Van Achterberg Research Articles

First record of Centistidea Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Miracinae) from Borneo, with description of six new species

ABSTRACT Seven species, including six new species, belonging to the genus Centistidea Rohwer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Miracinae) are recorded from Borneo, namely C. albantennalis Liu and Polaszek, sp. n. C. bulbosa Liu and Polaszek, sp. n. C. longimetacarpa Liu and Polaszek, sp. n. C. paracarinata Liu and Polaszek, sp. n. C. rugator Ranjith and van Achterberg, 2019, C. scapularis Liu and Polaszek, sp. n. and C. tumida Liu and Polaszek, sp. n., based on specimens in the Natural History Museum, UK. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:E50520F5-A5E2-4490-9DC5-A004295F60EB

Description of a new species of Parastephanellus Enderlein, 1906 (Hymenoptera: Stephanidae) from Western Ghats, India

A new species of Parastephanellus Enderlein, 1906 Parastephanellus binoyi Amal, Girish Kumar, & van Achterberg sp. nov. is described from Western Ghats, India. A key to the Indian species is provided along with a distribution map.

Four genera of the subfamily Opiinae Blanchard (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) new for Japan, with the description of two new species.

Four genera are reported for the first time from Japan (Areotetes van Achterberg & Li, 2013, Indiopius Fischer, 1966, Neopius Gahan, 1917 and Sternaulopius Fischer, 1965), and keys are provided for the species of these genera. Two new species are described and illustrated: Areotetesconvergens sp. nov. and Sternaulopiusmaculiferus sp. nov.

A new European species of Mesocrina (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae, Alysiini) with notes on the biology and systematics of the genus

Mesocrina chandleri Godfray & van Achterberg, sp. nov., is described in the small Holarctic genus Mesocrina Foerster, 1863, the second European species. The holotype was collected in England and further specimens are recorded from Finland, France and the Netherlands. A key is provided to the Palaearctic Mesocrina species. DNA sequence from the CO1 barcode locus was obtained and the new species is 10% divergent from M. indagatrix (the other European species) and 5% divergent from an undetermined North American species. We provide evidence that Mesocrina spp. parasitise cyclorrhaphan Diptera in fungi (and that previous host records from phytophagous insects are incorrect) and that the taxon is not part of the Dapsilarthra genus-group as often previously assumed.

Abstract 3129: BYON4413, an in vivo active CD123-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, combines effectively with azacitidine and venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines

Abstract Background: CD123, the alpha chain of the interleukin-3 receptor (IL-3Rα), is overexpressed in multiple hematologic malignancies and found particularly highly expressed on the surface of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells. Furthermore, increased CD123 expression on leukemic stem cells relative to non-neoplastic hematopoietic stem cells makes CD123 an attractive tumor-associated target for an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC). BYON4413 is an ADC that consists of a novel humanized IgG1 anti-CD123 antibody site-specifically conjugated with Byondis' proprietary duocarmazine linker-drug technology, ByonZine® and ByonShieLD®. The efficacy of BYON4413 is studied as monotherapy and in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax (AZA/VEN), since the AZA/VEN regimen is the standard of care (SOC) for AML patients who are ineligible for intensive chemotherapy. Method: A panel of CD123+ and CD123- hematological cell lines and AML patient-derived bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs)/peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were utilized in in vitro studies to determine the cytotoxic effects of BYON4413. The induction of apoptosis and cell killing by BYON4413 in a triple combination with AZA/VEN was studied in vitro using the CD123+ AML cell lines MOLM-13 and MV4-11. AML patient and cell line-derived xenograft models were used to investigate the in vivo efficacy of BYON4413. Results: In vitro studies with human AML cell lines show that BYON4413 is highly effective in eradicating CD123+ cells while having little impact on CD123- cells. These results were confirmed ex vivo with AML patient-derived BMMCs/PBMCs. BYON4413 effectively killed AML patient-derived blasts while largely sparing healthy hematopoietic cells. The triple combination of BYON4413 with AZA/VEN enhanced both apoptosis and cell killing of AML cell lines compared to the singular BYON4413 treatment. In vivo studies demonstrate that BYON4413 is remarkably efficient at reducing the tumor burden in AML patient- and cell line-derived xenograft models. Conclusions: Preclinical studies show that BYON4413 has potential to be an effective targeted therapy against CD123+ hematological malignancies such as AML. The enhanced efficacy of BYON4413 together with AZA/VEN suggests that a clinical benefit from the triple combination may be achievable and is worth further exploration. A first-in-human dose-escalation and expansion trial with BYON4413, designed to enroll R/R AML and high-risk MDS patients, is scheduled to start in Q2 2024. Citation Format: Miranda M.C. van der Lee, Tanja van Achterberg, Kaylee Hersmus, Annet Brouwers-Vos, Monique van der Vleuten, Maurien Pruis, Wendy Kappers, Gijs Verheijden, Gerwin Huls, Glenn van Wigcheren, Ruud Ubink, Aloys Sesink, Alyson MacInnes, Jan Jacob Schuringa, Wim Dokter. BYON4413, an in vivo active CD123-targeting antibody-drug conjugate, combines effectively with azacitidine and venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 3129.

