ARS | Publication request: A new species of Lysiphlebus Förster 1862 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) attacking soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hem., Aphididae) from China

Submitted to: Journal of Hymenoptera Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: July 22, 2009
Publication Date: April 1, 2010
Citation: Stary, P., Rakhshani, E., Tomanovic, Z., Hoelmer, K.A., Kavallieratos, N.G., Yu, J., Wang, M., Heimpel, G.E. 2010. A new species of Lysiphlebus Förster 1862 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Aphidiinae) attacking soybean aphid, Aphis glycines Matsumura (Hem., Aphididae) from China. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 19(1):179-186.

Interpretive Summary: The soybean aphid, a native of northeast Asian countries, was discovered infesting soybean fields in North America in summer 2000 and has since become a serious pest throughout soybean-growing areas of the Midwest. Although parasitic wasps exert substantial control of soybean aphid in Asian countries, surveys show that native wasps attacking soybean aphid in North America are rare. Initial biological control efforts directed at the soybean aphid have resulted in the importation of several aphid natural enemies from China, Japan and South Korea into US quarantine laboratories. One of the wasps obtained from soybean aphid infesting soybeans in China, LYSIPHLEBUS ORIENTALIS, is described as a new species. Laboratory populations of L. ORIENTALIS are exclusively female, the first record of this phenomenon in its species group.

Technical Abstract: LYSIPHLEBUS ORIENTALIS sp. n. is described from China. The new species was reared from the APHIS GLYCINES Matsumura/ GLYCINE MAX association. On the basis of the forewing venation pattern (short R1 vein) and the number of maxillary and labial palpomeres we can preliminarily classify L. ORIENTALIS sp.n. as a member of the “TESTACEIPES Cress.” species-group. Laboratory populations of L. ORIENTALIS are thelytokous, the first record of this phenomenon in this species group.