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Leaves of field elm, Ulmus minor, with mines of Orchestes alni, were collected at four sites in Sofia city during 2018, 2019 and 2023, and kept under laboratory conditions to observe and count emerging parasitoid adults. Results revealed that the parasitoid complex included 22 hymenopteran species belonging to five families: Braconidae (two species), Ichneumonidae (one species) (Ichneumonoidea), Eulophidae (14 species), Eupelmidae (three species) and Pteromalidae (two species) (Chalcidoidea). The most abundant species was Pnigalio agraules (27%), followed by Minotetrastichus platanellus (18%) (Eulophidae) and Trichomalus inscitus (Pteromalidae) (14%). Nine host–parasitoid associations are reported as new. Tetrastichus miser is reported from Bulgaria for the first time. These findings are discussed in relation to the known host–parasitoid associations of the genus Orchestes. The identification of the host species, O. alni, was supported by both morphological and molecular methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Two strains of the endoparasitoid Cotesia typhae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) present a differential parasitism success on the host, Sesamia nonagrioides (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). One is virulent on both permissive and resistant host populations, and the other only on the permissive host. This interaction provides a very interesting frame for studying virulence factors. Here, we used a combination of comparative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses to unravel the molecular basis underlying virulence differences between the strains. Results: First, we report that virulence genes are mostly expressed during the pupal stage 24 h before adult emergence of the parasitoid. Especially, 55 proviral genes are up-regulated at this stage, while their expression is only expected in the host. Parasitoid gene expression in the host increases from 24 to 96 h post-parasitism, revealing the expression of 54 proviral genes at early parasitism stage and the active participation of teratocytes to the parasitism success at the late stage. Secondly, comparison between strains reveals differences in venom composition, with 12 proteins showing differential abundance. Proviral expression in the host displays a strong temporal variability, along with differential patterns between strains. Notably, a subset of proviral genes including protein-tyrosine phosphatases is specifically over-expressed in the resistant host parasitized by the less virulent strain, 24 h after parasitism. This result particularly hints at host modulation of proviral expression. Combining proteomic and transcriptomic data at various stages, we identified 8 candidate genes to support the difference in reproductive success of the two strains, one proviral and 7 venom genes, one of them being also produced within the host by the teratocytes. Conclusions: This study sheds light on the temporal expression of virulence factors of Cotesia typhae, both in the host and in the parasitoid. It also identifies potential molecular candidates driving differences in parasitism success between two strains. Together, those findings provide a path for further exploration of virulence mechanisms in parasitoid wasps, and offer insights into host-parasitoid coevolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric analysis provides an insight into the function and diversifi cation mechanisms of body parts in organisms. The allometry and variability in size of various body parts of three hymenopteran species, Anisopteromalus calandrae (Howard), Anisopteromalus quinarius Gokhman & Baur, and Heterospilus prosopidis Viereck, which are solitary ectoparasitoids of storedproduct insect pests, were studied. The relationship between many of the traits measured and body size is negatively allometric, others were isometric, and none were positively allometric. The two species of Anisopteromalus were less variable in size than H. prosopidis and there were intersexual diff erences in both species of Anisopteromalus. Although the patterns in these diff erences are complex and diffi cult to interpret from an ecological perspective, based on information on their behaviour it is hypothesized that stabilizing selection is associated with the negative allometry of two traits: ovipositor length in at least two species and male leg length in both species of Anisopteromalus. This hypothesis is supported by the lower variability in the size of these body parts compared to other body parts examined in this study, which is typical of traits subject to stabilizing selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the biology and ecology of parasitoids can have direct implications for their evaluation as biological control agents, as well as for the development and implementation of mass-rearing techniques. Nonetheless, our current knowledge of the possible influence of lateralized displays (i.e. the asymmetric expression of cognitive functions) on their reproductive behavior is scarce. Herein, we characterized the behavioral elements involved in courtship, and quantified the durations of 2 important aphid parasitoids, Aphidius ervi Haliday and Aphidius matricariae Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae). We quantified the main indicators of copulation and examined the occurrence of lateralized traits at population level. Results indicated that A. matricariae exhibited longer durations of wing fanning, antennal tapping, pre-copula and copula phases compared to A. ervi. Postcopulatory behavior was observed only in A. matricariae. Unlike other parasitoid species, the duration of wing fanning, chasing, and antennal tapping did not affect the success of the mating of male A. ervi and A. matricariae. Both species exhibited a right-biased female kicking behavior at the population level during the pre-copula. Our study provides insights into the fundamental biology of aphidiine parasitoids and reports the presence of population-level lateralized mating displays, which can serve as useful benchmarks to evaluate the quality of mass-rearing systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Maternally-inherited symbionts can induce pre-mating and/or post-mating reproductive isolation between sympatric host lineages, and speciation, by modifying host reproductive phenotypes. The large parasitoid wasp genus Cotesia (Braconidae) includes a diversity of cryptic species, each specialized in parasitizing one to few related Lepidoptera host species. Here, we characterized the infection status of an assemblage of 21 Cotesia species from 15 countries by several microbial symbionts, as a first step toward investigating whether symbionts may provide a barrier to gene flow between these parasitoid host lineages. Results: The symbiotic microbes Arsenophonus, Cardinium, Microsporidium and Spiroplasma were not detected in the Cotesia wasps. However, the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia was present in at least eight Cotesia species, and hence we concentrated on it upon screening additional DNA extracts and SRAs from NCBI. Some of the closely related Cotesia species carry similar Wolbachia strains, but most Wolbachia strains showed patterns of horizontal transfer between phylogenetically distant host lineages. Conclusions: The lack of co-phylogenetic signal between Wolbachia and Cotesia suggests that the symbiont and hosts have not coevolved to an extent that would drive species divergence between the Cotesia host lineages. However, as the most common facultative symbiont of Cotesia species, Wolbachia may still function as a key-player in the biology of the parasitoid wasps. Its precise role in the evolution of this complex clade of cryptic species remains to be experimentally investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The alpha, beta, and gamma diversity of Braconidae was analyzed in three avocado orchards (Piedra Rajada, the Guardián, and Montitlán) in Colima, Mexico, from monthly samplings from September 2016 to June 2017. In total, 171 braconids were collected. These included 21 genera (nine are new records for Colima) and 28 morphospecies that corresponded to 73% of the expected richness in the study area. The orchard in Piedra Rajada had the highest number of species and diversity. The update of the Braconidae genera for the state of Colima, Mexico is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular tools used for the identification of species are heavily reliant on reference DNA sequences and taxonomic annotation. Despite this, there are large gaps in the availability of DNA sequences for many taxonomic groups and for different parts of the globe. Here, a DNA barcode library for the Hymenoptera of New Zealand is presented, based on the COI region for 3,145 sequences assigned to 837 BINs and which represent 231 genera and 236 species. This study provides a DNA barcode