Braconidae Research Articles

Systematics, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Braconid Wasps: 30 Years of Progress.

The parasitoid wasp family Braconidae is likely the second-most species-rich family in the animal kingdom. Braconid wasps are widely distributed and often encountered. They constitute one of the principal groups of natural enemies of phytophagous insects, of which many are serious pest species. The enormous biological diversification of braconid wasps has led to many homoplasies, which contributed widely to instabilities in historical classifications. Recent studies using combinations of genetic markers or total mitochondrial genomes allow for better founded groupings and will ultimately lead to a stable classification. We present the current status of the phylogenetics of the Braconidae in a historical perspective and our understanding of the effects on higher classification.

Review of the genus Alysia Latreille (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), with description of six new species from China.

Six new species of Alysia Latreille are described and illustrated from China, i.e., Alysia hebeiensis sp. n., A. macularis sp. n., A. melasoma sp. n., A. polita sp. n., A. sparsa sp. n., and A. stenopos sp. n. Also, six species are reported as new to China: Alysia incongrua Nees, 1834, A. lucia Haliday, 1838, A. lucicola Haliday, 1838, A. sirin Belokobylskij, 1998, A. umbrata Stelfox, 1941 and A. vladik Belokobylskij, 1998. A key to the known species of Alysia Latreille from China is provided.

New records of rare genera of the subfamily Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with description of nine new species from Vietnam

Six new species of three small genera of the subfamily Rogadinae: Cystomastacoides van Achterberg, 1997; Gyroneuron Kokujev, 1901 and Rogasodes Chen & He, 1997, viz. Cystomastacoides contrastus Long, sp. n.; Cystomastacoides similis Long, sp. n.; Gyroneuron asperatum Long, sp. n.; Gyroneuron bicoloratum Long, sp. n.; Gyroneuron glabrum Long, sp. n. and Rogasodes phongi Long & Hoa, sp. n.; and three new species of the subgenus Arcaleiodes Chen & He, 1997 from Vietnam, namely: Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) hoanglienensis Long, sp. n., Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) sapa Long, sp. n. and Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) simulatus Long, sp. n. are described. Additionally, two genera: Cystomastacoides van Achterberg and Rogasodes Chen & He, and two species: Aleiodes (Arcaleiodes) sinamensis Quicke & Butcher and Cystomastacoides coxalis Chen & He are newly recorded for Vietnam’s braconid fauna. Illustrated keys to species of the genera Cystomastacoides, Gyroneuron and subgenus Arcaleiodes from Vietnam are given. The checklist and distribution of the already known species of the genera are also provided. 
 
 Citation: Long KD, Hiep ND, Hoa DT, Nhi PT, 2018. New records of rare genera of the subfamily Doryctinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), with description of nine new species from Vietnam. Academia Journal of Biology, 40(3): xxx-xxx. https://doi.org/ 
 *Corresponding author: khuatdanglong@gmail.com

Rapid Viral Symbiogenesis via Changes in Parasitoid Wasp Genome Architecture.

Viral genome integration provides a complex route to biological innovation that has rarely but repeatedly occurred in one of the most diverse lineages of organisms on the planet, parasitoid wasps. We describe a novel endogenous virus in braconid wasps derived from pathogenic alphanudiviruses. Limited to a subset of the genus Fopius, this recent acquisition allows an unprecedented opportunity to examine early endogenization events. Massive amounts of virus-like particles (VLPs) are produced in wasp ovaries. Unlike most endogenous viruses of parasitoid wasps, the VLPs do not contain DNA, translating to major differences in parasitism-promoting strategies. Rapid changes include genomic rearrangement, loss of DNA processing proteins, and wasp control of viral gene expression. These events precede the full development of tissue-specific viral gene expression observed in older associations. These data indicate that viral endogenization can rapidly result in functional and evolutionary changes associated with genomic novelty and adaptation in parasitoids.

Cotesia congregata Bracovirus Circles Encoding PTP and Ankyrin Genes Integrate into the DNA of Parasitized Manduca sexta Hemocytes.

