Hymenoptera Parasitica Research Articles

Study of the Megalyridae and Monomachidae Families (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Megalyridae wasps are thought to be idiobiont endoparasitoids of concealed insect larvae. Parasitoids of larvae of broaching beetles, families Bostrichidae, Buprestidae, Cerambycidae (Coleoptera), and Pemphredonidae (Hymenoptera). Little is known about the hosts of Monomachidae: The Australian species Monomachus antipodalis Westwood, 1874 acts as an egg-larval or egg-pupal parasitoid of Boreoides spp. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae, Chiromyzinae). The aim of this article is to study the characteristics of bioecology and taxonomy of the Megalyridae and Monomachidae Families (Insecta: Hymenoptera). The review was carried out in Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil from November 2022 to December 2022. Study or work uses the reference of bibliographic research, understood as the act of asking and seeking information on certain subjects such as Hymenoptera Parasitica through a survey carried out in national and foreign magazines classified by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), with the aim of detecting what there is consensus or controversy in the state of the art of literature in the libraries of the University of Brasília and the University of São Paulo on websites at (LILACS) and (SciELO) and in book scientific chapters, national and international scientific articles. It is an important work, both for hymenopterologists dedicated to studying parasitoids and for other entomologists interested in the biological control of insect pests.

WITHDRAWN

The document associated with this DOI has been withdrawn.

WITHDRAWN

The document associated with this DOI has been withdrawn.

Diversidad y grupos funcionales de artrópodos en el cultivo de Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. (Asterales: Asteraceae) en invernadero en Jujuy, Argentina

The diversity of arthropods present in the crops of yellow and white Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. in greenhouse is analyzed, based on the species richness, abundance and trophic roles. The study was carried out in a greenhouse located in El Carmen (Jujuy). Field tasks consisted of three strokes per plant to 30 plants taken randomly, with two repetitions, and a specific sampling of extraction of five flowers in three opening states (floral bud, flower-semi-open and open flower) for each color throughout the crop cycle. Samples were observed under a stereoscopic microscope for the extraction of the associated arthropods, which were identified and stored in flasks with 70% ethanol as well as microscopy slides. A total of 9,027 arthropods were collected, distributed in the classes Insecta (eight orders and 25 families) and Arachnida (three orders and nine families). The most diverse functional group was the phytophagous. This included the dominant species Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera) and Tetranychus urticae (Prostigmata). The entomophagous group was represented by Anthocoridae (Hemiptera), Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) and 11 families of Hymenoptera parasitica, Phytoseiidae (Mesostigmata) and seven families of Araneae. The less abundant groups were the detritivores (Psocoptera), fungivores (Latridiidae), xylophagous (Bostrichidae), and the varied diet (Formicidae)

A literature-based review of HymenopteraParasitica and Chrysidoidea from Reunion Island.

A review of the genera and species of Hymenoptera Parasitica and Chrysidoidea reported so far from Reunion Island is provided with host information. Data presented here is based on a review of the existing literature by the authors. The list includes: (1) 156 species of Ichneumonoidea belonging to 65 genera and 25 subfamilies (Braconidae: Agathidinae, Alysiinae, Aphidiinae, Braconinae, Charmontinae, Cheloninae, Doryctinae, Euphorinae, Gnamptodontinae, Microgastrinae, Opiinae; Ichneumonidae: Banchinae, Campopleginae, Cremastinae, Cryptinae, Diplazontinae, Ichneumoninae, Mesochorinae, Metopiinae, Ophioninae, Orthocentrinae, Pimplinae, Tersilochinae, Tryphoninae); (2) 121 species of Chalcidoidea belonging to 56 genera and 8 families (Agaonidae, Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Encyrtidae, Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae, Pteromalidae, Signophoridae, Torymidae and Trichogrammatidae); (3) seven species of Cynipoidea (family Figitidae); (4) six species of Chrysidoidea in three families (Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Dryinidae); (5) five species of Platygastroidea (families Platygastridae and Scelionidae); (6) five species of Diaprioidea (family Diapriidae); (7) four species of Ceraphronoidae (families Ceraphronidae and Megaspilidae); and (8) two species of Evanioidea (family Evaniidae). This review records a total of 306 species.

