Phylogenetic relationships and description of Bolivar, a new genus of Neotropical doryctine wasps (Hymenoptera : Braconidae)

Abstract

Metasomal elongation is a common feature in species of various parasitoid Hymenoptera, probably due to adaptive morphological convergence to similar parasitoid strategies. The braconid subfamily Doryctinae is perhaps where this feature has evolved the most times independently. Here we recognise a new Neotropical doryctine wasp genus with a petiolate first metasomal tergum, based on molecular and morphological analysis. The phylogenetic affinities of the new genus within Doryctinae and the relationships among six of its described and three potentially cryptic, undescribed species were reconstructed using sequence data from three genes, wingless, 28SrDNA and COI. The new genus is resolved in a clade together with Semirhytus Szépligeti, Johnsonius Marsh and Parallorhogas Marsh. These four genera share vein m-cu of the hind wing slightly curved distally and the propodeum with a distinct lateral and median longitudinal carina and an apical areola. The relationships recovered among the examined species suggest a South American origin for the new genus and its subsequent diversification into Central America and Mexico. Described as Bolivar, gen. nov., this new taxon comprises eight species, two species previously placed within Notiospathius Matthews & Marsh, B. ornaticornis (Cameron), comb. nov., and B. bribri (Marsh), comb. nov., and six new species (B. ecuadorensis, sp. nov., B. helmuthi, sp. nov., B. pittieri, sp. nov., B. risaraldae, sp. nov., B. teres, sp. nov. and B. tuxtlae, sp. nov.).