Sexual association and cicadellid hosts of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea): description of five new species from Brazil and a synopsis of the interaction with Gyponini (Hemiptera, Membracoidea)

Abstract

Abstract Interactions between dryinids and their hosts are poorly known in the Neotropical region, especially for the Brazilian fauna. This study aims to expand this incipient knowledge by describing a new species of Anteon Jurine and four new species of Gonatopus Ljungh reared from parasitized leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) collected in the state of Paraná, Southern Brazil. The new species, A. elianeae sp. nov., G. josei sp. nov., G. meloi sp. nov., G. pinhalensis sp. nov. and G. taquarensis sp. nov., are associated with leafhopper species of the subfamilies Iassinae (tribe Gyponini) and Deltocephalinae (tribes Deltocephalini and Pendarini). Both sexes of G. josei sp. nov. and G. taquarensis sp. nov. were associated and males are described, representing the first sexual association based on reared specimens from Brazil. We record for the first time species of Dryinidae parasitizing the leafhoppers species: Curtara concava, Gypona lita and Reticana lineatta (Gyponini), Graminella striatella (Deltocephalini) and Copidinomus vittulatus (Pendarini). All known records in the Neotropic of both Anteon and Gonatupus species associated with host are compiled, all known records of parasitoids of gyponines are reviewed, and the interactions with dryinids are discussed. Each new species is diagnosed and described, and illustrations of both dryinids and parasitized hosts are provided.