Parasitoid complex of Stereonychus fraxini (De Geer) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in Serbia

The parasitoid complex of the ash weevil Stereonychus fraxini (De Geer) (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from 20 localities in Serbia was studied. Forty-one samples of ash weevil larvae and cocoons were analyzed, and the presence of parasitoids was confirmed in 24 samples. Ten species of hymenopteran parasitoids (Hymenoptera Parasitica) were recorded. The two common eulophid wasps, Entedon zanara Walker and Entedon cionobius Thompson, were the most abundant. Parasitoids had an insignificant influence on the level of ash weevil population, because the level of infestation did not exceed 20% in 83% of the samples; however infestation above 40% was determined in 12.2% of the samples, indicating that in some cases parasitoids may significantly reduce the ash weevil population.

A new amber deposit from the Cretaceous (uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian) of southwestern France

A Cretaceous amber deposit has recently been discovered in a quarry of Charente-Maritime (southwestern France), at Cadeuil. This paper presents the sedimentary and palaeoenvironmental settings of the uppermost Albian-lowermost Cenomanian series including the amber deposit. A preliminary analysis of the amber samples reveals diverse fossil arthropods (a few mites and at least 20 insect families within 9 orders), as well as numerous micro-organisms, mainly algae and mycelia. A myceloid colony of bacteria, a flagellate algae and four especially well preserved insects are illustrated (Diptera Dolichopodidae, Diptera Chironomidae, Hymenoptera Parasitica, and Heteroptera Tingidae). The abundance of the limnic micro-organisms is discussed in terms of bloom events. Their relative scarcity in almost all the amber pieces containing fossil arthropods is attributed to differences in the origin of resin: production along trunk and branches for amber with arthropods; production by aquatic roots for amber rich in algae. The absence of pollen and spores in amber is attributed to differences in the respective periods of resin and palynomorph production, which may be related to a seasonal climate during the Albian-Cenomanian transition in Western Europe.

Changes in the list of Finnish insects during 2001–2005

During the period 2001–2005, 769 species have been added to the list of Finnish insects, and 213 species have been deleted from it. At the end of year 2005, a total of 20,533 insect species were known from Finland. The Finnish insect fauna is generally well known. Still, particularly for Diptera Nematocera and Hymenoptera Parasitica, and to some degree also in part of Hemiptera, there still remains much to be done.

Contrasting responses of plant and insect diversity to variation in grazing intensity

The effects of grazing intensity on plant and insect diversity were examined in four different types of grassland (intensively and extensively cattle-grazed pastures, short-term and long-term ungrazed grassland; 24 study sites). Vegetation complexity (plant species richness, vegetation height, vegetation heterogeneity) was significantly higher on ungrazed grasslands compared to pastures but did not differ between intensively and extensively grazed pastures. However, insect species richness was higher on extensively than on intensively grazed pastures, established by suction sampling of four insect taxa (Auchenorrhyncha, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera Parasitica). This may be due to intensive grazing disrupting plant–insect associations as predicted by a “trophic-level” hypothesis. Local persistence and small-scale recolonization of insects on plants appeared to be difficult in the highly disturbed environment of intensive grazing. Insect diversity increased across the four treatments in the following order: intensively grazed<extensively grazed<short-term ungrazed<long-term ungrazed. The major predictor variable of differences in species diversity was found to be vegetation height. Predator–prey ratios within the investigated insect groups were not affected by grazing intensity.

