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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #273189
Title: Review of the brachypterous, micropterous, and apterous Braconidae of the cyclostome lineage (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) from the Palearctic Region

Author
item BELOKOBYLSKIJ, S. - Russian Academy Of Sciences
item Kula, Robert

Submitted to: Zootaxa
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/25/2012
Publication Date: 3/20/2012
Citation: Belokobylskij, S.A., Kula, R.R. 2012. Review of the apterous, micropterous, and brachypterous cyclostome Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in the Palearctic Region. Zootaxa. 3240:1-62.

Interpretive Summary: Parasitic wasps attack crop and forest pests that cause billions of dollars of damage annually. The parasitic wasps treated in this paper attack wood- and plant-feeding insects, including codling moth, a major pest of apple and pear worldwide. Increased knowledge of these wasps can help determine their impact as beneficial insects and potential use for biocontrol. This paper provides information on the diversity, distribution, and identification of 45 wasp species in the Eastern Hemisphere. Seven species new to science are described, new distribution records are reported for four species, and a key is provided for identifying 45 species. This paper will be useful to scientists conducting research on these wasps, as well as personnel responsible for controlling and limiting the spread of pest insects.

Technical Abstract: The Palearctic species of Braconidae with brachypterous, micropterous, or apterous modification are discussed. The following new species are described: Chremylus planispinus Belokobylskij (France, Algeria), Chremylus algecirasus Belokobylskij (Spain), Pambolus erogolus Belokobylskij (Mongolia), Pambolus ovchinnikovi Belokobylskij (Kyrgyzstan), Hormius stauropolicus Belokobylskij (Russia (North Caucasus)), Bracon (Habrobracon) barbieri Belokobylskij (Algeria), and Panerema kamtshatica Belokobylskij (Russia (Kamchatka)). The following species are redescribed: Heterospilus hemipterus (Thomson) (male and female), Chremylus pomonellae (Atanasov) (male, female and macropterous form), Hormius minialatus Tobias (female), and Aleiodes (Chelonorhogas) hemipterus Marshall (male and female). Lituania brachyptera Jakimavicius, 1968 is a new synonym of Eurybolus hemipterus Thomson, 1892. Chremylus pomonellae (Atanasov), new combination, is transferred from Rhyssalus. Aleiodes hemipterus is placed in the subgenus Chelonorhogas Enderlein. Asobara subalata (Zaykov & Fischer) is returned from Phaenocarpa Foerster. New distribution records are reported for Ecphylus (Sactopus) caudatus Ruschka, H. hemipterus, Rhaconotus hispanicus Belokobylskij, Pambolus tricolor (Ruthe), Hormius minialatus Tobias, A. (C.) hemipterus, and Pseudopezomachus kasparyani Tobias. A key for identifying all Palearctic flightless cyclostome braconid species, and the genera in which they are placed, is provided. A discussion about the diversity, morphological characters, and natural history of wing size reduction, and possible reasons for flightlessness, is provided.