A review of the species of Mesopolobus (Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) associated with Ceutorhynchus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) host-species of European origin

Four species of Mesopolobus Westwood were reared as parasitoids of Ceutorhynchinae hosts in Europe during surveys in 2000-2004. An illustrated key is given to differentiate the four species, M. gemellus Baur & Muller sp. n., M. incultus (Walker), M. morys (Walker) and M. trasullus (Walker), plus M. moryoides Gibson, a parasitoid of the cabbage seedpod weevil, Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), in North America. Pteromalus clavicornis Walker is recognized as a junior synonym of M. incultus syn. n., and Pteromalus berecynthos Walker (also a junior synonym of M. incultus) is considered a correct original spelling. For Disema pallipes Förster (a junior synonym of Mesopolobus morys), a lectotype is designated. Mesopolobus morys is for the first time accurately associated with the seed weevil Ceutorhynchus turbatus (Schultze), a potential agent for classical biological control, of hoary cress, Lepidium draba L. (Brassicaceae), in North America. Mesopolobus gemellus is associated with another seed weevil, Ceutorhynchus typhae (=C. floralis) (Herbst), in pods of shepherd's purse, Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik. (Brassicaceae). Implications of the host-parasitoid associations are discussed relative to the introduction of species to North America for classical biological control of the cabbage seedpod weevi

SCALENET: A SEARCHABLE INFORMATION SYSTEM ON SCALE INSECTS

SCALENET: A SEARCHABLE INFORMATION SYSTEM ON SCALE INSECTS. Systematic information on the scale insects of the world is currently being compiled and synthesized in a database system called BASIS. The information is organized by scale insect family and is searchable at a site on the World Wide Web called ScaleNet (http:\\www.sel.barc.usda.gov\scalenet\scalenet.htm). The site provides general information on scale insects, including sections on economic importance, life histories, distribution and ecology, classification and biographies. A query system provides information on valid names and provides a complete systematic catalogue for any valid genus or species. For a particular taxon, queries will give the following information: all hosts of a scale, distribution of a scale, references for a scale, a checklist of all valid species in a family or genus, biological notes and remarks for a scale. It also will give the scales that occur on a particular host, all systematic references on scales that were published between two dates, all references published by an author, all references with any of five selected words in a title or annotations, a list of all scales described by a particular author, all scales from a particular zoogeographic region, country or country subunit, and the scientific name of any common name of a scale. Key words: BASIS, Biological and systematic information service, Coccoidea, Coccinea, Aclerdidae, Asterolecaniidae, Beesoniidae, Cerococcidae, Coccidae, Conchaspididae, Dactylopiidae, Diaspididae, Eriococcidae, Halimococcidae, Kermesidae, Lecanodiaspididae, Margarodidae, Micrococcidae, Ortheziidae, Phoenicococcidae, Phenacoleachidae, Pseudococcidae, Tachardiidae