Small jewels: two new species of the rare genus Masona van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae), with a catalogue of world species and comments on the peculiar morphology of the genus

A comprehensive review of the enigmatic genus Masona van Achterberg is provided. Two new species are described from the USA: Masona neon Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov. from Puerto Rico, and Masona wow Dal Pos & Martens sp. nov. from California. A key to the world species of Masona is presented, together with a discussion of the morphology of the genus and an annotated catalogue of the species. [Masona] timpaynei Quicke, 2019, is excluded from Braconidae and placed as incertae sedis in the Ichneumonidae, subfamily Neorhacodinae.

Biotic resistance towards Hydrellia egeriae, a biological control agent for the aquatic weed Egeria densa, in South Africa

Egeria densa is a submerged aquatic weed that can grow into dense monocultures in rivers and dams in South Africa, which negatively affects ecosystem functioning and services. The biological control agent Hydrellia egeriae Rodrigues-Júnior (Diptera: Ephydridae) was first released against Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) in South Africa in 2018. Biotic resistance in an introduced range can have negative impacts on the ability of a biological control agent to establish and exert top-down pressure. Dipteran and lepidopteran species that are used as biological control agents are often susceptible to higher levels of parasitism in their introduced range than biological control agents from other insect orders. In addition, ecological analogues that are present in South Africa, make H. egeriae particularly vulnerable to biotic resistance. Considering this, post-release surveys were conducted to investigate if native parasitoids will extend their host range to include H. egeriae. Chaenusa seminervata van Achterberg, C. anervata van Achterberg (Braconidae: Alysiinae: Dacnusini) and Ademon lagarosiphonae van Achterberg (Braconidae: Opiinae) were reared from field-collected H. egeriae pupae, within a year of its release. These braconid parasitoids were previously recorded from a native herbivore, Hydrellia lagarosiphon Deeming (Diptera: Ephydridae). Parasitism levels of H. egeriae ranged from 50 to 74% in cold months and 0 to 60% in warmer months, with higher levels of parasitism at a site where H. lagarosiphon naturally occurs. This study also found that cumulative release events of the biological control agent increase the probability of parasitism of field populations, by directly increasing the host pool. However, biological control efficacy can potentially be increased by limiting release efforts to a maximum of two release events per site per season, with particular focus on releasing in warm (i.e. spring/summer) months. Continued post-release surveys are necessary to not only monitor H. egeriae’s impact on E. densa, but also to obtain a better understanding of seasonal parasitism levels across E. densa-invaded sites in South Africa.

Additions to the trigonalyid (Hymenoptera: Trigonalyidae) fauna of India with the description of a new species from south India.

A new species of Taeniogonalos is described and illustrated from Western Ghats, Kerala, India. The male of Taeniogonalos eurysoma Chen & van Achterberg, 2020 is described for the first time along with its first distribution record from India. The new species and T. eurysoma are illustrated along with a distribution map of Indian Taeniogonalos.

Review of the subtribe Spinariina van Achterberg (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) from India with description of one new species.

