Taxonomic study of the genus Dichrogaster Doumerc (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae) in Japan

Japanese species of the genus Dichrogaster are revised. Four species are recognized. Two species, D. imperialis n. sp. and D. parva n. sp., are described. Dichrogaster liostylus (Thomson) and D. kichijoi (Uchida) are redescribed. A key to the Japanese species is provided.     

A new species of Cisaris (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae) with a key to the world species

A new species, Cisaris canaliculatus Sun & Sheng, sp. n., belonging to the tribe Phygadeuontini of the subfamily Cryptinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), collected from Jiangxi Province, China, is reported. A key to the species of the genus Cisaris Townes, 1970, is provided.     

The suprageneric groups ofthe Pimplinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae): a cladistic re-evaluationand evolutionary biological study

The phylogenetic relationships of the suprageneric groupsof the ichneumonid subfamily Pimplinae (Hymenoptera) are re‐assessedusing 166 morphological and biological characters for 162 species,representing all of the available described genera and subgenera.The cladistic analysis was repeated using abstracted genera, re‐codedfrom the ­initial set of species, as terminal taxa. Thetopology of the resulting cladograms was similar. In the first (primary) analysisseveral genera (including Neotheronia, Itoplectis, Dolichomitus, Dreisbachia, Polysphincta, Oxyrrhexis and Zonopimpla)were not retrieved as monophyletic groups; however, all except thelast were found to be monophyletic in the second analysis. Theseresults suggest that using abstracted taxa may force a ‘falsemonophyly’ on the preselected groups. Thus we reject theuse of such abstractions, preferring instead to use exemplar speciesthat together show much of the variation that occurs within a hypothesizedgenus. Within the Pimplinae three major groupings were recognized,the Delomeristini (including the Perithoini syn. nov.) , thePimplini and the Ephialtini. Within the Pimplini, two generic groupswere recovered, the Xanthopimpla and Pimpla genus‐groups,but a third postulated group, the Theronia genus‐group, wasfound to be paraphyletic. Within the Ephialtini five groups wererecognized, the Pseudopimpla, Alophosternum, Camptotypus, Ephialtes and Sericopimpla genus‐groups.The spider parasitizing complex of genera (the Polysphincta genus‐complex)was found to nest within the Sericopimpla genus‐group confirmingthe placement of Polysphinctini as a synonym of Ephialtini. Problemswith the status of some existing genera are highlighted, but formalnomenclatural changes are not proposed. The ancestral Pimplinaeare hypothesized to have been solitary ectoparasitic idiobiontson weakly concealed immature Hymenoptera. The major radiations withinthe Pimplinae are shown as: (1) a progressive exploitation of cocooned,then weakly cocooned, lepidopterous pupae in the Pimplini leadingto idiobiont endoparasitism; (2) increasing specialization to attackhosts deeply concealed in wood in the Ephialtes genus‐group,and (3) specialization on a variety of cocooned hosts, includingspider egg sacs, leading to koinobiont ectoparasitism of spiders.A brief synopsis of the distribution of the group is given, and somebiogeographical inferences drawn. The group is presumed to haveoriginated and radiated on Laurasia; no evidence for trans‐Antarcticrelationships can be found. © 2002 The LinneanSociety of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society,2002, 136 , 421?485     

Revision of the family Sphecidae (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) in South Korea

Korean species of the family Sphecidae are reviewed, and seventeen species in nine genera belonging to three subfamilies are confirmed. Among them, Ammophila campestris and Sceliphron caementarium are new to South Korea. Korean occurrence of Sceliphron madraspatanum is confirmed with an actual Korean specimen. This paper provides the first determination keys to higher taxa and species occurring in South Korea. Taxonomic information of each species including original publication of valid name and justifiable references for Korean occurrence is provided. Digital images and line drawings for selective characteristics are also available.     

Introduction,establishment, and impact of Lathrolestes thomsoni (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) for biological control of the ambermarked birch leafminer,Profenusa thomsoni (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), in Alaska

The ambermarked birch leafminer, Profenusa thomsoni Konow (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), was first discovered in Alaska in 1991 but was not correctly identified until 1996 when it invaded Anchorage and became a widespread and damaging pest to forest and urban birches. In 2003, the parasitoid wasp, Lathrolestes thomsoni Reshchikov (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), was selected as a candidate for a classical biological control program against P. thomsoni. Parasitized leafminer larvae were collected from the Northwest Territories and Alberta, Canada, where it was previously introduced and causing injury to Betula spp., and transferred to Alaska in soil as pre-pupae for emergence. From 2004 to 2008, 3636 adult L. thomsoni adults were released in birch stands in Alaska. Parasitoids were later recovered at all six release sites in Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. While percent leaves mined declined by 30–40% at parasitoid release sites over the period of this study, a similar decline was also observed at paired, non-release long-term monitoring sites. Therefore, the decline in the pest density cannot be ascribed entirely to L. thomsoni.     

Mexican species of the genus Stethantyx Townes (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae, Tersilochinae)

Six species of the genus Stethantyx Townes are found to occur in Mexico. One species, S. mexicana sp. n., is described as new, and four recently described Neotropical species, S. alajuela Khalaim & Broad, S. heredia Khalaim & Broad, S. osa Khalaim & Broad and S. sanjosea Khalaim & Broad, are new records from Mexico. A key to species of Stethantyx occurring in Mexico is provided.     