Taxonomic Composition of Hymenopteran Parasitoid Assemblages from Agromyzid Leaf-miners Sampled in Central Argentina

This paper deals with the taxonomic composition of parasitoid assemblages reared from agromyzid leaf-miners of 28 species collected in Cordoba, Central Argentina. The relative representation of each parasitic family was estimated, taking into consideration their species richness and abundance. Sample size affected the total species richness in each complex, and also that of Eulophidae and Pteromalidae, indicating that not only size but also taxonomic structure of parasitic assemblages are influenced by sampling effort. 3 superfamilies and 5 families of Hymenoptera Parasitica were represented, with Eulophidae (Chalcidoidea) specifically and numerically dominant both in the total community of parasitoids and in the parasitic assemblages of individual hosts. Chrysonotomyia, Chrysocharis (Eulophidae), Halticoptera (Pteromalidae) and Phaedrotoma (Braconidae) were the most relevant genera in terms of number of species and number of specimens reared. The parasitoids obtained from samples taken in agroecosystems differed from the global spectrum of taxa mainly by showing a numerical dominance of Braconidae, despite a noticeable specific impoverishment of this family.

Braconidae (Hymenoptera) associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel

Data are presented on the occurrence of Braconidae (Hymenoptera parasitica) parasitizing insects associated with forest and ornamental trees and shrubs in Israel. Fifty-five genera of plants are listed, the richest in braconid fauna being tamarisk (9 species); acacia, pistachio and poplar (8 species each); carob and oak (7 species each). Of the 95 species of insect hosts mentioned, 53 are Lepidoptera, mostly Gelechiidae (7 species), Pyralidae (6 species), Noctuidae (5 species), Gracillariidae, Tortricidae, Geometridae, Lymantriidae and Lycaenidae (3 species each); 44 are Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (13 species), Scolytidae (12 species), and Bostrichidae (9 species); three are Diptera. Of the 92 species of braconids listed, of which only 65 have been fully named, 56 develop in Lepidoptera, mostly Noctuidae (15 species), Gelechiidae (11 species) and Pyralidae (9 species); 33 species develop in Coleoptera, mostly Cerambycidae (12 species, Bostrichidae (10 species) and Scolytidae (5 species); and three species develop in Diptera. Thirty-eight species are new to the fauna of Israel; at least three of them are new to science,viz., Gnaptodon, Gildoria andDendrosotinus titubatus Papp.

The pollination ecology of Listera ovata (Orchidaceae)

Interactions betweenListera ovata(L.) R. Br. and anthophilous insects were observed on Öland and in Uppland, Sweden, during 1974–1980. The pollen vectors were mainly ichneumons (Hymenoptera Parasitica, Ichneumonidae), saw–flies (Hymenoptera Symphyta) and beetles (Coleoptera). These three groups transported on Oland 56, 28 and 10% and in Uppland 28, 54 and 15% of the pollinia. The most common visitors were Diptera. In the Ichneumonidae, males were on average over three times as frequent as females and carried 81% of the pollinia. Various data indicated anthecological specialization to about 8–12 mm long, relatively strong insects, which show abundance and diversity in the biotopes withL. ovata.They have medium–sized almost hairless heads with short and rather small mouth–parts. Perhaps optimal interaction takes place with ichneumon males. Since floral adaptation to the legitimate group obviously includes generalized chemical attractants and complete accessibility of nectar, the spectrum of visitors reaches that of an umbelliferous plant. The touch–sensitive rostellum has probably induced evolution of the long nectariferous furrow on the labellum surface. The floral fragrance is essentially a terpene–blend. Experiments indicated strict entomogamy.

