North American species of Agrostocynips Diaz (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), parasitoids of Agromyzidae (Diptera): bionomics and taxonomy

The genus Agrostocynips Diaz is redescribed, as well as two species endemic to the Nearctic: Agrostocynips diastrophi (Ashmead) and A. robusta (Ashmead). Previous to this study, only Neotropical species of Agrostocynips were well diagnosed both taxonomically and biologically. Agrostocynips belongs to the Zaeucoila group of genera, which are Neotropical eucoilines that principally parasitize Agromyzidae (Diptera); among these genera, species of Agrostocynips are some of the few representatives that are found in the Nearctic. Detailed host records and biological notes are provided for the Nearctic species

DISCOVERY OF THE FIRST NEARCTIC MOSS-EATING FLEA BEETLE, DISTIGMOPTERA BOREALIS BLAKE, 1943 (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE: GALERUCINAE: ALTICINI)

A flea beetle, Distigmoptera borealis Blake, 1943, is documented for the first time to feed on liverworts, Reboulia hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi (Aytoniaceae), and moss, Weissia controversa Hedw. (Pottiaceae). This is the first and only known bryobiont leaf beetle in the USA and Nearctic biogeographic region. The adult of D. borealis is redescribed and illustrated, and the larva and pupa of D. borealis are described and illustrated for the first time

Geographic Population Structure of the Sugarcane Borer, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), in the Southern United States

The sugarcane borer moth, Diatraea saccharalis, is widespread throughout the Western Hemisphere, and is considered an introduced species in the southern United States. Although this moth has a wide distribution and is a pest of many crop plants including sugarcane, corn, sorghum and rice, it is considered one species. The objective was to investigate whether more than one introduction of D. saccharalis had occurred in the southern United States and whether any cryptic species were present. We field collected D. saccharalis in Texas, Louisiana and Florida in the southern United States. Two molecular markers, AFLPs and mitochondrial COI, were used to examine genetic variation among these regional populations and to compare the sequences with those available in GenBank and BOLD. We found geographic population structure in the southern United States which suggests two introductions and the presence of a previously unknown cryptic species. Management of D. saccharalis would likely benefit from further investigation of population genetics throughout the range of this species

Uncovering Tropical Eiversity: Six Sympatric Cryptic Species of Blepharoneura (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Flowers of Gurania spinulosa (Cucurbitaceae) in Eastern Ecuador

Diversification of phytophagous insects is often associated with changes in the use of host taxa and host parts. We focus on a group of newly discovered Neotropical tephritids in the genus Blepharoneura, and report the discovery of an extraordinary number of sympatric, morphologically cryptic species, all feeding as larvae on calyces of flowers of a single functionally dioecious and highly sexually dimorphic host species (Gurania spinulosa) in eastern Ecuador. Molecular analyses of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase-I gene from flies reared from flowers of G. spinulosa reveal six distinct haplotype groups that differ by 7.2-10.1% bp (uncorrected pairwise distances; N = 624 bp). Haplotype groups correspond to six distinct and well-supported clades. Members of five clades specialize on the calyces of flowers of a particular sex: three clades comprise male flower specialists; two clades comprise female flower specialists; the sixth clade comprises generalists reared from male and female flowers. The six clades occupy significantly different morphological spaces defined by wing pigmentation patterns; however, diagnostic morphological characters were not discovered. Behavioural observations suggest specific courtship behaviours may play a role in maintaining reproductive isolation among sympatric species

New host record, new range information, and a new pattern of voltinism: Possible host races within the holly leafminer phytomyza glabricola kulp (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

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Agrostocynips diastrophi Ashmead