Polydnaviruses (PDVs) are essential for the parasitism success of tens of thousands of species of parasitoid wasps. PDVs are present in wasp genomes as proviruses, which serve as the template for the production of double-stranded circular viral DNA carrying virulence genes that are injected into lepidopteran hosts. PDV circles do not contain genes coding for particle production, thereby impeding viral replication in caterpillar hosts during parasitism. Here, we investigated the fate of PDV circles of Cotesia congregata bracovirus during parasitism of the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, by the wasp Cotesia congregata Sequences sharing similarities with host integration motifs (HIMs) of Microplitis demolitor bracovirus (MdBV) circles involved in integration into DNA could be identified in 12 CcBV circles, which encode PTP and VANK gene families involved in host immune disruption. A PCR approach performed on a subset of these circles indicated that they persisted in parasitized M. sexta hemocytes as linear forms, possibly integrated in host DNA. Furthermore, by using a primer extension capture method based on these HIMs and high-throughput sequencing, we could show that 8 out of 9 circles tested were integrated in M. sexta hemocyte genomic DNA and that integration had occurred specifically using the HIM, indicating that an HIM-mediated specific mechanism was involved in their integration. Investigation of BV circle insertion sites at the genome scale revealed that certain genomic regions appeared to be enriched in BV insertions, but no specific M. sexta target site could be identified.IMPORTANCE The identification of a specific and efficient integration mechanism shared by several bracovirus species opens the question of its role in braconid parasitoid wasp parasitism success. Indeed, results obtained here show massive integration of bracovirus DNA in somatic immune cells at each parasitism event of a caterpillar host. Given that bracoviruses do not replicate in infected cells, integration of viral sequences in host DNA might allow the production of PTP and VANK virulence proteins within newly dividing cells of caterpillar hosts that continue to develop during parasitism. Furthermore, this integration process could serve as a basis to understand how PDVs mediate the recently identified gene flux between parasitoid wasps and Lepidoptera and the frequency of these horizontal transfer events in nature.

Revision of the endemic New Zealand braconid wasp genus Metaspathius: new subfamily placement, and descriptions of four new species including three with fully winged females (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Mesostoinae)

ABSTRACTThe endemic New Zealand cyclostome braconid wasp genus Metaspathius Brues, which was previously only known from a single specimen, an apterous female, is revised. Four new species, including three with fully winged females, are described and illustrated: Metaspathius chathamicus Ward, sp. nov.; M. hemipterus Belokobylskij, sp. nov.; M. kuscheli Ward & Belokobylskij, sp. nov.; and M. sharkeyi Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. Metaspathius apterus Brues is illustrated. The first host record for the genus is provided: Metaspathius kuscheli sp. nov. is recorded as a larval parasitoid of the New Zealand endemic weevil Phrynixus astutus Pascoe, 1876 (Curculionidae). DNA sequence data (CO1 and 28S) for two of the species are included in an analysis of a broad range of cyclostome Braconidae with emphasis on basal taxa. The results show that Metaspathius belongs to a clade restricted to New Zealand within the heterogeneous basal subfamily Mesostoinae van Achterberg, 1975. A revised morphological diagnosis of the Mesostoinae is presented in the light of the discovery that Metaspathius is a member. The relationships of the Maxfischeriinae are discussed in the light of molecular findings.http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:512AD512-5F2A-44C8-9951-AD739995C10C

Separatatus Chen Wu (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) newly recorded from Thailand, with description of one new species and one new combination.

Separatatus Chen Wu, 1994, is reported for the first time from Thailand and one new species is described and illustrated: Separatatus xuexincheni n. sp. In addition, one species is newly recorded from Thailand (S. parallelus Zhu et al., 2017) and we transfer one species from Phasmidiasta to Separatatus: S. malaysiae (Fischer, 2006) n. comb. A key to species of the genus Separatatus is presented.