for approximately 25% of species and 42% of genera of Hymenoptera in New Zealand. However, when combined with sequences previously deposited in BOLD (a further 170 genera), DNA barcodes are available for 73% of New Zealand Hymenopteran genera. To further increase coverage, future efforts need to focus predominantly on taxa from seven families (Encyrtidae, Pteromalidae s.l., Mymaridae, Eulophidae, Diapriidae, Braconidae and Platygastridae). This database facilitates DNA-based identification of taxa for use in both taxonomic revisions and biodiversity monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Compatibility studies of insecticides and natural enemies usually focus on short‐term lethal effects, without considering the long‐term sublethal effects (including progeny). Even less‐explored are the effects of commercial insecticides formulated with more than one active product. Short‐ and long‐term lethal and sublethal effects were studied for the first time on the progeny of commercial formulations of spirotetramat, imidacloprid and a commercial mixture of these active ingredients on pupae of Diaeretiella rapae (M'ntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an endoparasitoid of aphids considered to be a potential biological control agent. Insecticides were exposed topically on aphid mummies in which the parasitoid was in the pupal stage. RESULTS: Imidacloprid reduced adult emergence by more than 30% and prolonged intra‐host development time with respect to control from half the maximum recommended field dose (MFRD). Spirotetramat and commercial mixture only showed significant effects on these endpoints at doses above the MFRD. The tested formulations did not affect adult longevity, sex ratio, and percentage of parasitism in the exposed generation. At low concentrations the active ingredients in the commercial mixture behave synergistically, whereas at medium and high concentrations they behave antagonistically. Considering the 10% lethal dose (LD10), imidacloprid showed the highest hazard coefficient, whereas the commercial mixture was more hazardous when considering the LD50 and LD90. The commercial mixture and imidacloprid induced higher adult emergence and altered the sex ratio in the progeny. CONCLUSIONS: The following order of toxicity on D. rapae can be established: imidacloprid > commercial mixture > spirotetramat. Joint use of this species with imidacloprid and commercial mixture should be avoided in integrated pest management programs. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the immature stages, host plant, and interactions with parasitoid wasps of the butterfly Phoebis argante, a very widely distributed species, commonly found in the dry forest ecotone of the western Andes in Azuay province, Ecuador. The development time from oviposition to adult averaged 48 days. The host plant is identified as Inga edulis Mart. (Fabaceae), a leguminous tree widely distributed in the Neotropics which has various cultural uses. Given its cultural significance, adaptive capacity, role in soil erosion prevention, and ecological importance as a habitat for pollinating insects, I. edulis could be a promising candidate for revegetation projects in gardens and green areas in Ecuador. Sexual dimorphism in pupal color patterns was observed: female pupae displayed a heterogeneous color pattern with black spots, while male pupae were uniformly yellowish-green. This sexual dimorphism in pupal coloration may be an adaptive mechanism for camouflage during this vulnerable developmental stage or could be related to adult wing phenotype. Additionally, koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps, from the subfamily Microgastrinae (Braconidae), were obtained from first and second instar larvae.

Aphidius platensis Brèthes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a parasitoid of cereal aphids. Its foraging, recognition, and host acceptance processes may be related to chemical cues inherited from the host during development. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the maternal host, that is, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Rp), Schizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Sg) (from the Aphidini tribe), Metopolophium dirhodum Walker (Md), and Sitobion avenae (Fabricius) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) (from the Macrosiphini tribe) (all Hemiptera: Aphididae) on parasitism and chemotactic responses of A. platensis. Parasitism by A. platensis was investigated in non‐choice bioassays along four generations, as well as in choice bioassays. Females originating from a S. graminum laboratory colony (SgLab) were reared for four generations on all four aphid species. Chemotaxis experiments were conducted in a four‐armed olfactometer with two A. platensis strains: one originated from SgLab and another after three generations on Rp (RpF4), both exposed to the four aphid species simultaneously. The highest SgLab A. platensis parasitism rates, in both choice and non‐choice tests, were observed on S. graminum, followed by R. padi and S. avenae. No parasitized hosts were found in M. dirhodum. Furthermore, SgLab A. platensis exhibited a stronger attraction to the odors emitted by S. graminum. However, after the third generation on R. padi (RpF4), A. platensis behavior altered, displaying a preference for R. padi over S. graminum, both in terms of parasitism and chemotactic responses. In conclusion, A. platensis showed a preference for hosts within the Aphidini tribe, indicating innate affinities. Nevertheless, its preference can be modified within this tribe based on the chemical cues inherited from the host during development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Death feigning, a state of immobility observed in many animals in response to external stimuli, is an anti-predator behaviour. Although previous studies showed that death-feigning behaviours are quantitative genetic traits, the knowledge of the heritable basis of death-feigning behaviour is lacking. To investigate the heritable basis of death-feigning behaviour, we used 3 laboratory strains of a braconid parasitoid wasp, Heterospilus prosopidis. The heritable basis using half-sib analysis, and the effects of different geographical backgrounds, rearing conditions in the laboratory, and host age were evaluated. The results of the half-sib analysis showed that the frequency of death feigning varied among sires, suggesting a certain extent of additive genetic variance. Also, the frequency of death feigning varied between geographical backgrounds and among strains. Death-feigning frequency was not affected by the age of the host. Our findings highlight the importance of genetic factors underlying the basis of the death-feigning behaviour and provide support for the genetic alterations of traits from the perspective of evolution in various animal species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is an updated overview of the New World (Western Hemisphere) members of the subfamily Agathidinae, including Greenland and the Caribbean Islands. It is a revision of the keys by Sharkey (1997) and Sharkey et al. (2021). It includes a key to the New World genera and a synopsis of each genus. The synopses include the following sections: diagnosis, biology, diversity, distribution, publications, and notes. There are 27 genera in the New World and about twice that number worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex pheromones are considered to play critical roles in partner communication of most parasitic Hymenoptera. However, the identification of sex pheromone components remains limited to a few families of parasitoid wasps. In this study, we functionally characterized a candidate sex pheromone component in Microplitis mediator (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a solitary parasitoid of Noctuidae insects. We found that the body surface extract from female wasps could significantly stimulate courtship behavior of males. Gas chromatography‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) analysis revealed that a candidate semiochemical from extract triggered significant electrophysiological response of antennae of males. By performing gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer (GC‐MS) measurement, GC‐EAD active compound was identified as n‐octyl acrylate, a candidate sex pheromone component in female M. mediator. In electroantennogram (EAG) tests, antennae of male wasps showed significantly higher electrophysiological responses to n‐octyl acrylate than those of females. Y‐tube olfactometer assays indicated that male wasps significantly chose n‐octyl acrylate compared with the control. Furthermore, male wasps showed a remarkable preference for n‐octyl acrylate in a simulated field condition behavioral trial; simultaneously, n‐octyl acrylate standard could also trigger significant courtship behavior in males. We propose that n‐octyl acrylate, as a candidate vital sex pheromone