The Indian members of the subtribe Spinariina van Achterberg, 1988 are reviewed and a key to Indian species is provided. Spinaria westwoodi Cameron, 1906 is reported from Great Nicobar island and a new species, Spinaria indica Gupta & van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Nagaland, is described and illustrated. In addition, Batotheca nigriceps (Cameron, 1897) is reported from caterpillars feeding on Psidium guajava L. and S. spinator (Gurin-Mneville, 1830) from slug caterpillar (Limacodidae) on Elaeodendron glaucum (Rottb.) Pers. in southern India.

Five new species and one new record of the genus Phaenocarpa Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea.

Five new species of the genus Phaenocarpa Foester, 1863 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) are described and illustrated: P.acutidentata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., P.tacitoides Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., P.setosa Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., P.tanycauda Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., and P.angusticeps Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov. Additionally, P.tacita Stelfox, 1941 is recorded for the first time from South Korea. The barcode region of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) was also analyzed for the seven congeneric species including one from GenBank. In addition, an identification key for the Phaenocarpa species recorded in Korea is provided.

Embolemus reticulatus new to Hungary (Hymenoptera: Embolemidae)

Embolemus reticulatus van Achterberg, 2000 (Hymenoptera: Embolemidae) is reported for the first time from Hungary. The species was described from the Netherlands; hence, the current report represents its second country-level record. With three figures.

Phylogenetic affinities of the non-cyclostome subfamilies Amicrocentrinae and Dirrhopinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) confirmed by ultraconserved element data

The subfamilies Amicrocentrinae and Dirrhopinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) are two small, monogeneric braconid subfamilies whose species exclusively attack lepidopteran larvae. The phylogenetic placement of Amicrocentrinae as a member of the helconoid complex of subfamilies has been supported by morphological and nuclear Sanger sequence data. The subfamilial status of Dirrhopinae on the other hand has been subject to debate, although it has been suggested as closely related to the microgastroid complex based on morphology only. Here we generated for the first time genomic ultraconserved element data for members of the above subfamilies (Amicrocentrum seyrigi van Achterberg and Dirrhope americana Muesebeck) to assess their phylogenetic affinities using exhaustive taxon sampling that includes all but one of the currently valid braconid subfamilies. Our results strongly confirm the placement of both taxa within the non-cyclostome helconoid and microgastroid complexes, respectively.

A new genus and two new species of Braconinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Oriental region.

A new genus of Braconinae, Pseudorhadinobracon Ranjith & van Achterberg, is described based on the species (P. luteus (Szpligeti) gen. et. comb. nov.) earlier classified under the genus Rhadinobracon Szpligeti. Additionally, the genus Rhadinobracon is newly reported from the Oriental region with the description of two new species from India, R. levigatus Ranjith and R. nitidus Ranjith. A taxonomic key to separate Pseudorhadinobracon from Rhadinobracon is provided. The generic diagnosis of Rhadinobracon is revised along with a taxonomic key to the extant species.

Taxonomic study of the tribe Campsomerini (Hymenoptera, Scoliidae) from northern Vietnam, with the description of a new species and a checklist of Vietnamese scoliid wasps

The tribe Campsomerini (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae) from northern Vietnam was studied, resulting in the finding of three species and six subspecies belonging to five genera. Three genera (Megacampsomeris Betrem, 1928 (with M. shillongensis (Betrem, 1928)), Micromerialla Betrem, 1964 (with M. marginella marginella (KIug, 1810)) and Phalerimeris Betrem, 1967 (with P. phalerata phalerata (de Saussure, 1858))) and three species (Sericocampsomeris flavomaculata Gupta & Jonathan, 1989, Campsomeriella (Annulimeris) annulata (Fabricius, 1793) and C. (Campsomeriella) collaris (Fabricius, 1775)) are recorded for the first time from Vietnam. One new species, Sericocampsomeris vietnamica Pham & van Achterberg, sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Identification keys to the genera, species and subspecies of the tribe Campsomerini from northern Vietnam and to the species of Sericocampsomeris Betrem, 1941 are presented. Lastly, we provide a checklist with 13 species and subspecies of Scoliidae from Vietnam.

