It is a privilege to recognize a new species and immortalize it with a name. Taxonomists may use etymologies recalling the sampling locality, habitat, species morphology, people (actor, writer, ...singer, politician, scientist), culture (customs, beliefs), fictional characters (gods, demons, cartoons), brands, ancient names, and others. Naming a species is a creative act that allows scientists to express their love for nature. By drawing on personal and cultural associations, species names are often imbued with far greater meaning than one might initially assume. Unconventional names for species can be an effective way to capture the imagination of the public and make the species memorable. In other words, species names can be both meaningful and whimsical. The central focus of this study was to pinpoint species in the subfamily Microgastrinae that share the same specific epithet that often creates confusion regarding which species is being referred to. The findings showed that 153 specific epithets were repeated representing 340 species in 52 genera, while the remaining 2,823 species have unique epithets. Three of the five categories proposed accommodate the majority of the etymologies: people (42%), morphology (27%), and geography (15%) whereas the categories of other (9%) and biology (7%) achieve the least representation. Approximately 95% of the same specific epithets had a single clear meaning, while for the remaining 5%, it was not possible to trace etymology. The study revealed that the average length of specific epithets was 9.01 letters, the longest contains 18 (eliethcantillanoae) while the shortest four (eros and erro). Additionally, most identical specific epithets were repeated two times (85.25% of the occurrences), although three (12.82%), five, six, and even nine (each one with 0.64%) repetitions were also found. Finally, a list of recommendations for taxonomists when faced with the task of naming a new species is provided.
The impact of three air pollutants, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and fine particulate matter (PM
) on the diversity and abundance of insect fauna associated with Chinese thuja, Platycladus ...orientalis, was evaluated for the first time in Iran. Sampling was performed in Lashkar, Sadaf, and Sajjad, three urban green spaces in Mashhad, a city located in Razavi Khorasan province. A total of 29 insect species including 16 natural enemies and 13 herbivores were identified. The results indicated that herbivore abundance was positively and significantly correlated with the level of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide, but not with the level of fine particulate matter. In contrast, herbivore diversity was negatively and significantly correlated only with the level of carbon monoxide. As for natural enemies, abundance and diversity both were not significantly correlated with the levels of none of all three pollutants. The aphid, Cinara thujafilina Del Guercio was the most dominant herbivore species in all the sampling sites with a relative abundance of 86% at Lashkar, 93% at Sadaf, and 95% at Sajjad. Regarding natural enemies, the ladybird, Coccinella septempunctata was the most abundant species both at Lashkar (49%) and Sadaf (35%) while the ladybird, Oenopia conglubata was the most abundant at Sajjad (21%). The highest diversity of herbivores and natural enemies across the four seasons were at the Lashkar and Sadaf sites. The results highlight that of the three air pollutants, carbon monoxide is the one that affects both on abundance and diversity of herbivore guild associated with Platycladus orientalis in urban green spaces.
The descriptive taxonomic study reported here is focused on
, a species-rich genus of hymenopteran parasitoid wasps. The species were found within the framework of two independent long-term ...Neotropical caterpillar rearing projects: northwestern Costa Rica (Área de Conservación Guanacaste, ACG) and eastern Andes, Ecuador (centered on Yanayacu Biological Station, YBS). One hundred thirty-six new species of
Ashmead are described and all of them are authored by Arias-Penna. None of them was recorded in both countries; thus, 78 are from Costa Rica and the remaining 58 from Ecuador. Before this revision, the number of Neotropical described
did not reach double digits. Reasonable boundaries among species were generated by integrating three datasets: Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene sequencing data, natural history (host records), and external morphological characters. Each species description is accompanied by images and known geographical distribution. Characteristics such as shape, ornamentation, and location of spun
cocoons were imaged as well. Host-parasitoid associations and food plants are also here published for the first time. A total of 88 species within 84 genera in 15 Lepidoptera families was encountered as hosts in the field. With respect to food plants, these wild-caught parasitized caterpillars were reared on leaves of 147 species within 118 genera in 60 families. The majority of
species appeared to be relatively specialized on one family of Lepidoptera or even on some much lower level of taxonomic refinement. Those herbivores in turn are highly food-plant specialized, and once caterpillars were collected, early instars (1-3) yielded more parasitoids than later instars.
Arias-Penna,
is the first egg-larval parasitoid recorded within the genus, though there may be many more since such natural history requires a more focused collection of eggs. The rate of hyperparasitoidism within the genus was approximately 4% and was represented by
spp. (Ichneumonidae). A single case of multiparasitoidism was reported,
Ashmead (Encyrtidae) and
Arias-Penna,
both parasitoid species emerged from the caterpillar of Noctuidae:
(Cramer). Bodyguard behavior was observed in two
species:
Arias-Penna,
and
Arias-Penna,
A dichotomous key for all the new species is provided. The numerous species described here, and an equal number already reared but not formally described, signal a far greater
species richness in the Neotropics than suggested by the few described previously.
