Braconidae Research Articles

Diversity and differentiation of the Chelonus (Microchelonus) species of the Galapagos archipelago (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae)

Despite the significance of the Galapagos archipelago, the richness of diverse groups such as braconid wasps remains poorly studied. Seven species of chelonine Braconidae are recorded for the Galapagos islands for the first time: Chelonus buscki Viereck, 1912, Chelonus carinatus Provancher, 1881, Chelonus johni Marsh, 1979, Chelonus refluus (Papp, 2010), Chelonus sulcifera (Papp, 2016), Chelonus topali (Papp, 1999), and Chelonus turgoclarus (Papp, 2010). No endemic species were identified for the islands. We also explore island population differences with respect to island area, age, and distance between islands. The populations of C. buscki and C. carinatus were statistically differentiated between islands. Morphological differences were associated with island area only for C. buscki while no relationship was found between differentiation and age or geographic distance between islands for any species. These results could be a consequence of recent colonization events.

A braconid wasp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with second recurrent vein in forewing from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber

A braconid wasp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with second recurrent vein in forewing from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Aleiodes alternator (Nees, 1834)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Aleiodes alternator (braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 234.90 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 28.92 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Dinocampus coccinellae (Schrank, 1802).

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Dinocampus coccinellae (a braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 110.40 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 22.88 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Aleiodes leptofemur van Achterberg & Shaw, 2016.

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Aleiodes leptofemur (braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 271.20 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 15 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 32.28 kilobases in length.

The genome sequence of a braconid wasp, Aleiodes testaceus (Telenga, 1941)

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Aleiodes testaceus (braconid wasp; Arthropoda; Insecta; Hymenoptera; Braconidae). The genome sequence spans 110.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 19 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 28.0 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 10,520 protein-coding genes.

Habitat Improvement In Effort To Conservation Insect Diversity And Natural Enemies On Potato Cultivation

This study aimed to determine the habitat approach on potato cultivation to increase diversity of insects. Habitat improvement design by agricultural system and planting system on different season. This study consisted of two experiments. The first done at planting season from March to July (dry season) and the second done at planting season from October to January (rainy season). Research designed by Split plot design with main plot are farming systems (inorganic farming and organic farming) and the subplot are the design of cropping system (sole potato; potato and cabbage; potato and mustard; potato and onion). The data was analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. The result showed that planting season from March to July (dry season) as well as the planting season from October to January (rainy season) showed that insect diversity index, predator population and parasitoid population were higher in organic farming compared to inorganic farming systems. The design of cropping system significantly affect insect diversity index,natural enemies population such as predator Coccinelids and parasitoid Braconid wasp and M. persicae population. In organic farming, intercropping potato with cabbage found the highest insect diversity index and the highest population of parasitoid Braconid wasp and the lowest population of M. persicae. The highest population of predator Coccinelids found at interropping potato with mustard. Combined analysis of the planting on dry season and rainy season showed that insect diversity index and population of parasitoid Baraconid wasp not significantly difference between planting on dry planting and planting on rainy season. On the other hand, population of predator Coccinellids and M. persicae significantly more higher at planting on dry season than planting on rainy season.

Mitogenome architecture supports the non-monophyly of the cosmopolitan parasitoid wasp subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) recovered by nuclear and mitochondrial phylogenomics.

Mitochondrial DNA gene organisation is an important source of phylogenetic information for various metazoan taxa at different evolutionary timescales, though this has not been broadly tested for all insect groups nor within a phylogenetic context. The cosmopolitan subfamily Doryctinae is a highly diverse group of braconid wasps mainly represented by ectoparasitoids of xylophagous beetle larvae. Previous molecular studies based on Sanger and genome-wide (ultraconserved elements, UCE; and mitochondrial genomes) sequence data have recovered a non-monophyletic Doryctinae, though the relationships involved have always been weakly supported. We characterised doryctine mitogenomes and conducted separate phylogenetic analyses based on mitogenome and UCE sequence data of ~100 representative doryctine genera to assess the monophyly and higher-level classification of the subfamily. We identified rearrangements of mitochondrial transfer RNAs (tRNAs) that support a non-monophyletic Doryctinae consisting of two separate non-related clades with strong geographic structure ('New World' and 'Old World' clades). This geographic structure was also consistently supported by the phylogenetic analyses preformed with mitogenome and UCE sequence data. These results highlight the utility of the mitogenome gene rearrangements as a potential source of phylogenetic information at different evolutionary timescales.

