Cheloninae

Abstract: Abstract Three new genera are described: Michener (Proteropinae), Bioalfa (Rogadinae), and Hermosomastax (Rogadinae). Keys are given for the New World genera of the following braconid subfamilies: Agathidinae, Braconinae, Cheloninae, Homolobinae, Hormiinae, Ichneutinae, Macrocentrinae, Orgilinae, Proteropinae, Rhysipolinae, and Rogadinae. In these subfamilies 416 species are described or redescribed. Most of the species have been reared and all but 13 are new to science. A consensus sequence of the COI barcodes possessed by each species is employed to diagnose the species, and this approach is justified in the introduction. Most descriptions consist of a lateral or dorsal image of the holotype, a diagnostic COI consensus barcode, the Barcode Index Number (BIN) code with a link to the Barcode of Life Database (BOLD), and the holotype specimen information required by the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. The following species are treated and those lacking authorship are newly described here with authorship attributable to Sharkey except for the new species of Macrocentrinae which are by Sharkey & van Achterberg: AGATHIDINAE: Aerophiluspaulmarshi, Mesocoelusdavidsmithi, Neothlipsisbobkulai, Plesiocoelusvanachterbergi, Pneumagathiserythrogastra (Cameron, 1905), Therophilusbobwhartoni, T.donaldquickei, T.gracewoodae, T.maetoi, T.montywoodi, T.penteadodiasae, Zacremnopsbrianbrowni, Z.coatlicue Sharkey, 1990, Zacremnopscressoni (Cameron, 1887), Z.ekchuah Sharkey, 1990, Z.josefernandezi, Zelomorphasarahmeierottoae. BRACONINAE: Braconalejandromarini, B.alejandromasisi, B.alexamasisae, B.andresmarini, B.andrewwalshi, B.anniapicadoae, B.anniemoriceae, B.barryhammeli, B.bernardoespinozai, B.carlossanabriai, B.chanchini, B.christophervallei, B.erasmocoronadoi, B.eugeniephillipsae, B.federicomatarritai, B.frankjoycei, B.gerardovegai, B.germanvegai, B.isidrochaconi, B.jimlewisi, B.josejaramilloi, B.juanjoseoviedoi, B.juliodiazi, B.luzmariaromeroae, B.manuelzumbadoi, B.marialuisariasae, B.mariamartachavarriae, B.mariorivasi, B.melissaespinozae, B.nelsonzamorai, B.nicklaphami, B.ninamasisae, B.oliverwalshi, B.paulamarinae, B.rafamoralesi, B.robertofernandezi, B.rogerblancoi, B.ronaldzunigai, B.sigifredomarini, B.tihisiaboshartae, B.wilberthbrizuelai, Digonogastramontylloydi, D.montywoodi, D.motohasegawai, D.natwheelwrighti, D.nickgrishini. CHELONINAE: Adeliusadrianguadamuzi, A.gauldi Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, A.janzeni Shimbori & Shaw, 2019, Ascogastergloriasihezarae, A.grettelvegae, A.guillermopereirai, A.gustavoecheverrii, A.katyvandusenae, A.luisdiegogomezi, Chelonusalejandrozaldivari, C.gustavogutierrezi, C.gustavoinduni, C.harryramirezi, C.hartmanguidoi, C.hazelcambroneroae, C.iangauldi, C.isidrochaconi, C.janecheverriae, C.jeffmilleri, C.jennyphillipsae, C.jeremydewaardi, C.jessiehillae, C.jesusugaldei, C.jimlewisi, C.jimmilleri, C.jimwhitfieldi, C.johanvalerioi, C.johnburnsi, C.johnnoyesi, C.jorgebaltodanoi, C.jorgehernandezi, C.josealfredohernandezi, C.josefernandeztrianai, C.josehernandezcortesi, C.josemanuelperezi, C.josephinerodriguezae, C.juanmatai, C.junkoshimurae, C.kateperezae, C.luciariosae, C.luzmariaromeroae, C.manuelpereirai, C.manuelzumbadoi, C.marianopereirai, C.maribellealvarezae, C.