A Retrospective Analysis of the Establishment and Dispersal of the Introduced Australian Parasitoids Xanthopimpla rhopaloceros (Krieger) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Trigonospila brevifacies (Hardy) (Diptera: Tachinidae) within New Zealand

Two Australian parasitoids, Xanthopimpla rhopaloceros (Krieger) and Trigonospila brevifacies (Hardy), were introduced to New Zealand to control the light-brown apple moth (Epiphyas postvittana Walker). Dispersal by the parasitoids has since occurred naturally and with the aid of releases in fruit-growing areas. The present geographical range of the parasitoids includes all the North Island and some offshore islands to latitude 41 20 S. X. rhopaloceros is also present to latitude 41 48 S in the South Island. Comparisons of these distributions with those in Australia indicate that climatic conditions may have played a major role in the areas of establishment of both species in New Zealand. The mean winter temperature may be a limiting factor in the dispersal of T. brevifacies and X. rhopaloceros in New Zealand. Other factors that have probably aided the successful dispersal of the parasitoids include the wide distribution of host Tortricidae and the occurrence of tortricid host plants. The areas of New Zealand that appear suitable for further colonization by T. brevifacies include northern areas of the South Island, and both parasitoids could disperse further into suitable climate areas of the east and west coasts of the central South Island. The rate of dispersal for X. rhopaloceros was estimated at 13-24 km/year, and for T. brevifacies at 8-15 km/year.     

Immature development of Eretmocerus mundus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae)

The development from egg to pupation is followed for the wasp Eretmocerus mundus, parasitizing the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. We elucidate and describe structural details, histological developments and changes that the different parasitoid and host tissues have undergone during parasitism. These include the presence and apparent function of very large salivary glands, which probably produce substances that help to regulate the host's decomposition and parasitoid nutrition. Moreover, the gut of all instars is devoid of both peritrophic membrane and microvilli and, in the early instars, it has squamous rather than columnar epithelial cells. Differing from many other parasitoids, the E. mundus larva usually does not come into contact with the host tissues and does not devour the entire host during its development.The possible reasons for the developmental mechanisms, as well as the functions of the host capsule that envelopes the parasitoid, are discussed.     

Cladistics of the genera of Mesochorinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract. A cladistic analysis is presented for the genera of the ichneumonid subfamily Mesochorinae. Nine genera are recognized as valid. Previous work on larval morphology is reviewed and a number of larvae are newly illustrated and discussed. Four new synonyms are proposed: Oncocotta, Piestetron, Plectochorus and Rhaibaspis are all synonymized with Mesochorus , and Stictopisthus is placed back as a synonym of Mesochorus. Four new genera are described: Artherola from South Africa, Chineater from Chile, Thamester from Japan, and Varnado from Morocco. A new key is provided to the mesochorine genera of the world.     

A new genus and species of Metopiinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) from Mexico

A new genus of Metopiinae, Ojuelos Khalaim, gen. n., with a single species, Ojuelos juachicus Khalaim & Ruíz-Cancino, sp. n., is described from Jalisco Province in central Mexico. Ojuelos belongs to the group of three genera (Cubus Townes & Townes, Colpotrochia Holmgren and Triclistus Förster) having a high lamella separating the antennal sockets and reaching the median ocellus (this lamella possesses a dorsal groove in it, just below the median ocellus), but differs from these genera primarily by 1) face and clypeus not convex in lateral view, 2) face separated from clypeus by a shallow transverse impression, 3) mandible with lower tooth very strongly reduced, 4) flagellomeres of antenna strongly transverse, and 5) dorsal carinae of propodeum reduced. A portion of the key to the genera of Metopiinae is provided to distinguish the new genus.     

The Nearctic species of Orthoplema (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract. The species of the genus Orthopelma Taschenburg in North America are reviewed. Members are endoparasites of the cynipids Diastrophus on Rubus and Diplolepis on Rosa. The Nearctic species ar occidentale, califomicum and erythropa , described by Ashmead, ovale Provancher, and the Holarctic species mediator Thunberg. The names coloradense Ashmead and diastrophi Ashmead are newly placed in synonymy with occidentale Ashmead. Relationships of the species are discussed.     

Status of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in Cuba

Current understanding of Cuban ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) is analysed. A new Subfamily (Tersilochinae) including 13 genera and two species are first reports for Cuba. In contrast with Braconidae, the sister group, the ichneumonids are poorly known because of the lack of local taxonomists and bacause nets, rather than interception, light and yellow pan traps have been used. Using Ophioninae as a reference, and comparing the percentage of ophionines in the fauna of Costa Rican ichneumonids, the ratio of species of Costa Rican to Cuban Ophioninae and the increase in the number of described Cuban ophionines, we suggest that actual Cuban biodiversity in this group may be between 400 and 600 species.     

Five new species of the genus Cryptopimpla Taschenberg (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with a key to species known from China

Eight species of the genus Cryptopimpla Taschenberg, 1863 are reported from China, five of them new to science: Cryptopimpla flavipedalis Sheng, sp. n., collected from Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Cryptopimpla rufipedalis Sheng, sp. n. collected from Jilin Province, both from the Palaearctic part of China. Cryptopimpla. carinifacialis Sheng, sp. n., Cryptopimpla flavifacialis Sheng, sp. n.and Cryptopimpla maculifacialis Sheng, sp. n. were collected from Jiangxi Province in the Oriental part of China. A key to the species of Cryptopimpla known from China is provided.