First evidence of Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitization in Finnish castor bean ticks (Ixodes ricinus)

Ixodiphagus hookeri (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a parasitoid wasp specialized in parasitizing the larvae and nymphs of ticks (Acari: Ixodidae). As parasitized ticks die prior to reproduction, I. hookeri is seen as a prime biological control agent candidate. Despite this, little is known of their occurrence or ecology in northern Europe. The main aim of the current study was to determine whether adult wasps or parasitized ticks can be found from a tick-infested island in southwestern Finland, using field collections and molecular methods. Following the initial discovery of an adult I. hookeri female on Seili Island, we set out to collect further specimens via sweep netting and Malaise trappings between May and October 2017. Furthermore, 1310 Ixodes ricinus (1220 nymphs, 90 adults) collected from the island during 2012-2014 were screened for I. hookeri DNA using qPCR. Whereas no further wasp specimens could be collected via sweep netting or Malaise trappings, I. hookeri DNA was consistently detected in I. ricinus nymphs (annual minimum infection rates in 2012, 2013, and 2014: 2.3, 0.4, and 0.5%, respectively), whereas all adult samples were negative. Although the annually repeated detections of parasitized ticks suggest that the wasp inhabits the island, further field and molecular surveys are needed to more comprehensively determine the status and stability of the population

Species delineation of Malaysian mangrove fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) using DNA barcodes

Identification and revision of firefly species are largely based on morphological characteristics. Subsequently, female firefly specimens have been neglected in taxonomic inventories because morphological descriptions relied only on male firefly specimens. In light of successful DNA barcoding in many invertebrates, this study explored the potential of DNA barcoding to complement morphological identification of fireflies in Malaysia. Firefly specimens were collected from riparian forests (including mangroves) in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. Specimens were morphologically examined, and their DNA was extracted for molecular analysis. The morphological data of the male specimens was found to be congruent with molecular data, i.e., both indicated 12 species. However, inclusion of females and larvae in the DNA analysis increased the species count to 14 species. We also found distinct geographically structured variations in the DNA barcodes of two species: Pteroptyx tener Olivier and Pteroptyx bearni Olivier. The study indicates that firefly species delimitation using traditional taxonomic knowledge and new technology like DNA barcoding are compatible, therefore increasing the reliability of species identification