component, could be utilized to design behavioral regulators of M. mediator to implement the protection and utilization of natural enemies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past two decades, the phylogenetic relationships and higher-level classification of the subfamily Rogadinae have received relevant contributions based on Sanger, mitogenome and genome-wide nuclear DNA sequence data. These studies have helped to update the circumscription and tribal classification of this subfamily, with six tribes currently recognised (Aleiodini, Betylobraconini, Clinocentrini, Rogadini, Stiropiini and Yeliconini). The tribal relationships within Rogadinae, however, are yet to be fully resolved, including the status of tribe Facitorini, previously regarded as betylobraconine, with respect to the members of Yeliconini. We conducted a phylogenomic analysis among the tribes of Rogadinae based on genomic ultraconserved element (UCE) data and extensive taxon sampling including three undescribed genera of uncertain tribal placement. Our almost fully supported estimate of phylogeny confirmed the basal position of Rogadini within the subfamily and a Facitorini clade (Yeliconini + Aleiodini) that led us to propose the former group as a valid rogadine tribe (Facitorini stat. res.). Stiropiini, however, was recovered for the first time as sister to the remaining rogadine tribes except Rogadini, and Clinocentrini as sister to a clade with Betylobraconini + the three undescribed genera. The relationships recovered and morphological examination of the material included led us to place the latter three new genera and recently described genus Gondwanocentrus within a new rogadine tribe, Gondwanocentrini Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón trib. nov. We described these genera (Ghibli Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón gen. nov., Racionais Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón gen. nov. and Soraya Shimbori gen. nov.) with two or three new species each (G. miyazakii Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov., G. totoro Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov., R. brunus Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov., R. kaelejay Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov., R. superstes Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov., S. alencarae Shimbori sp. nov. and S. venus Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón sp. nov.). A new species of Facitorini, Jannya pasargadae Gadelha & Shimbori sp. nov., is also described. Our newly proposed classification expands the number of tribes and genera within Rogadinae to 8 and 66 respectively. ZooBank: Tribal relationships within the braconid subfamily Rogadinae are reconstructed based on nuclear UCE data and extensive taxon sampling. Our fully supported estimate of phylogeny and the morphological evidence led us to erect a new rogadine tribe, Gondwanocentrini Shimbori & Zaldívar-Riverón trib. nov. Facitorini was also confirmed as a separate rogadine tribe. Our updated classification expands the number of tribes and genera within Rogadinae to 8 and 66 respectively. (Image credit: Eduardo M. Shimbori.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The cactus moth is from South America and feeds on prickly pear cacti (Opuntia sp.). However, it is now present in North America and threatening the native Opuntia plants there. We are investigating a potential biological control agent, the wasp Apanteles opuntiarum, as a sustainable method to control the cactus moth population. This wasp is a larval parasitoid. We studied several aspects of A. opuntiarum reproduction and laboratory rearing. We documented the morphology of the wasp eggs and larvae. We found that A. opuntiarum prefers to lay its eggs on previously parasitized larvae compared to unparasitized larvae. We also found that exposing cactus moth larvae without the cactus and in groups of 20 larvae resulted in the highest parasitism and produced the most wasp offspring, suggesting that these factors reduced defensive behaviors of the cactus moth larvae. Understanding the wasp's preference for previously parasitized larvae and how the cactus moth larvae interact with their environment will allow us to manipulate these factors to improve wasp production in laboratory colonies. Efficient laboratory production will be critical for successful release of this wasp as a biological control for the invasive cactus moth. The cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is native to South America and has been used as a biocontrol agent of Opuntia (Cactaceae) in Australia and South Africa. Its invasion in North America has raised concerns for the native Opuntia in the USA and Mexico. We investigated the reproductive biology and rearing procedures of a host-specific potential biocontrol agent, Apanteles opuntiarum Martínez and Berta (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Given the gregarious nature of the parasitoid larvae, we studied the morphology of the immature stages and evaluated evidence of polyembryony and superparasitism. We also investigated the effects of host exposure arena and host density on parasitism rates and wasp production. The morphological descriptions provide a basis for comparison with other species. Early larval instars of A. opuntiarum are similar to other microgastrine immature stages. However, the mature larva exhibits placoid sensilla in the epistomal region, a unique character not previously reported. We provide evidence that A. opuntiarum eggs are not polyembryonic; females frequently superparasitize and have an oviposition preference for larvae parasitized 1–2 d previously. Exposing larvae of C. cactorum to wasps while inside the cactus resulted in lower parasitism and fewer offspring from each host than exposing larvae in the arena without the cactus. Parasitism and mortality rates were higher at lower host densities, possibly due to reduced host group defensive behavior. These results suggest that preference for superparasitism, host defensive behavior, and interactions with the cactus may play an important role in per-host wasp production under laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanopterus ninghais is an important gregarious ectoparasitoid during the larval stage of Monochamus alternatus, a key vector for pine wilt disease in Asia. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais was sequenced and analyzed. The mitochondrial genome of C. ninghais is 15,386 bp in length, comprising 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs). The nucleotide composition is 41.32% A, 8.29% G, 6.06% C, and 44.33% T. Phylogenetic trees of Braconidae were constructed using 13 PCG sequences via Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses to determine their phylogenetic position. Both ML and BI analyses revealed that C. ninghais is closely related to Euurobracon yokahamae, Virgulibracon endoxylaphagus, and Habrobracon hebetor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitoids of different species frequently develop in the same host, a phenomenon referred to as "multiparasitism". Although the outcomes of multiparasitism have been well-documented in the literature, the underlying mechanisms, particularly the substances injected by a female parasitoid along with her egg(s) into a host during parasitism, remain relatively unexplored. Previous work on parasitoids associated with the cabbage white butterfly, Pieris brassicae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) has shown that the larva of the solitary parasitoid Hyposoter ebeninus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) has a higher survival but a longer development time when competing with the gregarious parasitoid Cotesia glomerata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). In this study, we hypothesize that the maternal factors injected by C. glomerata are responsible for the effect on the performance of H. ebeninus larvae. This hypothesis was tested using P. brassicae caterpillars first parasitized with H. ebeninus and then injected with C. glomerata maternal factors, or parasitized by both parasitoids. Our results suggest that C. glomerata maternal factors are at least partially responsible for the reduction in H. ebeninus developmental mortality (likely through effects on the immune response of the host caterpillar), but does not seem to affect its development time. We discuss these results and the current knowledge of maternal-factor-mediated parasitoid interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key question in insect community ecology is whether parasitoid assemblages are structured by the food plants of their herbivore hosts. Tritrophic communities centred on oak‐feeding cynipid gallwasps are one of the best‐studied tritrophic insect communities. Previous work suggests that host plant identity is a much stronger predictor of oak–cynipid interactions than of cynipid–parasitoid