Cellular dynamics of host − parasitoid interactions: Insights from the encapsulation process in a partially resistant host

Cotesia typhae is an eastern African endoparasitoid braconid wasp that targets the larval stage of the lepidopteran stem borer, Sesamia nonagrioides, a maize crop pest in Europe. The French host population is partially resistant to the Makindu strain of the wasp, allowing its development in only 40% of the cases. Resistant larvae can encapsulate the parasitoid and survive the infection. This interaction provides a very interesting frame for investigating the impact of parasitism on host cellular resistance. We characterized the parasitoid ovolarval development in a permissive host and studied the encapsulation process in a resistant host by dissection and histological sectioning compared to that of inert chromatography beads. We measured the total hemocyte count in parasitized and bead-injected larvae over time to monitor the magnitude of the immune reaction. Our results show that parasitism of resistant hosts delayed encapsulation but did not affect immune abilities towards inert beads. Moreover, while bead injection increased total hemocyte count, it remained constant in resistant and permissive larvae. We conclude that while Cotesia spp virulence factors are known to impair the host immune system, our results suggest that passive evasion could also occur.

The first reliable fossil record of the tribe Centistini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae): a new subgenus and species of braconid wasp in Danish amber

A new subgenus and species of the braconid parasitoid of the tribe Centistini s. l. (Euphorinae), Centistoides (Palaeoides) magnioculus Belokobylskij, subgen. et sp. nov., from late Eocene Danish amber are described and illustrated from one female. This is the first time the tribe of euphorine parasitoids is reliably documented in the fossil record. A key to all genera and subgenera of this suprageneric taxonomic group is compiled. The discussion about position of the genus Parasyrrhizus Brues, composition of the tribe Centistini s. l., and the composition of the Danish amber hymenopteran fauna are provided.

Four new species of Triraphis Ruthe, 1855 (Braconidae, Rogadinae) from a Mexican tropical dry forest and morphological descriptions of T. bradzlotnicki Sharkey, 2021 and T. davidwahli Sharkey, 2021

The koinobiont endoparasitoid genus Triraphis Ruthe, 1855 (Rogadinae Foerster, 1863) is a group of braconid wasps that contains 74 species distributed along the Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental and Palearctic regions. We amplified a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) for 19 specimens of Triraphis from the Chamela Biological Station (CBS), a region mainly composed of tropical dry forest near the Pacific coast of Jalisco, Mexico. Based on genetic distances among specimens of Triraphis from the CBS and all COI sequences of BINs assigned to Triraphis and Rogas Nees, 1819 available in the BOLDSYSTEMS database, we identified three clusters in the CBS that correspond with T. bradzlotnicki Sharkey, 2021, T. davidwahli Sharkey, 2021 and T. defectus Valerio, 2015, which were previously described from Costa Rica. Based on morphology, we identified individuals of T. fusciceps Cresson, 1869 and provided COI sequences of this species for the first time. Four genetic clusters of Triraphis correspond to four new species that are described here: T. kardia sp. nov., T. ocellatus sp. nov., T. divergens sp. nov. and T. luzabrilae sp. nov. Since T. bradzlotnicki and T. davidwahli were exclusively described with molecular data (COI), we morphologically described them based on Mexican specimens.