The response of four braconid parasitoid species to methyl eugenol: Optimization of a biocontrol tactic to suppress Bactrocera dorsalis

Methyl eugenol (ME) is the most common tephritid male lure used in studies investigating Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), a highly destructive pest species. The following four species of braconid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are parasites of several Tephritidae flies of economic significance: Fopius arisanus (Sonan), F. vandenboschi (Fullaway), Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) and Psyttalia incisi (Silvestri). An integrated pest management (IPM) strategy involving the release of multiple parasitoid species, the release of sterile males, and the placement of ME-lure traps was recently implemented in southern China. This study evaluated the effects of ME on braconid parasitoids. Based on the results from olfactometer bioassays, all parasitoid species were significantly repelled by undiluted ME. Furthermore, attractant-influenced behavioral activities occurred at relatively low concentrations of ME (e.g., 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μl/ml), whereas the effects of the repellent increased to significant levels as the concentration increased. There were no significant differences in electroantennogram (EAG) responses among different doses of ME, but the number of F. arisanus parasitoids attracted to traps containing host eggs decreased significantly at higher concentrations, e.g., 10, 100 and 1000 μl/ml. In addition, the number of F. arisanus females that were attracted to the host egg trap decreased significantly with higher concentrations of ME (10, 100 and 1 μl/ml). The number of F. arisanus females that exhibited ovipositional behavior in an environment without ME was significantly higher than those with different concentrations of ME. This study improves our understanding of control tactic interactions as well as the optimization of various processes involved in the IPM program.

Co‐occurrence of defensive traits in the potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae

1. Insecticide usage selects strongly for resistance in aphid populations, but this could entail fitness costs in other resistance traits. The potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas exhibits intraspecific variation in susceptibility to parasitism by braconid wasps and provides a suitable species to study the relation between the defensive traits of parasitism and insecticide resistance.2. Clonal lines (23 in total) of M. euphorbiae were established from aphids collected in 2013 from geographically separate populations in the U.K. Clonal lines belonged to five aphid genotypes, but one genotype predominated (78% of samples), and the facultative endosymbiont Hamiltonella defensa was detected in c. 40% of lines.3. Total esterase activity in aphid tissues varied significantly between aphid genotypes and collection areas, but there was no clear pattern in relation to H. defensa infection or between collection sites likely to differ in insecticide pressures.4. Five clonal lines representing low to moderate levels of enzyme activity, which included different aphid genotypes and presence/absence of H. defensa infection, were assayed for their susceptibility to the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi Haliday. Aphid mummification varied significantly between aphid genotypes, with low values in one genotype of aphids irrespective of H. defensa presence.5. The results revealed that aphid lines belonging to the parasitism‐resistant genotype exhibited moderate levels of total esterase activity, indicating a competitve advantage for this genotype of M. euphorbiae when exposed to chemical and biological control factors in agroecosystems.

An enigmatic new genus of cyclostome braconid wasp (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from New Zealand.

A new enigmatic genus perhaps belonging to the braconid wasp subfamily Pambolinae, Zeachremylus gen. nov. (type species Z. wardi sp. nov.), is described from New Zealand. The taxonomic position of this new genus is discussed.

A polydnavirus-encoded ANK protein has a negative impact on steroidogenesis and development

Polydnaviruses (PDV) are viral symbionts associated with ichneumonid and braconid wasps parasitizing moth larvae, which are able to disrupt the host immune response and development, as well as a number of other physiological pathways. The immunosuppressive role of PDV has been more intensely investigated, while very little is known about the PDV-encoded factors disrupting host development. Here we address this research issue by further expanding the functional analysis of ankyrin genes encoded by the bracovirus associated with Toxoneuron nigriceps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae). In a previous study, using Drosophila melanogaster as experimental model system, we demonstrated the negative impact of TnBVank1 impairing the ecdysone biosynthesis by altering endocytic traffic in prothoracic gland cells. With a similar approach here we demonstrate that another member of the viral ank gene family, TnBVank3, does also contribute to the disruption of ecdysone biosynthesis, but with a completely different mechanism. We show that its expression in Drosophila prothoracic gland (PG) blocks the larval-pupal transition by impairing the expression of steroidogenic genes. Furthermore, we found that TnBVank3 affects the expression of genes involved in the insulin/TOR signaling and the constitutive activation of the insulin pathway in the PG rescues the pupariation impairment. Collectively, our data demonstrate that TnBVANK3 acts as a virulence factor by exerting a synergistic and non-overlapping function with TnBVANK1 to disrupt the ecdysone biosynthesis.