interactions. However, these relationships have not been formally quantified. We reason that the potential for ‘bottom‐up’ effects should increase with host plant phylogenetic diversity. We, therefore, generated quantified interaction network data for previously unstudied tritrophic cynipid communities in Sichuan, China, where, in addition to Quercus, cynipid host plants include Castanea, Castanopsis and Lithocarpus. We characterise these communities taxonomically and compare the extent to which host plant taxonomy predicts plant–herbivore and plant–parasitoid associations. We sampled 42,620 cynipid galls of 176 morphotypes from 23 host plant species, yielding over 4500 specimens of 64 parasitoid morphospecies. Many parasitoids were identifiable to chalcidoid taxa present in other Holarctic oak cynipid communities, with the addition of Cynipencyrtus (Cynipencyrtidae). As elsewhere, Sichuan parasitoid assemblages were dominated by generalists. Gallwasp–plant interaction networks were significantly more modular than parasitoid–plant association networks. Gallwasps were significantly more specialised to host plants (i.e. had higher mean d' values) than parasitoids. Parasitoid assemblages nevertheless showed significant plant‐associated beta diversity, with a dominant turnover component. We summarise parallels between our study and other Fagaceae‐associated cynipid communities and discuss our findings in light of the processes thought to structure tritrophic interactions centred on endophytic insect herbivores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A male Diachasma muliebre (Musebeck, 1956) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an historically reported monophagous, thelytokous parasitoid, was reared from Rhagoletis indifferens Curran, 1932 (Diptera: Tephritidae) puparia. The fly larvae were reared from Prunus emarginata (Douglas ex Hooker) Eaton (Rosaceae) fruit collected in Placer County, California in 2022. An examination of D. muliebre specimens in California collections found four additional males in the California State Collection of Arthropods, the Bohart Museum of Entomology, and the Essig Museum of Entomology. The males were collected over a 60-year period from 1962 to 2022 in Nevada, Placer and Siskiyou Counties some 272 air km apart in northern California. Possible mechanisms explaining the predominately asexual reproduction in D. muliebre and the periodic presence of males are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascogaster mimetica Viereck is an egg-larval parasitoid that targets Sparganothis sulfureana Clemens, a major cranberry pest in North America. While previous studies have shown that other Ascogaster species respond to cues from their hosts' eggs, it remains unknown whether A. mimetica utilizes these cues to recognize S. sulfureana. We hypothesized that female A. mimetica recognizes S. sulfureana from another cranberry pest, Choristoneura parallela Robinson, based on the presence of surface cues on eggs. To test this, we observed female A. mimetica behavior when exposed to eggs from its host, S. sulfureana ; a nonhost, C. parallela ; and eggs of S. sulfureana that were washed clean with hexane. Additionally, we tracked parasitism rates in each group. Our results revealed that A. mimetica spent 9.5 times longer walking when exposed to C. parallela eggs and 6 times longer when exposed to hexane-washed S. sulfureana eggs compared to unwashed S. sulfureana eggs. Also, A. mimetica spent 3 times longer grooming when exposed to hexane-washed than unwashed S. sulfureana eggs. In contrast, females spent 6 and 18 times longer drumming and probing/ovipositing on unwashed S. sulfureana eggs than on C. parallela eggs and 5 times longer probing/ovipositing on unwashed S. sulfureana eggs than on hexane-washed S. sulfureana eggs. Higher parasitism rates were observed from unwashed S. sulfureana eggs compared to those from C. parallela eggs and hexane-washed S. sulfureana eggs. Our findings suggest that the presence of egg surface cues, like scales, of S. sulfureana likely plays a crucial role in host acceptance and parasitism success for A. mimeti ca. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shelf life is an important determinant of the quality of parasitoids used as natural enemies in augmentation biological control. Cotesia chilonis (Munakata) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), an obligate endoparasitoid of Chilo suppressalis (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), has potential for use through augmentation biological control in China. Here, the effects of cold storage temperature, host status, and larval stage on the biological characteristics of C. chilonis were investigated to extend the agent's shelf life. Results showed that the number of healthy C. chilonis adults obtained was reduced by 3.5% and 47.7% when C. suppressalis larvae in either natural or induced diapause were used as hosts compared to nondiapausing control larvae. Both parasitism and cold storage significantly reduced the supercooling point of nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae, whereas the opposite result was observed in those of natural diapause. In order to improve the long‐term storage of C. chilonis, nondiapausing C. suppressalis larvae were parasitized for 1, 3, 5, and 7 days to allow C. chilonis to develop into different larval stages before being transferred into cold storage for 30 days at 4 or 10°C. Compared to the control, the C. chilonis cocoon formation and emergence rates of the 1‐day‐old egg treatment group held at 10°C were reduced by 15% and 17%, respectively. The results also showed that the duration of the larval stage of C. chilonis was prolonged fourfold after storage at 4 and 10°C. Individuals held at 10°C had a significantly longer cocoon and adult stage compared to those held at 4°C. The biological parameters and life history of the F1 generation of C. chilonis returned to normal levels under laboratory conditions. In conclusion, C. suppressalis larvae were successfully used to extend the shelf life of C. chilonis for use in augmentative biocontrol programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chilled adult technique is a suitable strategy for the mass - release of insects for the area - wide management of insect pests. Chilling may have undesirable effects on the released insects. The relationship between physical traits and the effects of cold-induced lethargy on the fitness of Diachasmimorpha longicaudata has not been fully explored. In the present study, we evaluated the relationship between weight, size, and water and lipid content in D. longicaudata subjected to cold-induced lethargy at 9, 6, and 3°C, and the effects of cold induction on the survival, flight ability, and fecundity of parasitoid adults. During gradual chilling from 15°C to 3°C over a 45 min period, we observed that most wasps became lethargic at 9°C. The tibias of wasps that became lethargic at 3°C were larger than those of parasitoids that became lethargic at 9 and 6°C. Body water and lipid contents were higher in lethargic females chilled at 3°C, but no differences were observed in males. Lethargic males experienced reduced flight ability compared with the control, whereas fecundity was reduced only in lethargic females that had been exposed to 3°C. The survival rate was lower in both sexes. Our results suggest that greater body size and higher water and lipid contents delay the onset of cold-induced lethargy, but do not prevent negative effects on survival, fecundity, and flight ability in D. longicaudata. This study will help the advancement of parasitoid-release field programmes that use the chilled adult technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circumscription of the family Ormyridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is revised after phylogenetic analysis based on ultra‐conserved elements (UCEs) and comparative morphological assessment of the chalcid 'Gall Clade'. Six genera are treated in the family, including two new genera, Halleriaphagus van Noort and Burks, gen. nov., and Ouma Mitroiu, gen. nov. One genus, Eubeckerella Narendran, is re‐assigned to the family, and Ormyrulus Bouček is synonymised with Ormyrus Westwood, syn. nov., resulting in the new combination Ormyrus gibbus (Bouček), comb. nov. The six genera are classified in three subfamilies, two of which are newly described, Asparagobiinae van Noort, Burks, Mitroiu and Rasplus, subfam. nov., and Hemadinae van Noort, Burks, Mitroiu and Rasplus, subfam. nov.Halleriaphagus is established for the newly described type species Halleriaphagus phagolucida van Noort and Burks, sp. nov., and Ouma is erected for O. daleskeyae Mitroiu, sp. nov., and O. emazantsi Mitroiu, sp. nov.Asparagobius is revised with description of Asparagobius bouceki van Noort, sp. nov., and Asparagobius copelandi Rasplus and van Noort, sp. nov.Asparagobius and Halleriaphagus are classified in Asparagobiinae, Hemadas in Hemadinae and Eubeckerella, Ormyrus and Ouma in Ormyrinae. The molecular support defining the ormyrid clade is corroborated by the proposed morphological synapomorphy of a foliaceous prepectus overlying the tegula base. Identification keys to the genera of Ormyridae and to the species of Asparagobius and Ouma are provided. