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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #336486
Research Project: Systematics of Parasitic and Herbivorous Wasps of Agricultural Importance

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae)

Author
item BURKS, ROGER - University Of California
item Mottern, Jason
item DOMINGUEZ, CHRYSALYN - University Of California
item HEACOX, SCOTT - University Of California
item HERSTY, JOHN - University Of California

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/24/2017
Publication Date: 4/28/2017
Citation: Burks, R., Mottern, J.L., Dominguez, C., Heacox, S., Hersty, J.M. 2017. Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 55:139-188.

Interpretive Summary: The family Eucharitidae is a group of highly specialized parasitoid wasps that attack the immature stages of ants. The approximately 200 species in the eucharitid subfamily Oraseminae are almost all parasitoids of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, which includes the invasive red imported fire ants and many other pest ant species. Morphological and phylogenetic evidence indicates that members of the genus Orasema in the Old world actually constitute a complex of nine new genera, described herein, with the genus Orasema now restricted to the New World. Nine new species are also described. Keys to the Old World genera and species of Oraseminae are provided. This work will benefit federal and state departments of agriculture and forestry by assisting with the identification of parasitoids in natural enemy surveys of ant populations, as well as those tasked with identifying eucharitid wasps intercepted at ports of entry that may have an Old World origin.

Technical Abstract: Twelve genera of Oraseminae (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) are recognized in the Old World. The genus Orasema is now considered as found only in the New World, and the Old World species, previously treated as species groups, are now treated as distinct genera. Nine new genera are proposed: Australosema n.gen., Cymosema n.gen., Hayatosema n.gen., Ibitya n.gen., Ivieosema n.gen., Matantas n.gen., Leiosema n.gen., and Zuparka n.gen. The genus Losbanus Watanabe is given revived status from Orasema. Nine new species are proposed: Australosema politurae n.sp. (Australia), Australosema verghetta n.sp. (Australia), Cymosema capelina n.sp. (Australia), Cymosema waterworthae n.sp. (Australia), Hayatosema plicator n.sp. (Vietnam), Ivieosema confluens n.sp. (Madagascar), Ivieosema limula n.sp. (Madagascar), Leiosema lesiolouna n.sp. (Republic of Congo), and Zuparka fisheri n.sp. (Madagascar). New combinations (from Orasema) include Australosema valgius (Walker, 1839), Australosema synempora (Heraty, 1994), Hayatosema assectator (Kerrich, 1963), H. delhiensis (Narendran & G. Kumar, 2005), Hayatosema initiator (Kerrich, 1963), Hayatosema kailashi (G. Kumar & Sureshan, 2015), Hayatosema nirupama (G. Kumar & Narendran), Hayatosema nigra (Heraty, 1994), Hayatosema siruvanica (G. Kumar & Sureshan, 2015), Ibitya communis (Risbec, 1952), Ibitya seyrigi (Risbec, 1952), Ivieosema fraudulenta (Reichensperger, 1913), Ivieosema striatosoma (Heraty, 1994), Losbanus bouceki (Heraty, 1994), L. ishii (Heraty, 1994), L. promecea (Heraty, 1994), L. rugulosa (Heraty, 1994), Matantas koghisiana (Heraty, 1994), and Zuparka monomoria (Heraty, 2000). Losbanus uichancoi Ishii 1932 is given revived status from Orasema. Distribution records, a new host association of Pheidole (Myrmicinae) for I. communis, and an identification key to the Old World genera and species are provided.