Michael J. Sharkey

New PCR primers enhance investigation of host-parasitoid food webs

New PCR primers enhance investigation of host-parasitoid food webs Victoria G. Pook, Kacie J. Athey , Eric G. Chapman, Stephanie A. Clutts-Stoelb & Michael J. Sharkey* Department of Horticulture, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA, Department of Entomology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA, and Bluegrass Community & Technical College, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA

Deserters of Cremnops desertor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Agathidinae): Delimiting species boundaries in the C. desertor species-complex

The concept of the species Cremnops desertor (Linnaeus, 1758) and its complicated taxonomic history are discussed. A phylogenetic distance tree, based on COI data, is used to help delimit species. The recognition of C. alternans Enderlein, 1920 and C. malayensis Bhat, 1979 is proposed. Images, distribution maps, and suggestions for further research are included.

Spring-cleaning of African agathidines: new combinations for five species previously placed in Cremnops Förster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

Little work has been done with the African species of Cremnops since their original descriptions. Herein we propose new combinations for five species that are currently placed in Cremnops, i.e., C. atripennis Szépligeti 1914 and C. elegantissima Szépligeti 1908 are moved to Disophrys; C. borealis (Szépligeti 1914) and C. rubrigaster Masi 1944 are moved to Biroia; and C. pulchripennis Szépligeti 1905 is moved to and renamed Biroia neopulchipennis. These changes result in Disophrys atripennis (Szépligeti 1915) becoming a jr. homonym, which we change to Disophrys szatripennis. Additionally, two species are proposed as nomen dubia: C. rufitarsis Szépligeti 1913 and C. schubotzi Szépligeti 1915.

Colemanus keeleyorum (Braconidae, Ichneutinae s. l.): a new genus and species of Eocene wasp from the Green River Formation of western North America

A new genus and species of Ichneutinae s. l., Colemanus keeleyorum Fisher, is described from the Eocene Green River Formation in Colorado, USA. Colemanus was placed on a phylogenetic hypothesis using morphological data. Using a parsimony criterion, Colemanus is placed within Proteropini (Ichneutinae s. l.). Reconstructions of well-preserved regions (mesosomal dorsum and wings) are included. A previously described species from lower Oligocene Baltic amber is transferred to Colemanus, resulting in the new combination C. contortus (Brues, 1933).

Polydnavirus gene provides accurate identification of species in the genus Hyposoter (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Accurate identification of species of parasitoid Hymenoptera often requires the analysis of multiple genetic and non‐genetic traits. Here, we investigate the potential for nuclear polydnavirus (PDV) gene loci to provide species‐level discrimination in the parasitoid wasp genus Hyposoter (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). A region of one PDV gene, Cys‐d9.2, was sequenced from nine species of wasps and an additional two PDV genes, Cys‐d9.1 and Rep‐c18.2, were sequenced from multiple specimens of one species of wasp. A Bayesian phylogenetic analysis of the Cys‐d9.2 sequences resulted in accurate identification of species and no intraspecific variation was observed in this gene, Cys‐d9.1 or Rep‐c18.2. Further statistical analyses showed that Cys‐d9.2 has a high prevalence of non‐synonymous nucleotide substitutions. Our results support the use of Cys‐d9.2 as an additional genetic locus for species delimitation in Hyposoter, highlighting the value of PDV gene information to taxonomists studying the ichneumonid subfamily, Campopleginae.

A New Species of Diospilus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Brachistinae, Diospilini) from Mexico

Abstract A species of Diospilus from Mexico is described and illustrated. Diospilus sisyphus Sánchez, Figueroa and Sharkey new species attacks Anthonomus sisyphus Clark (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on the fruit of red nanche, Malpighia mexicana A. Juss. A key is included to identify the described species of Diospilus of the New World.