Dos inseticidas ao controle biológico de pragas na cana-de-açúcar: uma experiência de meio século na Venezuela

Biological control has been established as a unique measure for managing borers of the genus Diatraea and the candelilla Aeneolamia spp., both of which are key pests of sugarcane in Venezuela. Optimal results have been achieved with the use of parasitoids and entomopathogens. Systematic releases of the Amazonian fly Lydella minense from the mid-20th century and the establishment of the braconid wasp Cotesia flavipes from 1987 led to effective control of borers. In the case of Aeneolamia varia, a pest formerly controlled with frequent insecticide applications, an efficient solution was the introduction of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae in 1977. This measure has been established as efficient in controlling adult Aeneolamia, though nymphs were less controlled. This issue was effectively addressed in 2004 with the introduction of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, which has been widely used as a biological measure to avoid the application of insecticides. To illustrate this, we can consider the case of Azucarera Río Turbio. Despite experiencing a reduction in cultivated areas in recent harvests due to various factors, this establishment has witnessed a significant decline in Diatraea infestations over the past 58 years. Infestation rates have decreased from 15% to 3.18%, resulting in a saving of 170,552.62 metric tons valued at USD 49,196,045. The cost of implementing biological control measures amounts to USD 1,187,189, translating into a favorable benefit-cost ratio of USD 41.44. Before the adoption of biological control methods, Aeneolamia infestations were exclusively controlled using chemical insecticides applied to both the foliage for adults and the soil for nymphs. Concurrently, since then, entomopathogenic fungus M. anisopliae, produced by national companies, has been deployed across 87,000 hectares between 1986 and 1990. Moreover, since 2004, the use of entomopathogenic nematodes to control Aeneolamia nymphs has been integrated into pest management practices.

Parasitism success of Microplitis manilae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on different diet‐fed Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae

AbstractEfficient rearing is necessary for the successful biological control of pests. The braconid wasp, Microplitis manilae, is a natural solitary parasitoid of larval Spodoptera frugiperda. However, the effect of the host diet on the parasitism success of M. manilae on S. frugiperda larvae remains unclear. Here, we determined the parasitism rate, oviposition, eclosion rate, developmental period and offspring sex ratio of M. manilae parasitizing S. frugiperda fed with fresh corn leaves or an artificial diet. M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly higher parasitism rate (40%), oviposition (62.50 eggs/female) and eclosion rate (81.38%) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (22%, 38.33 eggs/female, and 58.73%, respectively). Furthermore, M. manilae parasitizing the corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae exhibited a significantly shorter developmental period (16.35 days) and lower sex ratio (1.17) than the wasp parasitizing the artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae (18.00 and 2.15 days, respectively). Overall, M. manilae exhibited better parasitic success on corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda larvae than on artificial diet‐fed S. frugiperda larvae. Therefore, using fresh corn leaf‐fed S. frugiperda is the most suitable strategy for mass‐rearing M. manilae for pest biocontrol. Our findings suggest M. manilae as an effective biocontrol candidate for controlling S. frugiperda in corn fields.

Previously introduced braconid parasitoids target recent olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) invaders in Hawai’i

The olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae (Diptera: Tephritidae) was detected on Maui and Hawai’i Islands in 2019, affecting yields and quality of the state’s emerging olive oil industry. Given previous parasitoid releases to control other invasive frugivorous tephritids in Hawai’i, we were interested in determining whether these parasitoids were naturally targeting recent olive fly invaders in field, if local olive cultivar differences affected parasitization rates, and if there was a seasonal pattern of parasitization that could inform future management decisions. To address these questions, we collected data from olive growing in Hawai’i during 2021 and 2022. During the fruiting season we collected monthly samples and reared out B. oleae in the lab. We detected two previously introduced braconid wasps: first Diachasmimorpha tryoni during 2021 and 2022 and later Fopius arisanus during the 2022 collection. Cultivar effects were limited to a single site in our study, where more D. tryoni were reared from ‘Arbequina’ olives. Seasonality of olive fruit fly and parasitoid activity was earlier in lower elevation sites, as expected based on tree phenology and temperature-dependent insect development. This represents the first report of D. tryoni parasitism activity against B. oleae and may reflect elevational effects combined with the ecological complexity in interactions between multiple invasive arthropod pests, their invasive and cultivated plant hosts, and introduced braconid parasitoids.