markmetzi, C.markshawi, C.martajimenezae, C.mayrabonillae, C.meganmiltonae, C.melaniamunozae, C.michaelstroudi, C.michellevanderbankae, C.mingfangi, C.minorcarmonai, C.monikaspringerae, C.moniquegilbertae, C.motohasegawai, C.nataliaivanovae, C.nelsonzamorai, C.normwoodleyi, C.osvaldoespinozai, C.pamelacastilloae, C.paulgoldsteini, C.paulhansoni, C.paulheberti, C.petronariosae, C.ramyamanjunathae, C.randallgarciai, C.rebeccakittelae, C.robertoespinozai, C.robertofernandezi, C.rocioecheverriae, C.rodrigogamezi, C.ronaldzunigai, C.rosibelelizondoae, C.rostermoragai, C.ruthfrancoae, C.scottmilleri, C.scottshawi, C.sergioriosi, C.sigifredomarini, C.stevearonsoni, C.stevestroudi, C.sujeevanratnasinghami, C.sureshnaiki, C.torbjornekremi, C.yeimycedenoae, Leptodrepanaalexisae, L.erasmocoronadoi, L.felipechavarriai, L.freddyquesadai, L.gilbertfuentesi, L.manuelriosi, Phanerotomaalmasolisae, P.alvaroherrerai, P.anacordobae, P.anamariamongeae, P.andydeansi, P.angelagonzalezae, P.angelsolisi, P.barryhammeli, P.bernardoespinozai, P.calixtomoragai, P.carolinacanoae, P.christerhanssoni, P.christhompsoni, P.davesmithi, P.davidduthiei, P.dirksteinkei, P.donquickei, P.duniagarciae, P.duvalierbricenoi, P.eddysanchezi, P.eldarayae, P.eliethcantillanoae, P.jenopappi, Pseudophanerotomaalanflemingi, Ps.albanjimenezi, Ps.alejandromarini, Ps.alexsmithi, Ps.allisonbrownae, Ps.bobrobbinsi. HOMOLOBINAE: Exasticolusjennyphillipsae, E.randallgarciai, E.robertofernandezi, E.sigifredomarini, E.tomlewinsoni. HORMIINAE: Hormiusanamariamongeae, H.angelsolisi, H.anniapicadoae, H.arthurchapmani, H.barryhammeli, H.carmenretanae, H.carloswalkeri, H.cesarsuarezi, H.danbrooksi, H.eddysanchezi, H.erikframstadi, H.georgedavisi, H.grettelvegae, H.gustavoinduni, H.hartmanguidoi, H.hectoraritai, H.hesiquiobenitezi, H.irenecanasae, H.isidrochaconi, H.jaygallegosi, H.jimbeachi, H.jimlewisi, H.joelcracrafti, H.johanvalerioi, H.johnburleyi, H.joncoddingtoni, H.jorgecarvajali, H.juanmatai, H.manuelzumbadoi, H.mercedesfosterae, H.modonnellyae, H.nelsonzamorai, H.pamelacastilloae, H.raycypessi, H.ritacolwellae, H.robcolwelli, H.rogerblancosegurai, H.ronaldzunigai, H.russchapmani, H.virginiaferrisae, H.warrenbrighami, H.willsflowersi. ICHNEUTINAE: Oligoneuruskriskrishtalkai, O.jorgejimenezi, Paroligoneuruselainehoaglandae, P.julianhumphriesi, P.mikeiviei. MACROCENTRINAE: Austrozelejorgecampabadali, A.jorgesoberoni, Dolichozelegravitarsis (Muesebeck, 1938), D.josefernandeztrianai, D.josephinerodriguezae, Hymenochaoniakalevikulli, H.kateperezae, H.katherinebaillieae, H.katherineellisonae, H.katyvandusenae, H.kazumifukunagae, H.keithlangdoni, H.keithwillmotti, H.kenjinishidai, H.kimberleysheldonae, H.krisnorvigae, H.lilianamadrigalae, H.lizlangleyae, Macrocentrusfredsingeri, M.geoffbarnardi, M.gregburtoni, M.gretchendailyae, M.grettelvegae, M.gustavogutierrezi, M.hannahjamesae, M.harisridhari, M.hillaryrosnerae, M.hiroshikidonoi, M.iangauldi, M.jennyphillipsae, M.jesseausubeli, M.jessemaysharkae, M.jimwhitfieldi, M.johnbrowni, M.johnburnsi, M.jonathanfranzeni, M.jonathanrosenbergi, M.jorgebaltodanoi, M.lucianocapelli. ORGILINAE: