An integrative approach to distinguishing taxonomically challenging microhymenoptera: Eurytomidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) associated with cynipid galls on rose.

iii Abstract Cynipid wasps of the genus Diplolepis Geoffrey induce galls exclusively on roses. These galls are susceptible to attack by various hymenopteran parasitoids, the most common of which are members of the family Eurytomidae, with 10 described species having been recorded in association with rose galls in Canada. Because of their small size, sexual dimorphism, morphological plasticity and poorly known biology, species identification of eurytomids is often uncertain. This thesis focused on identifying the eurytomids associated with the galls of the 14 native species of Diplolepis in Canada, testing species limits using a combination of morphological, mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I (COI), ecological and geographical data. Six morphospecies were identified using morphological characters, while molecular data identified eight haplogroups. COI sequences identified one species of Tenuipetiolus Bugbee and seven species of Eurytoma Illiger, all associated with galls induced by Diplolepis in Canada. Inconsistencies were observed when compared to morphospecies, including four haplogroups within the genus Eurytoma that were overlooked by morphological studies. The morphospecies Eurytoma acuta Bugbee is a junior synonym of Eurytoma discordans Bugbee; however, the high intraspecific genetic divergences suggest the existence of a species complex. Two geographically sympatric but genetically distinct haplogroups were found within the morphospecies Eurytoma spongiosa Bugbee, “E. spongiosa 2” being a new species that was previously overlooked. An identification key along with (re)descriptions of all identified species was provided. This integrative taxonomy approach confirmed the oligophagous nature of most eurytomids, and provides new insight into the life history strategies of these parasitoids.Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biolog

Zhang et al Peristenus Code 1

R code for Fig 3A-

Zhang et al Peristenus Concat

Concatenated CO1 and CytB sequence

Zhang et al Peristenus Master

Text file with data for morphometrics analysi

Data from: Integrative taxonomy improves understanding of native beneficial fauna: revision of the Nearctic Peristenus pallipes complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and implications for release of exotic biocontrol agents

The Nearctic Peristenus pallipes complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) consists of two species groups that are further divided into nine species, separated largely using ecological rather than morphological differences. The species are re-examined with an integrative approach using morphometric multivariate ratios, molecular (COI and CytB), and ecological data to test the validity of the nine species. The data support only three valid species [P. dayi Goulet, P. mellipes (Cresson) and P. howardi Shaw] rather than nine. New synonymies include: P. braunae Goulet under P. dayi Goulet 2006 syn.n.; P. carcamoi Goulet, P. otaniae Goulet and P. pseudopallipes (Loan) under P. mellipes (Cresson) syn.n., and finally P. broadbenti Goulet 2006 and P. gillespiei Goulet 2006 under P. howardi Shaw 1999 syn.n. In light of these taxonomic revisions, the biology and distributions of the Nearctic P. pallipes complex are updated, resulting in three morphologically variable, widespread, multivoltine species rather than nine largely univoltine species with patchy distributions. The integrative taxonomic approach used here allowed for a more accurate delineation of native fauna and their potential to be competitively displaced by foreign biocontrol agents

Zhang et al Peristenus Master

Excel spreadsheet with data for morphometrics analysi

Multilocus Phylogeny Of The Parasitic Wasps In The Tribe Euphorini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) With Revised Generic Classifications

Background. Parasitic wasps in the family Braconidae are important regulators of insect pests, particularly in forest and agroecosystems. Within Braconidae, wasps in the tribe Euphorini (Euphorinae) attack economically damaging plant bugs (Miridae) that are major pests of field and vegetable crops. However, the evolutionary relationships of this tribe have been historically problematic. Most generic concepts have been based on ambiguous morphological characters which often leads to misidentification, complicating their use in biological control. Methods. Using a combination of three genes (COI, 28S, and CAD) and 80 taxa collected worldwide, we conducted Bayesian inference using MrBayes, and maximum likelihood analyses using RAxML and IQ-Tree on individual gene trees as well as the concatenated dataset. Results. The monophyly of the tribe Euphorini and the two genera Peristenus and Leiophron were confirmed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference. The subgeneric classifications of Leiophron sensu lato were not supported, and the monotypic genus Mama was also not supported. Discussion. Euphoriella, Euphoriana, Euphorus, and Mama syn. n, have been synonymized under Leiophron. Mama mariae syn. n was placed as a junior synonym of Leiophron reclinator. The generic concepts of Peristenus and Leiophron were refined to reflect the updated phylogeny. Further we discuss the need for revising Euphorini given the number of undescribed species within the tribe