Agrostocynips diastrophi (Ashmead) Figures 1 A–F, 2 E Diagnosis. Differs from A. clavatus by the lack of an indication of the mesoscutal keel at the anterior margin of the mesoscutum (Fig. 1 F) (distinctly present in all specimens examined of A. clavatus); from A. robusta by the larger and more elongate scutellar plate (Fig. 1 E–F) (shorter and truncated posteriorly in A. robusta, Fig. 2 C), as well as the presence of 7-8 perimeter teeth on the dorsal surface of the scutellar plate (Fig. 1 E–F) (4- 6 present in A. robusta (Fig. 2 B); further differentiated from A. robusta by the more pronounced orbital furrows on the inner margins of the eyes (Fig. 1 C) (rarely present in A. robusta). Rediscription. As in description of genus, with orbital furrows distinctly developed, running from lateral aspect of torulus to dorsal margin of malar sulcus; scutellar plate with 7-8 perimeter tubercals present on dorsal surface, usually in pairs, occasionally non-paired posteriorly; posterior margin of scutellar plate broadly rounded. Material examined. Holotype. [first label] West Point, Neb[raska], [second label, folded] Diastrophus cuscataiformis [in Ashmead’s hand], [third label] Type No. 3280 U.S. N.M., [fourth label] Ganaspis diastrophi Ashmead, type [in Ashmead’s hand]. The holotype is a male, in poor condition, consisting of only the metasoma and hind legs glued to a card point. Deposited in USNM. Additional material. Several specimens from the following US states (deposited in UCRC and USNM): Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Biology. Reared from the agromyzids Phytomyza sp., Phytomyza bipunctata Loew (host plant not recorded), as well as an unknown species of Agromyza on Panicum (switchgrass, Poaceae). A specimen examined in the USNM perported to be reared from Phytomyza illicola requires confirmation. At the time of that collection (1919), it was not known that the linear miner and the blotch miner on I. opaca were two different species (see Kulp 1968). Further, no figitids have been reported from studies of parasitoids of P. ilicicola in Kentucky (Potter and Gordon 1985), Delaware (Kahn and Cornell 1989), Georgia (Braman and Pendley 1993), and various locations in the eastern U.S. by the junior author (SJS, unpub. data). Distribution. Southeastern United States (see material examined) and Northeastern Mexico (data not shown).Published as part of Buffington, Matthew L. & Scheffer, Sonja J., 2008, North American species of Agrostocynips Diaz (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), parasitoids of Agromyzidae (Diptera): bionomics and taxonomy, pp. 39-48 in Zootaxa 1817 on page 43, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27437

The relationship between variable host grouping and functional responses among parasitoids of \u3ci\u3eAntispila nysaefoliella\u3c/i\u3e (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae)

Our study investigated the importance of variability in the parasitoid community as a source of selection on host group size using a field population of the tupelo leafminer, Antispila nysaefoliella Clemens, which specializes on tupelo, Nyssa sylvatica Marsh. Larvae were collected from leaves with variable numbers of larvae and screened for parasitism using polymerase chain reaction of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I using markers designed specifically for amplifying parasitoid DNA while excluding host DNA. This method of selective PCR was effective for detecting the presence and identifying species of immature stages of three hymenopteran superfamilies: Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea and Platygastroidea, which represented 83.4%, 16.0% and 0.6% of the total detectable parasitism, respectively. Our resulting sequences were then calibrated with sequences from identified adult parasitoids that had been either reared or field-captured. A cluster analysis revealed 10 distinct clades that showed differences in attack patterns with respect to host traits and season. Total parasitism followed an inverse density-dependent or density-independent pattern with respect to host density (number per leaf). However, when parasitoid taxa were considered separately, one clade, which could be a cryptic species of Pnigalio maculipes Crawford (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae), was found to increase its per leaf attack rate with host density. Our results suggest that parasitoid community composition and differences among species in their attack strategies can play a large role in determining the adaptive advantage of host grouping