BRACONIDAE (HYMENOPTERA) IN THE CENTRAL SOUTHERN ALPS: THE FIRST ALPINE RECORD OF THE ALIEN PARASITOID LYSIPHLEBUS TESTACEIPES (CRESSON) AND NEW SPECIES FOR ITALY

Despite the ecological importance of parasitoid wasps for the stability of Alps ecosystems, the available knowledge about braconid wasps for these environments is still very limited. Here, we explored the diversity of Alpine braconid parasitoids in the Southern Central Alps. We recorded 18 species of braconids, 12 of which are from the subfamily Aphidiinae. In particular, we detected for the first time the alien parasitoid species Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) in the Alps, providing information that could be considered to evaluate the invasiveness of this species. The second most diverse subfamily was Microgastrinae with two detected species, while one species was recorded from each of the subfamilies Alysiinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae and Euphorinae. Four braconid species from the subfamily Aphidiinae – Aphidius hieraciorum Starý, Aphidius schimitscheki (Starý), Harkeria angustivalvus (Starý) and Monoctonus crepidis (Haliday) – are new records to the fauna of Italy. This work contributes to the knowledge of braconid diversity in the Alps. Moreover, it can be a starting point both to explore complex tritrophic interactions potentially threatened by climate change and the role of early flowering Alpine plants on braconid diversity. Key Words: Alps, Alpine ecosystems, biotic interactions, braconids, Italian fauna, parasitoids.

Geographical variation in parasitoid communities and the cause of enemy-free space in a range-expanding myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly

Abstract Range expansions of host species are likely to modify host–parasitoid interactions. Observational studies have indicated that host species in recently colonized areas are less frequently attacked by parasitoids; however, these studies did not determine whether traditional parasitoids can still use host populations in these areas. Thus, it is unclear why the host has escaped from their traditional parasitoids in their recently colonized areas. In this study, we examined the interaction between myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly, Arhopala japonica, and its larval parasitoids in northern Japan, a recently colonised area. This region corresponds to a distribution of A. japonica, a myrmecophilous lycaenid butterfly. No parasitoids emerged from A. japonica larvae collected in the north, whereas six parasitoid species attacked the host larvae in native areas. Attacks from the braconid wasp Cotesia sp. near inducta were the most common; however, parasitism tests revealed that Cotesia sp. near inducta and other parasitoid species completed their development successfully regardless of origin of their butterfly hosts. Population genetic analyses supported the recent range expansion of both A. japonica and Cotesia sp. near inducta. These results suggest that both hosts and parasitoids have experienced recent population expansion; however, the more rapid range expansion of A. japonica has caused escape from the enemy in newly colonized areas.

Phylogenetic analyses of the proteins involved in encapsulation signaling pathways in ants

"One of the major evolutionary transitions is the shift from solitary to social lifestyle, which involved a plethora of behavioral and physiological changes in social entities. Group living has several advantages as the evolution of collective defense mechanisms. It may also affect the individual immune system either due to the efficiency of social immune defenses or because of the high transmission frequency of pathogens. Individual defense consists of the innate and acquired immune components. In insects, there are two signaling pathways (Toll and Jak/Stat) that result in the expression of specific immune genes, which, in their turn, encode peptides, proteins and activate innate immune responses like encapsulation. The main aim of our study was to verify whether transition to eusocial lifestyle is reflected in proteins involved in immune responses. We carried out phylogenetic analyses of 15 proteins involved in encapsulation signaling pathways in ants. We also included four other social insect groups, bees, sweat bees, social wasps, and termites, and three solitary insect groups, as fruit flies, braconid wasps, and megachilid bees. Ants grouped separately from other insect groups in most cases, however, there were some notable exceptions mostly in the case of pattern recognition proteins, probably correlating with differences in potential pathogens. No major differences were revealed though between solitary and social insects with respect to proteins involved in encapsulation. Keywords: eusociality, evolution, immune response, innate immunity, insects, social immunity"

Behavioral thermoregulation of caterpillars is altered by temperature, but not parasitism: An empirical field study

