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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #429788
Research Project: Systematics of Beetles, Flies, Moths and Wasps with an Emphasis on Agricultural Pests, Invasive Species, Biological Control Agents, and Food Security

Location: Systematic Entomology Laboratory

Title: Three new species of Trachionus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Nearctic Region

Author
item Kula, Robert
item KRESSLEIN, LUKE - Non ARS Employee

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/28/2026
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Parasitic wasps attack insect pests of agricultural commodities and natural resources that cause billions of dollars of damage annually, with published estimates of $18.77 billion in losses in the U.S. alone. Natural control of pest insects via insect natural enemies, including the parasitic wasps treated in this paper, is estimated to prevent an additional $13.60 billion in losses in the U.S. The wasps treated in this paper attack fly larvae that feed within living trees. Feeding tunnels from these flies permanently damage trees harvested for wood products, notably fine timber and wood veneer. The wood veneer industry is valued at $16 billion globally, and damage from these flies causes up to a 50% reduction in the value of wood veneer. Wood undamaged from these flies can be two to three times more valuable than damaged wood. The discovery of wasp species parasitic on these flies, and information about their biology, are critical to determine their role in controlling these flies. Three wasp species parasitic on these flies were discovered as new to science and are described in this paper. Spatiotemporal distribution data are reported for these new wasp species, and new diagnostic morphological features are provided to differentiate them from similar species. This paper will be useful to scientists, insect pest management and regulatory personnel, and the timber industry to better understand how to mitigate the impact of these flies on commercially marketed wood products.

Technical Abstract: Three new species of Alysiinae, Trachionus neorugosus Kula and Kresslein, new species, Trachionus parvoporus Kula and Kresslein, new species, and Trachionus spinosus Kula and Kresslein, new species, are described from the Nearctic Region. Diagnoses are provided to differentiate each new species from all other described species of Trachionus.