DNA barcoding and morphology reveal two common species in one: Pimpla molesta stat. rev. separated from P. croceipes (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

Anu Veijalainen,Ilari Sääksjärvi,Gavin Broad,John Longino,Niklas Wahlberg

doi:10.3897/zookeys.124.1780

Anu Veijalainen, Ilari Sääksjärvi + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.124.1780

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Abstract

Correct species identification is the basis of ecological studies. Nevertheless, morphological examination alone may not be enough to tell species apart. Here, our integrated molecular and morphological studies demonstrate that the relatively widespread and common neotropical parasitoid wasp Pimpla croceipes Cresson, 1874 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) actually consists of two distinct species. The name Pimpla molesta (Smith, 1879), stat. rev. is available for the second species. The two species were identified by DNA barcoding and minor differences in morphology and colouration. Our results support the previous notions that DNA barcoding can complement morphological identification and aid the discovery of cryptic species complexes.

Highlights

In the midst of global biodiversity loss and substantial taxonomic shortcomings, improved identification methods for hyperdiverse and poorly known invertebrate groups are good news
This is in accordance with Gauld et al (1998) who noted that many common Central American species of Pimpla, namely P. croceipes s.l., P. croceiventris (Cresson) and P. sedula Cameron, occur sympatrically
Gauld (1991) reports that in Costa Rica, the species (P. croceipes s.l.) is very common in humid areas at 800–1600 m asl where it comprises 7–35% of pimpline individuals in Malaise trap samples. Both species are very common in Central American cloud forests: in the Guatemalan and Honduran Leaf Litter Arthropods of Mesoamerica project (LLAMA) Malaise trap samples studied here, P. croceipes accounts for 22.2% and P. molesta for 22.7% of all the pimplines collected (50–2400 m asl)

Summary

Introduction

In the midst of global biodiversity loss and substantial taxonomic shortcomings, improved identification methods for hyperdiverse and poorly known invertebrate groups are good news. We use DNA barcoding to reveal a cryptic complex masked within a common and widespread neotropical parasitoid wasp species. The parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) may well be the largest animal family on earth, but it is considered taxonomically challenging and poorly known (Gauld 2000). As in any fauna, there are still some commonly encountered neotropical ichneumonids, such as the characteristic pimpline Pimpla croceipes Cresson, 1874 (Fig. 1), whose distribution has been reported to extend from Mexico through Central America to Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela (Yu et al 2005). It is not surprising that there has been a junior synonym of P. croceipes recognised, namely Pimpla molesta Smith, 1879 (Fig. 2), synonymized with P. croceipes by Cameron (1886) (see Gauld 1991)

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