It is widely accepted that endosymbiont interactions with their hosts have significant effects on the fitness of both pests and beneficial species. A particular type of endosymbiosis is that of ...beneficial associations. Facultative endosymbiotic bacteria are associated with elements that provide aphids with protection from parasitoids. Arsenophonus (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae) is one such endosymbiont bacterium, with infections being most commonly found among the Hemiptera species. Here, black cowpea aphids (BCAs), Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), naturally infected with Arsenophonus, were evaluated to determine the defensive role of this bacterium in BCAs against two parasitoid wasp species, Binodoxys angelicae and Lysiphlebus fabarum (both in Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Individuals of the black cowpea aphids infected with Arsenophonus were treated with a blend of ampicillin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin (Arsenophonus-reduced infection, AR) and subsequently subjected to parasitism assays. The results showed that the presence of Arsenophonus does not prevent BCAs from being parasitized by either B. angelicae or L. fabarum. Nonetheless, in BCA colonies parasitized by B. angelicae, the endosymbiont delayed both the larval maturation period and the emergence of the adult parasitoid wasps. In brief, Arsenophonus indirectly limits the effectiveness of B. angelicae parasitism by decreasing the number of emerged adult wasps. Therefore, other members of the BCA colony can survive. Arsenophonus acts as a double-edged sword, capturing the complex dynamic between A. craccivora and its parasitoids.
A new species of parasitoid wasp (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is described,
Microplitis idreesae
sp. nov.
The genus is reported for the first time in the ...Eastern province of the KSA. This is the first host-parasitoid association for
Microplitis
documented in the country. The new species attacks
Mythimna
Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Natural history information is provided such as the association of males with females, geographical location, possible food plants, and details of wasp cocoons. In addition, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is presented. A taxonomic key to the species of
Microplitis
reported from the KSA is provided. Characters of this new species and its affinities with the three previous species described from the KSA and four of the closely related to Palaeartic species are also discussed.
Aphidius smithi Sharma & Subba Rao (Hymenoptera: Aphidiinae) is reported parasitising Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae, cowpea aphid) which feeds on Medicago sativa L. (Fabales: Fabaceae, ...alfalfa) arable lands. This is the first record for this food plant-host aphid-primary parasitoid association. The known host range and global distribution for Aphidius smithi are reviewed and discussed. An overview of the relationship between this novel primary parasitoid-host aphid, their symbionts, and host changes is addressed.
Endosymbiont interactions with hosts have significant effects on pests and beneficial species. A form of endosymbiosis is known as a mutually beneficial association. In this context, specific ...facultative endosymbiotic bacteria, such as Arsenophonus, play a defensive role by safeguarding aphids against parasitoids. This study on black cowpea aphids (BCAs) revealed that Arsenophonus does not prevent parasitism by two species of Aphidiinae wasps, Binodoxys angelicae and Lysiphlebus fabarum. However, the maturation and emergence of adult B. angelicae wasps were delayed when BCAs were parasitized. This delay limits the effectiveness of B. angelicae, reducing the number of emerged adult wasps and allowing other members of the BCA colony to survive. The role of Arsenophonus in the interaction between A. craccivora and its parasitoids is multifaceted and acts as a double-edged sword. It is widely accepted that endosymbiont interactions with their hosts have significant effects on the fitness of both pests and beneficial species. A particular type of endosymbiosis is that of beneficial associations. Facultative endosymbiotic bacteria are associated with elements that provide aphids with protection from parasitoids. Arsenophonus (Enterobacterales: Morganellaceae) is one such endosymbiont bacterium, with infections being most commonly found among the Hemiptera species. Here, black cowpea aphids (BCAs), Aphis craccivora Koch (Hemiptera: Aphididae), naturally infected with Arsenophonus, were evaluated to determine the defensive role of this bacterium in BCAs against two parasitoid wasp species, Binodoxys angelicae and Lysiphlebus fabarum (both in Braconidae: Aphidiinae). Individuals of the black cowpea aphids infected with Arsenophonus were treated with a blend of ampicillin, cefotaxime, and gentamicin (Arsenophonus-reduced infection, AR) and subsequently subjected to parasitism assays. The results showed that the presence of Arsenophonus does not prevent BCAs from being parasitized by either B. angelicae or L. fabarum. Nonetheless, in BCA colonies parasitized by B. angelicae, the endosymbiont delayed both the larval maturation period and the emergence of the adult parasitoid wasps. In brief, Arsenophonus indirectly limits the effectiveness of B. angelicae parasitism by decreasing the number of emerged adult wasps. Therefore, other members of the BCA colony can survive. Arsenophonus acts as a double-edged sword, capturing the complex dynamic between A. craccivora and its parasitoids.
A new species of parasitoid wasp (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is described, Microplitis idreesae sp. nov. The genus is reported for the first time in the ...Eastern province of the KSA. This is the first host-parasitoid association for Microplitis documented in the country. The new species attacks Mythimna Ochsenheimer (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae). Natural history information is provided such as the association of males with females, geographical location, possible food plants, and details of wasp cocoons. In addition, a fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene is presented. A taxonomic key to the species of Microplitis reported from the KSA is provided. Characters of this new species and its affinities with the three previous species described from the KSA and four of the closely related to Palaeartic species are also discussed.
Abstract
Microplitis Foerster is a highly diverse and cosmopolitan genus within Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonoidea, Braconidae). Microplitis ceratomiae Riley, a widely distributed North ...American species, exclusively attacks sphingid caterpillars. In this paper, M. ceratomiae is reported parasitizing a caterpillar of Sphinx poecila Stephens (Sphingidae) which was collected feeding on Spiraea alba Du Roi (Rosaceae), a species of white meadowsweet native to the wet soils of the Allegheny Mountains and other portions of eastern North America. Here, we report and describe this new host-parasitoid-food plant association in southern New Hampshire, and include a distribution map for the species. Biological, ecological and phylogenetic analyses, and an identification key for the nine known species of Microplitis that attack sphingids in the New World are provided.
PDF