Orgilusamyrossmanae, O.carrolyoonae, O.christhompsoni, O.christinemcmahonae, O.dianalipscombae, O.ebbenielsoni, O.elizabethpennisiae, O.evertlindquisti, O.genestoermeri, O.jamesriegeri, O.jeanmillerae, O.jeffmilleri, O.jerrypowelli, O.jimtiedjei, O.johnlundbergi, O.johnpipolyi, O.jorgellorentei, O.larryspearsi, O.marlinricei, O.mellissaespinozae, O.mikesmithi, O.normplatnicki, O.peterrauchi, O.richardprimacki, O.sandraberriosae, O.sarahmirandae, O.scottmilleri, O.scottmorii, Stantoniabillalleni, S.brookejarvisae, S.donwilsoni, S.erikabjorstromae, S.garywolfi, S.henrikekmani, S.luismirandai, S.miriamzunzae, S.quentinwheeleri, S.robinkazmierae, S.ruthtifferae. PROTEROPINAE: Hebichneutestricolor Sharkey & Wharton, 1994, Proteropsiangauldi, P.vickifunkae, Michenercharlesi. RHYSIPOLINAE: Pseudorhysipolisluisfonsecai, P. mailyngonzalezaeRhysipolisjulioquirosi. ROGADINAE: Aleiodesadrianaradulovae, A.adrianforsythi, A.agnespeelleae, A.alaneaglei, A.alanflemingi, A.alanhalevii, A.alejandromasisi, A.alessandracallejae, A.alexsmithi, A.alfonsopescadori, A.alisundermieri, A.almasolisae, A.alvarougaldei, A.alvaroumanai, A.angelsolisi, A.annhowdenae, A.bobandersoni, A.carolinagodoyae, A.charlieobrieni, A.davefurthi, A.donwhiteheadi, A.doylemckeyi, A.frankhovorei, A.henryhowdeni, A.inga Shimbori & Shaw, 2020, A.johnchemsaki, A.johnkingsolveri, A.gonodontovorus Shimbori & Shaw, 2020, A.manuelzumbadoi, A.mayrabonillae, A.michelledsouzae, A.mikeiviei, A.normwoodleyi, A.pammitchellae, A.pauljohnsoni, A.rosewarnerae, A.steveashei, A.terryerwini, A.willsflowersi, Bioalfapedroleoni, B.alvarougaldei, B.rodrigogamezi, Choreborogasandydeansi, C.eladiocastroi, C.felipechavarriai, C.frankjoycei, Clinocentrusandywarreni, Cl.angelsolisi, Cystomastaxalexhausmanni, Cy.angelagonzalezae, Cy.ayaigarashiae, Hermosomastaxclavifemorus Quicke sp. nov., Heterogamusdonstonei, Pseudoyeliconesbernsweeneyi, Stiropiusbencrairi, S.berndkerni, S.edgargutierrezi, S.edwilsoni, S.ehakernae, Triraphisbillfreelandi, T.billmclarneyi, T.billripplei, T.bobandersoni, T.bobrobbinsi, T.bradzlotnicki, T.brianbrowni, T.brianlaueri, T.briannestjacquesae, T.camilocamargoi, T.carlosherrerai, T.carolinepalmerae, T.charlesmorrisi, T.chigiybinellae, T.christerhanssoni, T.christhompsoni, T.conniebarlowae, T.craigsimonsi, T.defectus Valerio, 2015, T.danielhubi, T.davidduthiei, T.davidwahli, T.federicomatarritai, T.ferrisjabri, T.mariobozai, T.martindohrni, T.matssegnestami, T.mehrdadhajibabaei, T.ollieflinti, T.tildalauerae, Yeliconesdirksteinkei, Y.markmetzi, Y.monserrathvargasae, Y.tricolor Quicke, 1996. Y.woldai Quicke, 1996. The following new combinations are proposed: Neothlipsissmithi (Ashmead), new combination for Microdussmithi Ashmead, 1894; Neothlipsispygmaeus (Enderlein), new combination for Microduspygmaeus Enderlein, 1920; Neothlipsisunicinctus (Ashmead), new combination for Microdusunicinctus Ashmead, 1894; Therophilusanomalus (Bortoni and Penteado-Dias) new combination for Plesiocoelusanomalus Bortoni and Penteado-Dias, 2015; Aerophilusareolatus (Bortoni and Penteado-Dias) new combination for Plesiocoelusareolatus Bortoni and Penteado-Dias, 2015; Pneumagathiserythrogastra (Cameron) new combination for Agathiserythrogastra Cameron, 1905. Dolichozelecitreitarsis (Enderlein), new combination for Paniscozelecitreitarsis Enderlein, 1920. Dolichozelefuscivertex (Enderlein) new combination for Paniscozelefuscivertex Enderlein, 1920. Finally, Bassusbrooksi Sharkey, 1998 is synonymized with Agathiserythrogastra Cameron, 1905; Paniscozelegriseipes Enderlein, 1920 is synonymized with Dolichozelekoebelei Viere

