1. New Records and New Species of Dacnusini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Alysiinae) Based on Morphological and Molecular Evidence.
- Author
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Zhu, Jiachen, van Achterberg, Cornelis, Chen, Xuexin, and Tang, Pu
- Subjects
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GENETIC barcoding , *SPECIES diversity , *HAPLOTYPES , *GENETIC distance , *AGROMYZIDAE , *BRACONIDAE - Abstract
Simple Summary: The tribe Dacnusini is a small braconid parasitoid wasp within the subfamily Alysiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), consisting of 31 valid genera and more than 877 species worldwide. Most members are exclusively endoparasitoids of leaf-mining Diptera (Agromyzidae), and several species have been utilized in commercial biological control programs, underscoring their essential role in natural pest management. However, due to low interspecific variability and significant morphological convergence, distinguishing between genera and species within the genera in Dacnusini presents a challenge. In this study, we report three genera, Victorovita Tobias, Coloneura Foerster, and Laotris Nixon, that were discovered in China for the first time. By integrating DNA barcoding and morphological evidence, three new species were identified through multiple species delimitation methods. Additionally, two new species records from China are reported, and identification keys for species of Laotris Nixon, 1943 are provided. Dacnusini is a species-rich tribe in the subfamily Alysiinae, with most species exclusively serving as parasitoids of leaf-mining Diptera (Agromyzidae). The number of genera discovered in China remains limited, which is apparently insufficient considering the global diversity of species and genera within this tribe, particularly given the vast and ecologically diverse landscapes of China. In the present study, three new record genera, Victorovita Tobias, Coloneura Foerster, and Laotris Nixon, were documented for the first time in China. In addition, the species delimitation approach and haplotype network analyses based on the COI sequences, combined with morphological evidence, were employed to delimit species. The findings indicated three new species: Laotris glabella sp. nov., Laotris aethidentata sp. nov., and Victorovita aequalis sp. nov. Additionally, K2P divergences showed no overlap between intra- and interspecific genetic distances in the Laotris and Victorovita species. Detailed descriptions for new species and keys to the species of Laotris and Victorovita are provided in this paper, along with the documentation of two new species records for China: Victorovita caudata (Szépligeti, 1901) and Coloneura stylata Foerster, 1863. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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