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at: http://www.waspweb.org. Zoobank Registration: LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:8811695B-EE57-4C18-A6B6-E63D267E2373. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The subfamily Aphidiinae, comprising over 500 known species globally, consists of obligatory endoparasitoids of aphids. Recognised for their role as biological control agents of various aphid pests, this group is considered relatively well-studied, particularly in Europe. However, Norway's documented Aphidiinae diversity is notably low, with only 33 reported species. Our study aimed to assess the true biodiversity of aphid parasitoids in Norway using malaise traps. The results of morphological and molecular analyses identified several specimens distinct from any known species. In this paper, we describe four species new to science across three genera, provide an identification key for species of the subgenus Fovephedrus, and discuss their phylogenetic relationships. With only 33 reported species, Norway ranks among the European countries with the lowest documented diversity of parasitoids from the subfamily Aphidiinae. The "MUST Malaise" project, carried out by Museum Stavanger in Norway, aimed to assess insect abundance and biodiversity and create a reference base for future studies. The preliminary results of our study revealed four species new to science, indicating that the current number of recorded species in Norway is significantly lower than the actual diversity. All species possess unique combinations of morphological characters, distinguishing them from other known Aphidiinae species. Molecular analysis of the barcoding region confirmed that these specimens all belong to the previously undescribed species. In this study, we describe Aphidius norvegicus sp.n., Praon breviantennalis sp.n., Ephedrus gardenforsi sp.n., and Ephedrus borealis sp.n., all collected in Norway. We also provide an identification key and discuss the phylogenetic relationships within the subgenus Fovephedrus Chen, 1986. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted on monitoring of gram pod borer, Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner) along with its associated natural enemies on pigeonpea for two consecutive kharif seasons of 2021-22 and 2022-23 at Norman E. Borlaug Crop Research Centre, G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, Uttrakhand, India. During the period of study, the cumulative observations made on mean number of male moths (0.88 moths/pheromone trap) and larvae of H. armigera (0.33 larvae/plant), occurred in 39th and 41st Standard Meteorological Week (SMW), respectively with a peak population of male moths (5.88/pheromone trap) and larvae (4.60/plant) were recorded in 44th SMW. A cumulative data obtained on monitoring of natural enemies associated with H. armigera depicted that total three major natural enemies i.e., Braconid wasp, Eocanthecona bug and Assassin bug were observed from 40th SMW to 49th SWM which clearly coincided with the higher incidence of H. armigera larvae on pigeonpea. Correlation between population dynamics of gram pod borer and weather parameters revealed that the trap catches of H. armigera exhibited a highly significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.698**), minimum temperature (r = 0.739**), minimum relative humidity (r = 0.765**) and average rainfall (r = 0.790**) whereas the larval population of H. armigera exhibited a non-significant positive correlation with maximum temperature (r = 0.052NS), minimum temperature (r = 0.011NS) but a highly significant positive correlation with average rainfall (r = 0.731**). Among the natural enemies, mean population of predatory bug, Eocanthecona bug showed a significant negative correlation with maximum and minimum temperature (r = -0.476*, r = -0.508*, respectively), whereas, the predatory assassin bug population was significantly negatively correlated with minimum temperature (r= -0.463*). The parasitoid, Braconid wasp cocoons showed a significant negative and a significant positive correlation with minimum temperature (r= - 0.487*) and rainfall (r = 0.458*), respectively. A highly significant positive correlation was observed between the larval population of H. armigera with male moths trapped in pheromone traps and their associated natural enemies on pigeonpea. Thus, it has been concluded from the present studies that the monitoring of insect population and its correlation with prevailing weather parameters are essential steps to get timely prediction of the occurrence of the pod borers and their associated natural enemies on pigeonpea to prepare weather based region specific prediction model against the pod borers which ultimately improve the IPM strategy against these noxious insect pests on pigeonpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the diversity of Hymenoptera in Jai Narain Vyas University new campus in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. Analyse their distribution and abundance in different microhabitats. Survey runed over a ten-month period from September 2022 to June 2023. Total 15 species from6 different families (Apidae, Formicidae, Sphecidae, Braconidae, Vespidae, Ichneumonidae) were recorded. The results showed that the diversity of species had different microhabitats, with the highest diversity found in gardens and trees. The results of this study are important for understanding the bee diversity of JNVU and suggesting conservation and management strategies to preserve the rich biodiversity of the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Niche evolution refers to the process by which species undergo changes in ecological interactions, as well as their ability to disperse over time. Our study focuses on the widely distributed neotropical genus of social wasps, Synoeca (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Epiponini). We use ecological niche modeling to investigate the niche evolution of this insects, to explore how species have evolved within and across distinct environmental boundaries, as well as to explore the overlap, equivalence, and similarity between their niches. Our analysis of Predicted Niche Occupancy reveals that species occupy heterogeneous niches in relation to temperature, precipitation, and altitude, similar to the patterns observed in the analysis of the evolutionary history of climate tolerances, which shows that species have evolved to occupy distinct niche ranges. In addition, our niche comparisons indicate that the species do not share similar niches with each other. All these results suggest that Phylogenetic Niche Conservatism may be playing a significant role as a process contributing to the allopatric pattern observed in this genus. This study represents the first investigation of niche evolution in Vespidae, providing valuable insights for future research into the evolutionary dynamics of insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deuterodiscoelius Dalla Torre and Pachycoelius Giordani Soika are two small genera of Australian vespid wasps. While the first came from the splitting of Discoelius, the latter was created to accommodate species with a few distinct traits, some of which were not observable due to the absence of male specimens of two out of the three species designated to the genus. This already blurry delimitation of the genera was heightened when specimens of an unknown species presented a combination of characters from both genera. Hence, to properly assign this species to a genus, a phylogenetic study based on morphology was carried out before the species description. The analysis recovered both genera as unnatural, resulting in the synonymy of Pachycoelius under Deuterodiscoelius, and the new species, namely, Deuterodiscoelius delator Lopes and Carpenter, new species, was subsequently described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Koinobiont endoparasitoids regulate the physiology of their hosts through altering host immuno-metabolic responses, processes which function in tandem to shape the composition of the microbiota of these hosts. Here, we employed 16S rRNA and ITS amplicon sequencing to investigate whether parasitization by the parasitoid wasps, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmaed) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Psyttalia cosyrae (Wilkinson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), induces gut dysbiosis and differentially alter the gut microbial (bacteria and fungi) communities of an important horticultural pest, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae). We further investigated