Abstract: Furcidentia Zettel, 1990 (Braconidae: Cheloninae) from the New World has been recently recognised as a genus separate from Pseudophanerotoma Zettel, 1990. Previously known from three species, three additional new species of Furcidentia are described here from the Neotropical region: F. jenningsi sp. nov. (French Guiana), F. llama sp. nov. (Guatemala), and F. tikalensis sp. nov. (Guatemala). The species F. clypeata Zettel (Ecuador) comb. nov. , F. pulchra Zettel (Costa Rica) comb. nov., and F. sharkeyi Zettel (Ecuador) comb. nov. are transferred to Furcidentia . Additionally, one new species of Pseudophanerotoma is described: P. austini sp. nov. (Guatemala), while P. paranaensis (Costa Lima) (Brazil) and P. thapsina (Walley) (Texas, USA) are redescribed and are here recorded from French Guiana for the first time, thus considerably expanding their known distribution. Redescriptions include the description of the male of P. thapsina (Walley) for the first time and of the female of P. paranaensis (Costa Lima). Identification keys to the Neotropical genera of Phanerotomini and the species of Furcidentia and Pseudophanerotoma are provided.

Abstract: Here we focus on the poorly studied braconid wasp subfamily Cheloninae for the arid zone of the Australian continent, using material, in part, resulting from comprehensive surveys of three arid zone reserves. The Bush Blitz programme is a multi-institutional project with the aim of documenting the diversity of the flora and fauna in Australia’s National Reserve System, with describing new species being a key focus of the programme. In total, 11 species from the genera Ascogaster and Phanerotoma are treated, with species’ delimitation based on both molecular and morphological data. Two species are redescribed (Phanerotoma behriae Zettel, 1988a and P. decticauda Zettel, 1988a) and nine species are described as new (Ascogaster brevivena sp. nov., A. ferruginegaster sp. nov., A. prolixogaster sp. nov., A. rubriscapa sp. nov., Phanerotoma bonbonensis sp. nov., P. bushblitz sp. nov., P. lutea sp. nov., P. nigriscapulata sp. nov. and P. witchelinaensis sp. nov.). Keys to the arid zone species of these tw...

Abstract: Parasitic wasps of the subfamily Cheloninae (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) have been thought by most previous researchers to be under the endocrine control of their lepidopteran hosts. The current hypothesis that these parasites wait passively until the host begins to metamorphose incorrectly emphasizes the host as the dominant partner. Recent data demonstrate that, in contrast, some Chelonus species actively regulate the metamorphosis of their host. For example, host larvae are induced by the parasite to initiate metamorphosis precociously, but then halt the metamorphic process midway through. These expressions of parasite regulation of the host occur even in stung hosts that contain no parasite at the time the endocrine disruptions become manifest. In light of this information, I examined previous studies on this group of parasites, and found that the entire subfamily Cheloninae should serve as a model of host/parasite interaction in which the parasite is dominant.