AbstractLaboratory assays show that parasites often have lower heat tolerance than their hosts. But how physiological tolerances and behavioral responses of hosts and parasites combine to affect their ecological interactions in heterogeneous field environments is largely unknown. We addressed this challenge using the model insect system of the braconid wasp parasitoid, Cotesia congregata, and its caterpillar host, Manduca sexta. We used experimental manipulations of microclimate in the field to determine how elevated daytime temperatures altered the behavior, performance, and survival of host and parasite. Our experimental manipulation increased daily maximum temperatures on host plants, but had negligible effects on overall mean temperature. These increased maximum temperatures resulted in subtle, biologically relevant, changes in physiology and behavior of the host and parasitoid. We found that parasitism by the wasp did not significantly alter caterpillar thermoregulatory behavior, while experimentally increased daily maximum temperatures resulted in both parasitized and unparasitized caterpillars to be found more frequently in cooler microhabitats. Overall, we did not observe the complete parasitoid mortality seen at extreme temperatures in laboratory studies, but gained insight into the sublethal effects of increased daily maximum temperatures on host and parasitoid behavior and physiology. Climate change will alter both the biotic and abiotic environments that organisms face, and we show here that empirical experiments in the field are important for understanding organismal response to these new environments.

Larissimusnigricans sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a new reared species of a rare neotropical genus recovered through biodiversity inventory in Ecuador.

A new species of the rarely collected neotropical microgastrine braconid wasp genus Larissimus Nixon, represented previously by only a single described species, L.cassander Nixon, was recovered by the Caterpillars and Parasitoids of the Eastern Andes in Ecuador inventory project. Larissimusnigricanssp. nov. was reared from an unidentified species of arctiine Erebidae feeding on the common bamboo species Chusqueascandens Kunth at the Yanayacu Biological Station near Cosanga, Napo Province, Ecuador. The new species is described and diagnosed from L.cassander using both morphological and DNA barcode data.

Effects of parasitism by the braconid wasp, Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on the host hemolymph and phenoloxidase activation of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica larvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

BackgroundBiological control of insect pests is an economic, eco-friendly and harmless approach to integrated pest management strategies. Bracon hebetor (Say) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) considers a polyphagous ectoparasitoid of various pests of the order Lepidoptera. The parasitized host insects' defense mechanisms are triggered as a result of the parasitic wasps' injury and penetration. Thus, induce the host cellular and humoral immune responses through a blend of secretions injected into the host body. The present study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of B. hebetor on the immune response of the parasitized full grown larval instar of the rice moth, Corcyra cephalonica (Stainton) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) under natural envenomation.ResultsOn cellular level, the ultrastructure examination of the hemocytes displayed a considerable structural deformation in hemocyte morphology of the detected types of the hemocytes. Moreover, the effects of parasitism on both differential hemocyte counts (DHCs) and total hemocyte counts (THCs) were investigated. The number of prohemocytes (PR) (40.33 ± 5.61, 43 ± 8.33 and 26 ± 2.31) was statistically differed after (24, 48 and 72 h) of parasitism, respectively, compared to unparasitized (31.33 ± 6.49) larvae. Similar observations were recorded in plasmatocytes (PL) before and after the parasitism. However, Spherulocytes (SP) and Oenocytoids (OE) were recorded in the hemolymph with little abundance. On the other side, the quantitative analysis of total hemolymph proteins (THP) provoked a significant effect of considering parasitized and non-parasitized larvae. As the Phenoloxidase (PO) cascade plays a critical role in immune defenses, so the substantial activation of PO in the host's hemolymph following successive hours of parasitism compared to unparasitized larvae using L-DOPA as a substrate indicated the induction of larval immune system. The parasitized larvae showed a gradual increase in the PO activity (0.442 ± 0.103) after 24 h reached up to (1.482 ± 0.272) at the end of parasitism (72 h) in comparable to unparasitized larvae (0.177 ± 0.0.044).ConclusionThe present investigations clarified the efficacy of B. hebetor parasitism on the host immune mechanism, which will enable the progress of sustainable stored product protection approaches for the control of an important pest rice moth C. cephalonica.