the composition of bacterial communities of adult D. longicaudata and P. cosyrae to ascertain whether the adult parasitoids and parasitized host larvae share microbial taxa through transmission. We demonstrated that parasitism by D. longicaudata induced significant gut perturbations, resulting in the colonization and increased relative abundance of pathogenic gut bacteria. Some pathogenic bacteria like Stenotrophomonas and Morganella were detected in both the guts of D. longicaudata-parasitized B. dorsalis larvae and adult D. longicaudata wasps, suggesting a horizontal transfer of microbes from the parasitoid to the host. The bacterial community of P. cosyrae adult wasps was dominated by Arsenophonus nasoniae, whereas that of D. longicaudata adults was dominated by Paucibater spp. and Pseudomonas spp. Parasitization by either parasitoid wasp was associated with an overall reduction in fungal diversity and evenness. These findings indicate that unlike P. cosyrae which is avirulent to B. dorsalis, parasitization by D. longicaudata induces shifts in the gut bacteriome of B. dorsalis larvae to a pathobiont-dominated community. This mechanism possibly enhances its virulence against the pest, further supporting its candidacy as an effective biocontrol agent of this frugivorous tephritid fruit fly pest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit fly pests (Diptera: Tephritidae) are a serious problem for fruit production and for local and international trade. Biological control is increasingly included as a pest control tool within integrated pest management (IPM) programmes, seeking to reduce pesticides and improve fruit quality. Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, the Mediterranean fruit fly (medfly), is probably the most damaging fruit fly pest, with a global distribution and more than 200 host species. The solitary larval endoparasitoid Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a biocontrol agent widely used against Tephritidae fruit fly pests. Previous studies showed that female wasps locate host larvae using visual, mechanical, and chemical cues. Here, we investigated the chemical basis of female parasitoid attraction to cues that guide D. longicaudata to the host, and thus unveil volatile organic compounds that might be used in IPM programmes. Female orientation to chemical cues was tested in a Y‐tube olfactometer, where attraction to C. capitata‐infested oranges, oranges with residues of larval activity, oranges infected with a green mould, and overripe oranges was confirmed. Volatiles from all these types of fruit were collected and used in gas chromatography‐electroantennographic detection (GC‐EAD) and GC‐mass spectrometry (MS) analyses. These studies allowed us to identify six candidate compounds that were present in all treated oranges but not in the control fruit (ripe and uninfested oranges): D‐limonene, acetophenone, linalool, nonanal, decanal, and eugenol. Electroantennography (EAG) showed that acetophenone, nonanal, and decanal triggered dose‐dependent responses, suggesting a relevant role in the process of host finding. Although responses to D‐limonene, linalool, and eugenol were independent of the dose, they could be involved in host location in areas with high probability of host presence. The fact that these six compounds are shared by the four behaviourally attractive sources opens new possibilities for the development of novel tools to improve biocontrol programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a generalist larval‐prepupal parasitoid of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). During host‐seeking, females use visual information to locate the habitat of the host (fruit of various species). Previous studies have shown that females associate the colour of the host habitat with the availability of hosts through associative learning. In this study, we aimed to understand how this process is reinforced as the number of positive experiences increases and also how stable this association is, when the positive experiences cease. Additionally, under the hypothesis that associative learning has adaptive value, we evaluated the benefits of learning in two contexts: one in which host larvae are still associated with the learned colour and one where larvae are associated with a different colour. Repeated exposure to the unconditional stimulus for 1, 3, 5, and 7 consecutive training bouts influenced the preference response, as the percentage of females that preferred the stimulus increases with the number of training sessions. This preference seems to be reversible, as we found that the memory duration declines as time since the last training bout increased. The results obtained regarding the benefits of learning showed that females that learned a particular colour associated with the host, spent more time in that colour, made more oviposition attempts, and produced more offspring compared to females that learned a colour that is no longer associated with the host. This suggests that learning should not be fixed, and females would benefit from adjusting their behaviour to host availability. Such colour would allow females to find their host more efficiently, by associating cues that lead to host finding but also modifying their response when the cues are no longer associated with a reward, which seems a reasonable strategy for parasitoids of polyphagous hosts infesting ephemeral and changing habitats, such as fruit of different species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Female herbivorous insects are expected to oviposit on the host plant providing the best performance of the offspring. However, in some insects the larvae are mobile and are not totally dependent on the mother's choice. They can change host plant when conditions for development or exposure to natural enemies vary between individual plants within a patch. Here we study larval migration and preference between two host plants, cotton and alfalfa, in the Egyptian leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Previous studies have shown that although larval performance is better on cotton, females prefer to oviposit on alfalfa, and this preference corresponds to a higher survival of the eggs. In this study, S. littoralis larvae showed directed movement between host plants and were found to prefer alfalfa over cotton in field test in Egypt, as well as in laboratory selection of feeding site assays. To determine effects by natural enemies, the parasitism rates and various life‐history traits were measured for one larval parasitoid, Microplitis rufiventris Kokujev (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), on several host plants including cotton and clover (equivalent host plant to alfalfa). Overall, parasitism was higher on cotton and parasitoid performance (cocoon mass, adult longevity, and female egg load) was better on cotton compared to clover. This fact suggests an enemy‐free space on clover and alfalfa, as parasitism rate is higher on cotton, and the parasitoid performance is also better on cotton‐fed larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The host immunosuppression by parasitic wasps is an important component of the host regulation strategy. The venom injected at the oviposition is one of the key‐factors involved in this host alteration and, in some parasitoids, its immunosuppressive role is complemented by wasp's symbionts. Most studies in this research area are related to hosts belonging to Lepidoptera and Diptera, for which a strong immune response is observed, whereas little is known for hemimetabolous host species, characterized by apparently much weaker defense barriers. To fill this research gap, here we focus on the host–parasitoid system Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) – Aphidius ervi Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We functionally characterized a serine protease homolog (AeSPH) protein in vivo, identified in the venom of the aphid endoparasitoid A. ervi, generating AeSPH‐depleted female wasps by RNA interference and evaluating their capacity to successfully parasitize the host. Parasitism success rate was negatively affected by AeSPH knockdown and associated with an increased phenoloxidase (PO) cascade activation in aphids, scored by measuring PO enzymatic activity and the expression of phenoloxidase activating factor 2, a proPO‐activating gene upregulated in response to A. ervi parasitism. Our results indicate that AeSPH contributes to parasitism success by inhibiting the melanization response of the host, which is therefore an important component of the defense barriers involved in the parasitoid egg suppression. The ongoing studies on other virulence factors in A. ervi venom will allow to further characterize the immunosuppression strategy and its possible broader role in the host regulation through its action on aphid symbiont development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulative parasitoids manipulate