The identity of Chivinia Shestakov (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Braconinae), with description of a similar species from the Oriental region.

A peculiar new species from Vietnam (Bracon (Pseudochivinia) tobiasi Long & van Achterberg, sp. nov.) is described and illustrated. It is included in a new subgenus Pseudochivinia Long & van Achterberg, subgen. nov., because it does not fit into the superficially similar subgenus Chivinia Shestakov. The new subgenus shares with Chivinia Shestakov the absence of vein r-m of the fore wing (resulting in the absence of a closed second submarginal cell) but can be distinguished from Chivinia and other subgenera of the genus Bracon Fabricius by the deep and crenulate medio-longitudinal depression of the first metasomal tergite and the different venation. Bracon (Chivinia) zimini Shestakov, 1932 is redescribed and illustrated for the first time.

First report of two braconid genera Syntretus Foerster and Xynobius Foerster from India with description of one new species.

Two genera, namely Syntretus Foerster (Braconidae: Euphorinae) and Xynobius Foerster (Braconidae: Opiinae), are reported for the first time from India. One new species, Syntretus curvatus Gupta, van Achterberg & Pattar, sp. nov. is described and illustrated from southern India. Xynobius chrysops Wu, van Achterberg, Sheng & Chen, 2018, described from Vietnam, is reported newly from India.

New braconids (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar

One new genus of Braconidae (subfamily incertae sedis), and one new species of the genus Tibialobracon van Achterberg & Chen, 2021 (Braconidae, Protobraconinae) are described from mid-Cretaceous amber of northern Myanmar: Vertibracon gen. nov. (with type species Vertibracon brevistigma sp. nov.), and Tibialobracon laevis sp. nov. An update of the key to genera of Braconidae found in Cretaceous ambers is presented to include Vertibracon gen. nov.

The discovery of the subgenus Contochorus van Achterberg, 1976 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae, Blacini, Blacus) in China.

The subgenus Contochorus van Achterberg, 1976 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Blacus) is newly recorded from China. Two new species are proposed, B. (C). capillosus sp. nov., B. (C). planus sp. nov., and two species are newly recorded in China, B. (C). mellitarsis van Achterberg, 1988 and B. (C). turbidus Papp, 1985. An updated key to the currently known species of the subgenus Contochorus in the world is provided.

Two new Palaearctic species of Xynobius Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae).

Two new and very similar species of the genus Xynobius Foerster, 1863 are described and illustrated, X.subparallelus Han & van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Japan (Honshu) and X.setosiscutum van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Norway. Three species are newly reported from Norway: Xynobiusaciculatus (Thomson, 1895), X.comatus (Wesmael, 1835), and X.polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835). X.polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835) and X.sapporanus (Fischer, 1963) are new combinations. Identification keys to the Xynobius species known from Norway and Japan are added.

Impact of two neonicotinoid insecticides on the parasitoids of Apolygus lucorum: Peristenus spretus and Peristenus relictus

With the widespread planting of transgenic Bt insect-resistant cotton, non-target mirid bug Apolygus lucorum (Meyer-Dür) has been transformed from a secondary problem to a major pest. The parasitoids Peristenus spretus (Chen et van Achterberg) and Peristenus relictus (Ruthe) can provide effective control of A. lucorum and potential for broad application. In this study, we determined the effects of imidacloprid and acetamiprid on adults of these parasitoids using the dry film residual contact method. The effects of different concentrations of both insecticides on the survival and reproduction of the adult parasitoids and lethal concentrations (LC50) were also determined. We found that the two neonicotinoid insecticides had negative effects on the parasitoid adults, and P. spretus was more sensitive to the insecticides. Higher concentrations of these insecticides had greater negative effects on the survival and reproduction of the adult parasitoids. The insecticides reduced the level of detoxification enzyme activity in P. spretus (except MFO, for which there was no significant change), but induced higher levels of detoxification enzyme activity in P. relictus. These findings suggest that chemical control using imidacloprid and acetamiprid is not compatible with biological control from these parasitoids, especially P. spretus. This study provides a theoretical basis for improvement of integrated management of A. lucorum.