Agrostocynips Diaz

Agrostocynips Diaz Agrostocynips Diaz, 1976: 32. Type-species Agrostocynips clavatus Diaz, by original designation. Diagnosis. Genal carina reduced. Orbital furrows reduced to absent. Mesoscutal keel absent. Scutellar plate with distinct tubercles present. Most easily confused with Zaeucoila and Aegeseucoela, both of which have complete genal carinae, a mesoscutal keel present (at least anteriorly) and distinct orbital furrows. Redescription. Head. Nearly glabrous with scattered setae along lower face, clypeus and gena; ocellar hair patch absent (Fig. 1 C). Ventral 1 / 4 of lower face with admedian clypeal furrows converging toward the clypeus. Orbital furrows faint to completely reduced, originating from the lateral aspect of torulus and running to dorsal margin of malar sulcus (Fig. 1 C). Malar sulcus compound or simple. Malar space smooth; anteroventral margin with a raised protuberance. Genal carina present only along ventral margin of malar space (Fig. 1 D) (often visible only when head is removed from mesosoma). Antennae. Female: 13 segments, moniliform (Figs 1 A and 2 A); segments 3-13 of sub-equal size; rhinaria present on segments 4-13. Male: 15 segments, moniliform; rhinaria present on segments 3-15; segments 4-15 sub-equal in size; segment 3 modified, slightly longer than segment 4, curved outwardly, excavated laterally. Pronotum. Pronotal plate wide, with setae along the dorsal margin (Fig. 1 F); dorsal margin rounded; pronotal fovea open. Pronotal triangle absent. Pronotal impression absent. Lateral pronotal carina absent. Lateral portion of the pronotum smooth and glabrous (Fig 1 E). Mesoscutum. Smooth and glabrous; no sculpture present (Fig. 1 F). Parascutal impression incomplete, narrow. Notauli, mesoscutal keel, parapsidal ridges and parapsidal hair line absent (Fig. 1 F). Mesopectus. Upper part and lower part of mesopleuron smooth and glabrous (Fig. 1 E). Dorsal margin of mesopleural triangle well defined, rounded ventrally. Mesopleural carina simple. Lower part of mesopleuron bounded by distinct precoxal carina; surcoxal depression present, smooth. Scutellum. Scutellar plate large to medium; midpit placed between center point of plate and posterior margin of plate; rim of plate translucent; prominent tubercles commonly found along the entire rim (often resembling "sawblade teeth" in lateral view) (Figs 1 B, E–F, 2 B). Dorsal surface of scutellum reticulate, margined laterally and posteriorly; rounded laterally and posteriorly; laterodorsal and posterior projections of the scutellum absent. Lateral bars as long as wide; ventral lobe present. Scutellar fovea oval, smooth and deep. Metapectal-Propodeal Complex. Anterior 3 / 4 of metapectus glabrous, posterior 1 / 4 setose (Fig. 1 E). Spiracular groove with a well defined dorsal margin, reduced ventral margin. Posterior margin of metapectus ridged. Metapleural ridge reduced to absent; submetapleural ridge absent. Anterior impressions of metepimeron and metepisternum present. Anteroventral cavity oval, setose. Propodeum covered in both long and short setae. Lateral propodeal carinae semi-parallel, bowed at junction with the auxiliary propodeal carinae; auxiliary propodeal carinae reduced. Nucha glabrous, crenulate. Wings. Hyaline, with base of wing rarely darkened; setose (Fig. 2 D –E). R 1 complete; marginal cell as long as deep. Apical fringe present, medium in length. Legs. Fore- and mid-coxa sub-equal in size, hind-coxa twice the size of either fore- or mid-coxa (Fig. 2 B). Fore coxa variously setose; mid and hind coxa with distinct lateral and posterior dorsoventral setal bands. Femora and tibiae with sparse setal lines; tarsomeres with dense appressed setae. Length of hind tarsomere 1 equal to the combined length of remaining hind tarsal segments. Metasoma. Female: sub-equal in size to mesosoma (Figs. 1 A and 2 A). Base of syntergum with hairy ring present, composed of dense, short setae and longer, thin setae; remainder of metasoma glabrous. Micropunctures present on posterior 1 / 3 to 1 / 4 of syntergum, and on remaining terga. Terga posterior to syntergum abruptly directed ventrally, resulting in a near 90 degree angle between syntergum and terga. Male: As in female. Distribution. Neotropical Region: Argentina, Chile, though Central America and into Central Mexico; Nearctic Region: Continental United States and into Southern Canada (British Columbia). Biology. Agrostocynips clavatus has been recorded in the neotropics from several agromyzid species in the genera Melanagromyza (De Santis et al. 1976) and Liriomyza (Diaz & Valladares, 1979; Salvo, pers. comm.). Nearctic species of Agrostocynips have been reared from agromyzids in Agromyza (on Panicum (Poaceae)), Liriomyza (several host plants) and from Phytomyza (on Ilex cassine and I. myrtifolia). Included species clavatus Diaz, 1976: 32. Holotype in MLP (not seen). diastrophi (Ashmead), Buffington (2004). Ganaspis diastrophi Ashmead, 1896: 184 -185. Holotype in USNM. enneatoma (Diaz), Diaz & Gallardo (1997). Zaeucoila enneatoma Diaz, 1975: 1999. Holotype in MLP (not seen). robusta (Ashmead), Buffington (2004). Chrestosema robusta Ashmead, 1894: 68. Holotype in USNM.Published as part of Buffington, Matthew L. & Scheffer, Sonja J., 2008, North American species of Agrostocynips Diaz (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), parasitoids of Agromyzidae (Diptera): bionomics and taxonomy, pp. 39-48 in Zootaxa 1817 on pages 41-43, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.27437

FIGURE 1. A–F in North American species of Agrostocynips Diaz (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae), parasitoids of Agromyzidae (Diptera): bionomics and taxonomy

FIGURE 1. A–F, Agrostocynips diastrophi (Ashmead). A, habitus, female; B, close-up of head and mesosoma, female; C, SEM of female head, anterior view; D, SEM of female head, posterior view; E, SEM of female mesosoma, lateral view; F, SEM of female mesosoma, dorsal view

Plant host affiliation and redescription of Phytomyza subtenella frost (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

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