Javier Torréns

Description of the species of Dicoelothorax Ashmead (Chalcidoidea, Eucharitidae) and biology of D. platycerus Ashmead.

Abstract Descriptions of the adults of the two species of Dicoelothorax Ashmead, Dicoelothorax parviceps and Dicoelothorax platycerus, and the eggs, planidia and pupae of Dicoelothorax platycerus Ashmead are provided. Females of Dicoelothorax platycerus deposit their eggs on the underside of leaves of Pseudabutilon virgatum (Cav.) Fryxell (Malvaceae). The host of Dicoelothorax platycerus is Ectatomma brunneum Smith (Formicidae: Ectatomminae).

Description of the female of Colocharis hungi Torréns (Hymenoptera, Eucharitidae) and identification key for the species of Colocharis

The female of Colocharis hungi Torréns (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) is newly described, detailing the characters that distinguish this species. In addition, we provide images and comments for C. hungi, diagnoses for all species of Colocharis Heraty, a key to species, and a distribution map for the species.

Two new species of Bradynobaenus Spinola, 1851 (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae) in the semiarid area of Argentina

Bradynobaenus diminutus Torréns & Fidalgo, sp. nov. and B. porteri Torréns & Fidalgo, sp. nov. (Argentina: La Rioja) are described and illustrated. A revised key of the genus is provided.

A new species of Pseudochalcura Ashmead (Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae) from Argentina with descriptions of alternate sexes of two other species.

Pseudochalcura Ashmead is a genus of parasitic wasps within Eucharitidae (Chalcidoidea) that are all parasitoids of ants. The genus is widespread in the New World, with different species known from the Yukon and Alaska to northern Chile and Argentina. Descriptions of the adults (both sexes) of Pseudochalcura carinata sp. nov. from Argentina, and of the males of P. pauca Heraty and P. prolata Heraty are provided. A revised identification key to species is included.

Biology and phylogenetic placement of a new species of Lasiokapala Ashmead from Argentina (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)

Within the ant‐parasitic wasp family Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera), the Kapala clade is a monophyletic group attacking Ectatomminae and Ponerinae. Members often express extreme phenotypic features, especially in the morphology of the paired frenal spines. Although the means of attack and developmental history of the eucharitid wasps within the ant nest are very similar, the means by which they oviposit and optimize encounters of their active first‐instar larvae with ants is highly variable. The relationships and life‐history strategies of Lasiokapala Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) and related taxa within the Kapala clade are discussed based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular data. Descriptions are provided for the adults (both sexes), eggs and planidia of Lasiokapala spiralicornis sp.n. from Santiago del Estero (Argentina). Females deposit their eggs on the underside of leaves of Sida cordifolia L. (Malvaceae) and the likely host is postulated to be the genus Ectatomma (Formicidae: Ectatomminae). Even within a closely related group of genera, there is extreme independent divergence in morphology of scutellar spines, antennae and other features, but the larvae and larval biology are highly conserved across a much larger group of Eucharitidae.

Review of the genus Eotilla Schuster, 1949 (Hymenoptera: Bradynobaenidae: Typhoctinae: Eotillini) and description of new species from Argentina.

Diagnoses for the genus Eotilla Schuster, 1949 based on males and females, new generic and specific characters, descriptions of two new Argentinian species (Eotilla schusteri Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov. and E. medanito Torréns, Fidalgo, Roig-Alsina & Brothers, sp. nov., based on both sexes), a description of the female of E. superba Brothers, 1974 and redescriptions of the males of E. mickeli Schuster, 1949 and E. superba are provided. A key to the species of Eotilla is presented.

A new species of Elasmus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), parasitoid of Phyllocnistis citrella stainton (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) in south America

ABSTRACT A complex of native parasitoids has been found to attack the citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella Stainton, since its introduction into Argentina. Elasmus phyllocnistoides n. sp., an indigenous parasitoid, that achieves parasitism levels of 0.08% to 37.7%, is described, the main morphological characters of both sexes are illustrated, and characters are given to distinguish it from other Elasmus spp. present in the Neotropical region.