Metapleural Transformations with Respect to Propodeum and Metapostnotum in Hymenoptera

In Symphyta the metapleural suture is prominent and the epimeron is continuous with the metapostnotum through an epimeropostnotal bridge. However, in Xiphydridae and Siricidae the bridge and the metapostnotum are considerably reduced. In Hymenoptera Parasitica the pleural suture has become marginal thus obliterating the epimeron and narrowing the bridge. In aculeatans (Chrysididae, Scoliidae and Sphecidae) this bridge and the metapostnotum are untraceable and the episternum becomes subdivided into 2 portions. Similar conditions occur in Vespidae, Eumenidae, Apoidea and winged forms of Formicidae except that the posterior half of the pleural suture has lost its identity. In Pompilidae secondary modifications of the metapostnotum are prominent and the bridge is conspicuous. In non-winged forms of Formicidae and female Mutillidae the bridge, metapostnotum, and the pleural suture are absent. These changes can be helpful in establishing the relationships among the various hymenopteran families.

The species of Hymenoptera described by Linnaeus in the genera Sphex, Chrysis, Vespa, Apis and Mutilla

Data are presented on the type-material representing the species described by Linnaeus in his genera Sphex, Chrysis, Vespa, Apis and Mutilla, The names here considered total 158; six are currently applied in the Hymenoptera Parasitica. Of the balance of 147, three are emendations and five are unavailable homonyms or names proposed in the synonymy of other species. Fifteen Linnaean names are here placed as synonyms. One name is attributed to an author other than Linnaeus, and live names remain species incertae sedis. The remainder, 118, are applied as valid names in die Hymenoptera Aculeata. Holotype specimens in London, Uppsala or Stockholm represent 60 names; 55 names are based on lectotype specimens of which 49 are here designated, two by other authors. One name is represented by a neotype specimen in Lund, and one by a lectotype figure. One non-aculeate species is based on syntypes. Specimens appear to be lost with respect to 25 names; three specimens in Uppsala may be the holotypes of a further three species. Eight new combinations are made, and twelve new synonyms established; three further new combinations and three further new synonymies are suggested. A systematically arranged summary of species treated and of nomenclatural changes made is given. Nomenclatural changes affecting non-Linnaean names are included where relevant; lectotypes are designated for two non-Linnaean species.

Book notices

Monograph of the genus Dieuches Dohrn (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae), by A.C.EylesRearing the Hymenoptera Parasitica, by K.G.V.Smith

IV.—Oxford University Hudson Strait Expedition to Akpatok Island, Ungava Bay, 1931.—Hymenoptera Parasitica, including a few specimens taken at port Burwell, Labrador

IV.—<i>Oxford University Hudson Strait Expedition to Akpatok Island, Ungava Bay</i>, 1931.—<i>Hymenoptera Parasitica, including a few specimens taken at port Burwell, Labrador</i>

On the Bionomics and Post-Embryonic Development of certain Cynipid Hyperparasites of Aphides.

ABSTRACT Bothryoxysta curvata, Kieff., Charips victrix, Hartig, and Alloxysta erythrothorax, Westw., are hyperparasites of aphides through Aphidius (Braconidae). Reproduction may be either sexual or parthenogenetic. The egg is laid in the haemocoele of the host larva before the death of the aphid, and post-embryonic development is internal. A trophic membrane of hypertrophied cells is formed round the embryo. The larva is, at first, hypermetamorphic ; and exhibits greater development of the chitinous cuticle than is usual in endoparasites ; but in the succeeding stages it approximates more closely to the general hymenopterous type. G. The development of the Aphidius is arrested at a certain point, and metamorphosis does not take place. The Cynipid, when ready to pupate, makes its way out of the Aphidius, whose remains it devours, and undergoes metamorphosis within the cocoon previously woven by the latter in the skin of the aphid. These forms differ in certain particulars from the ento-mophagous Cynipidae previously described, and the chief differences are discussed. Comparison is also made of the larvae of other Hymenoptera Parasitica, particularly of Perilampus. Certain problems of metabolism are pointed out, and it is suggested that respiration may be partly rectal. These Cynipidae are economically injurious as they check the Aphidius in its destruction of plant-lice; but there is high mortality among the larvae owing to secondary parasitization of the Braconid by other hyperparasitos.