A remarkable new genus of Braconini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) from Papua New Guinea, reared from fallen fruit

Abstract During an investigation of the insect food web in Papua New Guinea several specimens of a new genus and species of large, black and orange braconine braconid wasp were reared from fruits of Rubiaceae. These are described here as Karposibracon papuensis Quicke & Butcher gen. et sp. nov. Karposibracon gen. nov. appears to belong to the tribe Braconini and is the largest known species in this group, with body length up to 12 mm. The new genus is illustrated photographically, distinguished from other genera, and comments are on its likely biology provided.

A new species of Cotesia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) reared from the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, and luna moth, Actias luna, in east Texas.

The braconid wasp parasitoid Cotesia nuellorum Whitfield, new species, is described from specimens reared from a caterpillar of the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis (F.), and from a caterpillar of the luna moth, Actias luna (L.), in eastern Texas. The species is diagnosed with respect to other species of Cotesia recorded from North American Saturniidae, and details of its biology are provided.

A new species of Cotesia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) reared from the hickory horned devil, Citheronia regalis, and luna moth, Actias luna, in east Texas

The braconid wasp parasitoidCotesianuellorumWhitfield, new species, is described from specimens reared from a caterpillar of the hickory horned devil,Citheroniaregalis(F.), and from a caterpillar of the luna moth,Actiasluna(L.), in eastern Texas. The species is diagnosed with respect to other species ofCotesiarecorded from North American Saturniidae, and details of its biology are provided.

A new lineage of braconid wasps in Burmese Cenomanian amber (Hymenoptera, Braconidae).

A new braconid wasp from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) amber of the Hukawng Valley in Kachin State, Myanmar is described and figured from a unique female. Seneciobracon novalatus Engel & Huang, gen. et sp. n., is placed in a distinct subfamily, Seneciobraconinae Engel & Huang, subfam. n., owing to the presence of a unique combination of primitive protorhyssaline-like traits, with an otherwise more derived wing venation. The fossil is discussed in the context of other Cretaceous Braconidae.

Dolichogenidea maetoi sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Japan, the first parasitoid wasp recorded from Hyblaea fortissima (Lepidoptera)

A new species of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Japan, Dolichogenidea maetoi Fernandez-Triana & Shimizu sp. nov., is described, representing the first record of a braconid wasp parasitizing the lepidopteran family Hyblaeidae in the Palaearctic Region (from Hyblaea fortissima Butler, 1881). The new species is fully illustrated, diagnosed and compared with all previously described species of the genus Dolichogenidea Viereck, 1911 in the Holarctic (154 species). Details on the wasp biology, including observed sex ratios, are provided.

Venomics reveals novel ion transport peptide-likes (ITPLs) from the parasitoid wasp Tetrastichus brontispae

Despite substantial advances in uncovering constituents of parasitoid venoms due to their potential applications as insecticides and pharmaceuticals, most of these studies are primarily restricted to braconid and ichneumonid wasps. Little information is available regarding virulent factors from venom of Eulophidae. In order to provide insight into the venom components of this family and parasitoid venom evolution, a venom protein repertoire (venomics) of the endoparasitoid wasp, Tetrastichus brontispae was deciphered using a proteomic approach. A large number of diverse venom proteins/peptides were identified, including novel proteins and those proteins commonly found in the venoms of other parasitoids such as serine protease, esterase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, acid phosphatase, major royal jelly protein, superoxide dismutase, and venom allergen 3/5. Three ion transport peptide-likes (ITPLs) were abundantly detected in T. brontispae venom. Of these, two of them are reported as a novel form for the first time, with the characteristics of lengthened amino acid sequences and additional cysteine residues. These venom ITPLs are obviously apart from other general members within the crustacean hyperglycemic hormone/ion transport peptide (CHH/ITP) family. It implies that they would evolve unique functions essential for parasitism success.