the behaviour of their hosts in such a way as to benefit their own offspring. Paraponyx stagnalis Zeller is a leaf case worm caterpillar pest of rice and pupates in cases made out of cut leaf blades. These shelters are typically open-ended tubular cases. Its solitary primary endoparasitoid – Apanteles sp. – triggers changes in the way it sews the cases. The observed changes in the folded leaf shelter may serve various functions for the developing parasitoid, such as minimising the risk of hyperparasitism and predation, and enhancing structural stability. To obtain evidence to support these hypotheses, we (1) documented the morphotype of the cases/puparia constructed by unparasitised and parasitised P. stagnalis larval instars, (2) studied the overall rate of primary parasitism of P. stagnalis by Apanteles sp. and (3) studied the rate of hyperparasitism of primary parasitoids in 10 rice fields of south India. Unlike the unparasitised third-instar host larvae, the parasitised larvae sealed the open ends of the folded leaf shelter with silken threads, affixed the puparium to rice leaves and made small cases. The overall parasitism rate was about 40%. However, the hyperparasitism was between 0.6 and 1%. Though the primary parasitism by Apanteles sp. is considerably higher in all 10 fields, the meagre incidence of hyperparasitism strengthens our hypothesis that the modified puparium construction might be triggered by the primary parasitoid and beneficial for the offspring of the primary parasitoid. Our field observations suggest that future experimental studies can bring mechanical evidence for host manipulation by Apanteles sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides the first record of Lasioglossum subfasciatum (Imhoff, 1832) (Hymenoptera, Apoidea, Halictidae) in the Sila National Park (Calabria, Italy), a Biosphere Reserve included in the UNESCO program. The species has been classified as endangered (EN) on the IUCN Red List, throughout Europe. Three specimens were found during a monitoring activity, in May 2022. Here, we provide a description of the species, the environmental characteristics of the site where it was found and a chronological map of its European distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Oopristus Steffan is being reported for the first time from India. O. iqrae Usman and Anwar sp. nov. is described based on females. An updated catalogue to the family Torymidae is provided from India. This catalogue lists 75 valid species included in 21 genera and four subfamilies. The subfamily Podagrioninae includes the largest number of 34 species (6 genera) followed by Toryminae 28 species (7 genera), Monodontomerinae 10 species (6 genera), and Microdontomerinae 3 species (2 genera). New combinations are provided for two Indian species of Pseuderimerus as Erimerus corianderi (Narendran and Mercy) comb. nov. and E. indicus (Subba Rao and Bhatia) comb. nov. Three species, Chrysochalcissa physomeri Bouček, Diomorus orientalis Masi, and Torymus varians (Walker), are removed from the fauna list of India. Article LSID: Species LSID: Oopristus iqrae Usman & Anwar [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two complete nests of Pterocheilus phaleratus (Panzer, 1797) were described from the north-eastern edge of the Pomeranian Flying Club in Toruń (northern Poland). Both nests were built in sandy terrain on a sloping surface (about 20°). The nests consists of a 5 cm long main burrow with a single cell. Digging and backfilling the nest involves carrying fine gravel in the mandibles. Females transported prey at a frequency of 6 to 12 minutes. The cell contained 25 larvae from the Tortricidae family (Acleris spp.). Metopia cf. argyrocephala (Meigen, 1824) (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) was observed following the female into the nest, but specimens of this species were not excavated from the cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial lighting, including light-emitting diode (LED) illumination, is increasingly being optimized in protected agricultural systems to maximize plant yield and quality. However, it may also cause other top–down and bottom–up effects in these relatively simple ecological communities that also include insect pests and their natural enemies. While some effects of LED lighting on insects have been demonstrated to date, it is not known how they influence biological control of insect pests in practice. To examine potential top–down and bottom–up impacts of LED illumination on greenhouse biological control with parasitoids, we studied the effects of artificially lengthened days on a tri-trophic system in cages and in a greenhouse. We grew plants under a 12-h photoperiod of white-supplemented light with 6 h of additional (1) white light or (2) red and blue light, or (3) with no additional light. We exposed the plants to the pest aphid Myzus persicae (Hemiptera: Aphididae) with or without its parasitoid wasp Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), or to no insects. The 18-h light treatments increased mean plant dry mass by 127% compared with the 12-h control without affecting the aphid's population density or the parasitoid's biological control efficacy, under relatively low light conditions. This suggests that insect communities in protected agriculture can be resilient to even drastic changes in their light environment, and that adjusting crop lighting in a manner that affects plant growth does not necessarily compromise biological control's effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) exhibits broad parasitic abilities against lepidopteran pests, utilizing its venom as a key factor for host mortality. Analyzing the venom's constituents is crucial to understanding the mechanisms of efficient host killing and identifying functional venom proteins. Transcriptomic analysis identified 34 venom proteins in H. hebetor, including serine protease, metalloproteinase, and esterase, as well as unique proteins like paralytic protein and ion transport peptide-like. Spatial gene expression profiling confirmed high expression of these venom proteins in the venom apparatus, particularly noting the importance of the paralytic protein in successful parasitism. This discovery of venom proteins sets the stage for research on bioactive agents for pest control. The ectoparasitoid Habrobracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) exhibits a broad parasitic capability towards various lepidopteran pests, with venom serving as a crucial virulent factor ensuring successful parasitization and subsequent host mortality. Analyzing the constituents of its venom is essential for elucidating the mechanisms underlying efficient host killing by this parasitoid and for exploring potentially functional venom proteins. Through a transcriptomic analysis, a total of 34 venom proteins were identified within the venom of H. hebetor, encompassing known components such as serine protease, metalloproteinase, esterase, and serine protease inhibitors commonly present in parasitoid venoms. Unique components like paralytic protein and ion transport peptide-like were identified, possibly specific to certain parasitoids, along with novel proteins with uncharacterized functions. Spatial gene expression profiling of the identified venom proteins using transcriptomic data, corroborated by quantitative PCR validation for 13 randomly selected proteins, revealed abundant expression levels in the venom apparatus, affirming them as genuine venom components. Notably, the paralytic protein exhibited prominent expression, with the highest FPKM (fragments per kilobase of transcript per million fragments mapped) value of 24,704.87 in the venom apparatus, indicative of its significant role in successful parasitism by H. hebetor. The identification of these venom proteins establishes a foundation for the further exploration of bioactive agents for pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Chalcidoidea (chalcid wasps) are one of the most numerically, structurally, and biologically diverse groups in Hymenoptera. However, the conserved morphology coupled with a high intraspecific variability in certain key characters hinders research on chalcids. In this study, DNA barcoding with the COI gene was used to calibrate intra- and interspecific variation in diagnostic characters within the genus Dzhanokmenia. In addition, the nuclear gene, 28S D2, was used to infer a phylogeny to better understand the definition of Dzhanokmenia and its relationships to potentially close genera associated with Tetrastichus. A DNA barcode library that includes eight species was established for Dzhanokmenia. A new species, D. brevifunis Ganbaatar & Cao sp. nov., was described and illustrated. The results show that Dzhanokmenia is closely related to Baryscapus and suggest that the species diversity of Dzhanokmenia is underestimated. This study lays a foundation for further research on the diversity and classification of