describing Capitojoppa from the lowland rain forests of Peru, we aim to draw attention to the considerable diversity and morphological variation of the Amazonian ichneumonine fauna.

Parasitoids are an important group of insects because their species number is among the highest. Multiple studies have addressed the relationships between forest successional age and insect diversity by focusing on herbivorous organisms, but changes in diversity of parasitoids are still poorly known. This work analyses the diversity of parasitoids in tropical forests representing three successional stages. A total of 30 traps were placed, ten in each forest successional stages. We estimated true diversity of Ichneumonidae species and guilds and explored the relationship between their diversity and the abundance of plant species using an Indicator Species Analysis; the relationship between parasitoid species and plant richness and abundance was tested using a Redundancy Analysis...

BACKGROUND: This data paper describes the results of a 10-year scientific investigation of a biodiversity-rich private golf estate in south-eastern France in partnership with PatriNat (Office français de la biodiversité/Centre national de la recherche scientifique/Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement). In total, 3,160 species and subspecies, including 1,796 arthropods and 1,049 flora, were inventoried and 65 habitat types were surveyed and mapped...

A new Darwin wasp species, Ophion kobensis Shimizu sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ophioninae), is described using the integrated morphological and molecular species delimitation approaches. Our results indicate that the new species is closely related to European O. ventricosus Gravenhorst, 1829 of the O. minutus species-group but can be distinguished using morphological characters, such as entirely black body colour with some light-yellow marks and not inclined epicnemial carina in lateral view. This record of the new species represents the first record of O...

The genus Dimophora Förster is recorded from Japan for the first time. Japanese species of the genus are revised and three new species, Dimophora japonica n. sp., D. nigra n. sp. and D. parva n. sp., are recognizerd and described. Male genitalia of D. japonica and D. nigra are described and these are the first description of male genitalia for the genus. A key to the Palearctic species is provided.

Three new orthocentrine species of the genus Symplecis Förster, 1869 are described and illustrated: S. aperta sp. n., S. glabroscutum sp. n. and S. kibiraensis sp. n. These species were all found in one sample collected by Malaise trap in Kibira National Park (Burundi) demonstrating potentially high species richness of the genus in the Afrotropics compared with other regions.

The genera Astrenis Förster, 1869 and Phrudus Förster, 1869 from the Ukrainian Carpathians are reviewed. Five species have been found in the studied region, including the first Ukrainian records of Astrenis nigrifacies Viknerg, 2000, and Phrudus badensis Hilpert, 1987. Another Phrudus species, Phrudus carpathicus sp. n., is described and illustrated.

Two new species are described, Bathyplectes dbari sp. nov. from Turkmenistan, and Leptoperilissus horstmanni sp. nov. from Algeria, along with discussion on the generic placements, and with notes on the identification of the species. Additionally, 23 new Palaearctic distributional records of 11 species are given: Bathyplectes anurus (Thomson) from Armenia, Russia; B. aspergus Dbar from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Syria; B. cingulatus (Brischke) from Hungary; B. clypearis (Horstmann) from Romania; B. curculionis (Thomson) from Algeria, Crete, Hungary, Sicily, Syria; B...

Two genera, Perithous Holmgren (Pimplinae) and Neoxorides Clément (Poemeniinae), are recorded for the first time from Mexico. Two species are described as new to science: Perithous escondidus Khalaim & Ruíz-Cancino, sp. nov. (Mexico: Nuevo León) and Neoxorides borderai Khalaim, sp. nov. (Mexico: Hidalgo). A brief review of the North American species of Perithous and Neoxorides is given, along with identification keys for North American taxa are provided.

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...