Description of two new species closely related to Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti, 1911) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), based on morphometric and molecular analyses.

This study clarifies the identity of two morphs that appear similar but not identical to the braconid wasp Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), by analyses of fore wing morphometry and the ITS2 and D2 region of 28S ribosomal DNA. Wing measurements of D. areolatus and the two morphs, one with a yellow stigma and one with a brown stigma, from several Brazilian localities, were taken and subjected to geometric morphometry. Evaluation of 20 anatomical points on the fore wing by means of multivariate analysis revealed that these morphs consistently differ from D. areolatus. Intraspecific size variation in both molecular markers (ITS2 and 28S-D2 rDNA) was also detected among populations of D. areolatus from the states of Amapá, São Paulo, Goiás, and Tocantins, but no such difference was observed among samples of the two morphs. However, high sequence variability was observed for both markers among D. areolatus and these morphs. Morphometric analysis yielded similar results and produced dendrogram congruent with those based on the molecular markers, also indicating that D. areolatus corresponds to a complex of cryptic species. Therefore, our morphometric and molecular data, in addition to revealing that D. areolatus includes cryptic species, showed that the unidentified morphs actually represent two distinct, previously undescribed species of Doryctobracon. These new taxa are formally described herein, as D. whartoni sp. nov. and D. adaimei sp. nov.

Systematics, Biology, and Evolution of Microgastrine Parasitoid Wasps.

The braconid parasitoid wasp subfamily Microgastrinae is perhaps the most species-rich subfamily of animals on Earth. Despite their small size, they are familiar to agriculturalists and field ecologists alike as one of the principal groups of natural enemies of caterpillars feeding on plants. Their abundance and nearly ubiquitous terrestrial distribution, their intricate interactions with host insects, and their historical association with mutualistic polydnaviruses have all contributed to Microgastrinae becoming a key group of organisms for studying parasitism, parasitoid genomics, and mating biology. However, these rich sources of data have not yet led to a robust genus-level classification of the group, and some taxonomic confusion persists as a result. We present the current status of understanding of the general biology, taxonomic history, diversity, geographical patterns, host relationships, and phylogeny of Microgastrinae as a stimulus and foundation for further study. Current progress in elucidating the biology and taxonomy of this important group is rapid and promises a revolution in the classification of these wasps in the near future.

Whole Genome Sequencing of the Braconid Parasitoid Wasp Fopius arisanus, an Important Biocontrol Agent of Pest Tepritid Fruit Flies.

The braconid wasp Fopius arisanus (Sonan) is an important biological control agent of tropical and subtropical pest fruit flies, including two important global pests, the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata), and the oriental fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis). The goal of this study was to develop foundational genomic resources for this species to provide tools that can be used to answer questions exploring the multitrophic interactions between the host and parasitoid in this important research system. Here, we present a whole genome assembly of F. arisanus, derived from a pool of haploid offspring from a single unmated female. The genome is ∼154 Mb in size, with a N50 contig and scaffold size of 51,867 bp and 0.98 Mb, respectively. Utilizing existing RNA-Seq data for this species, as well as publicly available peptide sequences from related Hymenoptera, a high quality gene annotation set, which includes 10,991 protein coding genes, was generated. Prior to this assembly submission, no RefSeq proteins were present for this species. Parasitic wasps play an important role in a diverse ecosystem as well as a role in biological control of agricultural pests. This whole genome assembly and annotation data represents the first genome-scale assembly for this species or any closely related Opiine, and are publicly available in the National Center for Biotechnology Information Genome and RefSeq databases, providing a much needed genomic resource for this hymenopteran group.