Dzhanokmenia. Although Chalcidoidea is one of the megadiverse superfamilies in Hymenoptera, numerous species are still being discovered and described. However, the difficulties in delimiting intra- and interspecific variation hinder this process. In this study, DNA barcoding methods using the COI gene were employed to investigate the morphological variation within Dzhanokmenia Kostjukov, 1977. The nuclear locus, 28S D2, was used to infer a phylogeny to gain an understanding of the relationship of Dzhanokmenia with other potentially close genera. Through a preliminary DNA barcode library established here, including eight species, we calibrated the intraspecific variation in certain diagnostic characters for the new species described here, D. brevifunis Ganbaatar & Cao sp. nov. Maximum likelihood results show that Dzhanokmenia is clustered with the genera associated with Tetrastichus, such as Chaenotetrastichus Graham, 1987, Baryscapus Förster, 1856, Tetrastichus Haliday, 1844, and Oomyzus Rondani, 1870 involved in this study. Our results indicate that the species diversity of Dzhanokmenia is understudied and tentatively confirm that Dzhanokmenia has a potential close relationship with Baryscapus. Along with the DNA barcode library, the referenced phylogeny datasets improve the understanding of the systematic position of Dzhanokmenia within the subfamily Tetrastichinae and the definition of this genus in terms of morphology, thereby facilitating species delimitation, discovery, and description within Dzhanokmenia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Chelonus s. str. (Chelonus) Panzer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cheloninae) is reviewed with particular focus on species associated with fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Additionally, information on the biology and various mass-rearing techniques of the enumerated species are furnished, underlining their significance in biological control and integrated pest management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implementation of augmentative biological control requires estimates of parasitoid dispersal from the release point to determine appropriate release density, spacing, and timing. This study evaluated the movement patterns of Fopius arisanus Sonan (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoids, which have historically been used to control invasive tephritid fruit flies. The wasps were released from the central point, and dispersal was monitored over time using parasitism in sentinel fruit and trap captures at 40 points radiating out from the center (15–240 m). The releases were conducted 4 times during June, July, September, and November 2006. The data showed that there were large declines in dispersal by distance. Parasitism was greatest closest to the release point, within 30 m. Parasitism was also greatest within the first 24 h of the release. After 1 wk, parasitism decreased from 41% to 1.5% within 30 m. These data correlated strongly with trap capture data, which also showed that parasitoid movement favored the SE region of our release site, roughly corresponding to the overall prevailing winds. Wind speed, relative humidity, and temperature all affected parasitoid movement during our trial, indicating the complex environmental factors that can affect release success. This is the first report of dispersal metrics for F. arisanus. Our findings are in agreement with other similar studies on braconid movement generally and suggest that frequent, high-density releases are most effective since the dispersal of F. arisanus is limited and retention in the environment is low. We discuss our results in the context of international augmentative biological control release programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number, timing, and fitness of colonizing parasitoids in fields of ephemeral crops often depend on factors external to the fields. We investigated cereal aphid parasitism in 23 winter wheat fields using sentinel plants infested with bird cherry-oat aphids, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and we investigated the effect of parasitoids on cereal aphid population growth using exclusion and parasitoid-accessible cages infested with bird cherry-oat aphids. Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Aphelinus nigritus (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), and Diaeretiella rapae (McIntosh) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), in decreasing order of abundance, parasitized R. padi on sentinel plants. The mean percent parasitism in parasitoid-accessible cages was 5.2% in autumn and 35.0% in spring. Aphid population intensity was greater in complete exclusion than in parasitoid-accessible cages. Measures of landscape composition and configuration were quantified, and aphid parasitism in autumn by L. testaceipes and A. nigritus was positively associated with % landcover by summer crops and patch density. Parasitism by both species was negatively associated with contagion and % woodlands. Parasitism during spring was positively associated with % grassland and fractal dimension and negatively associated with % canola. The number of braconid mummies per sentinel plant was positively correlated to the number of braconid mummies on wheat stems from parasitoid-accessible cages. Results indicate that cereal aphid mortality caused by parasitoids and their ability to exert effective biological control is related to landscape structure. Comparing this study to an earlier study in the same agroecosystem demonstrated temporal stability of the landscape influence on aphid parasitism by L. testaceipes in winter wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Palpita forficifera Munroe, 1959 (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) is the main pest of the olive tree (Olea europaea L., Oleaceae) in Brazil and its management has been difficult, as there are few products recommended for its control. This study aimed to evaluate the population dynamics of P. forficifera and the entomofauna of parasitoid eggs and larvae in three olive orchards under different cultivation systems, in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The study was carried out from October to May, in the 2017/18 and 2018/19 harvests, in olive orchards of different cultivars in the municipalities of Pelotas and Rio Grande, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Population dynamics of P. forficifera varied according to the agricultural season, the months sampled, and the orchards (sites) evaluated. The highest infestation reached around 60% of the shoots in some months, depending on the orchard evaluated. During the pest infestation period, the occurrence of the egg parasitoid Trichogramma foersteri Takahashi, 2021 (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) was observed along with three larval parasitoids belonging to the genera Dolichogenidea Viereck, 1911, Hymenochaonia Dalla Torre, 1898 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Temelucha Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Temelucha hilux Gauld, 2000 is recorded for the first time in association with a host, and its distribution in the country is extended to the southern region, from Brazil. Due to the scarcity of information on pest management, the natural occurrence of natural enemies in crops is of paramount importance in helping to manage P. forficifera in the field. The population dynamics of P. forficifera is also influenced by the parasitoid community, made up of at least four species of parasitic Hymenoptera. Therefore, strategies aimed at managing P. forficifera must be well developed in order to maintain and increase natural biological control in the field.

Hymenopteran parasitoids strongly associated with the sugarcane borer [Diatraea saccharalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)] may be found both in organic and conventional sugarcane farming systems. This study aimed to sample parasitoids associated with sugarcane borer in organic, organic near a forest fragment and conventional systems. Two colors of Moericke traps were used (yellow and white) to collect insect samples, and faunistic analyses were performed to determine the composition of parasitoids in each management type. A total of 287 insects were collected, with the most abundant families being Diapriidae (44.44 %), Eulophidae (37.5 %) and Braconidae (18.06 %). The most abundant genus in the organic system was Omphale (Eulophidae), Omphale (Eulophidae) in the organic system near the forest fragment, and Omopria and Coptera (Diapriidae) in the conventional system. The parasitoids were more abundant in the organic system (43.06 %), followed by the organic system near the forest fragment (36.81 %) and the conventional system (20.14 %). The yellow trap was the most effective in attracting parasitoids, which were generally more abundant in organic systems, regardless of proximity to forest fragments.