Progress 08/01/03 to 07/31/05
Outputs
Work is now complete on the Nearctic fauna of Microplitis Foerster, and a fully illustrated identification key is being submitted for publication in both a paper dichotomous and an interactive online form. Six new species are being described, and the status of the other 34, some of which were poorly known, is now clarified. The Neotropical fauna has been much more poorly known, despite an earlier publication by the PI produced during the first funding period of the grant. At least 40 undescribed species appear to be present, along with less than 10 described species in the region. A comprehensive taxonomic revision of the entire fauna is being prepared, and should be submitted in the current year. Preliminary phylogenetic relationships are now available for several of the species groups, and are being expanded based on data from seven genes and morphological characters. As a by-product of this work, several new species in related genera have also been described and
published (see Publications).
Impacts
Microplitis is a large and ecologically dominant genus, and in addition has several species commonly used in biological control projects. The availablility of fully illustrated identification aids to the New World species will fill a large hole for ecologists and economic entomologists that has existed for nearly 100 years, since the (unfortunately unillustrated and incomplete) work of Carl Muesebeck in the 1920's. In addition, two graduate students at the University of Illinois have received cutting-edge training in classical taxonomy, scanning electron and digital photography, and in acquisition and phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequence data. One has already received the Ph. D. degree and moved on to a postdoctoral position in the field; the other is scheduled to finish shortly after the expiration of this grant.
Publications
- Valerio, A.A. and Whitfield, J.B. 2005. Two new species of the genus Austrocotesia Austin and Dangerfield (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Andean region of South America. Zootaxa 888: 1-11.
- Valerio, A.A., Rodriguez, J.J., Whitfield, J.B. and Janzen, D.H. 2005. Prasmodon zlotnicki, a new Neotropical species of the genus Prasmodon Nixon (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) from Costa Rica, with the first host records from the genus. Zootaxa 1016: 29-38.
- Whitfield, J.B., Valerio, A.A. and Choi, W.Y. 2005. Redescription of Pelicope yuccamica Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae), with notes on its unusual biology and relationships. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 14: 200-205.
- Choi, W.Y. and Whitfield, J.B. 2005. Cuneogaster, a new genus of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from South America. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington (In Press).
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Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
We have completed several smaller projects revising parasitic wasps groups related to Microplitis, and are currently working on identification keys (including both conventionally published and web-interactive) to the North American species. At the moment we are partway through sorting and revising the neotropical species, mosty of which are currently undescribed. We anticipate having this completed by mid 2005.
Impacts
Microplitis is a large and economically important genus within the Braconidae, and includes a number of biological control agents. The genus has never had a satisfactory classification, and the only available identification keys for the New World were incomplete and lacked illustrations. This new work will produce a comprehensive treatment of this group for both specialists and non-specialists alike.
Publications
- Figueroa-De la Rosa, J.I., Valerio, A.A., Lopez V.M., Whitfield, J.B. and Sharkey, M.J. 2003. Descriptions of two new species of Epsilogaster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Mendesellinae) from Mexico and Costa Rica. Pan-Pacific Entomologist 79: 198-206.
- Chen, X., Whitfield, J.B. and He, J. 2004. Revision of the subfamily Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in China. I. The genera Austerocardiochiles Dangerfield, Austin & Whitfield, Eurycardiochiles Dangerfield, Austin & Whitfield and Psilommiscus Enderlein. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 106: 35-51.
- Whitfield, J.B., Choi, W.-Y. and Suh, K.-I. 2004. Andesipolis, a puzzling new genus of Braconidae from South America. Zootaxa, 438: 1-15.
- Chen, X., Belokobylskij, S.A., van Achterberg, C. and Whitfield, J.B. 2004. Cornutorogas, a new genus with four new species of the subfamily Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Oriental Region. Journal of Natural History 38: 2211-2223.
- Michel-Salzat, A. and Whitfield, J.B. 2004. Preliminary evolutionary relationships within the parasitoid wasp genus Cotesia (Hymenoptera: Microgastrinae): Combined analysis of four genes. Systematic Entomology 29: 371-382.
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Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
The study is nearing completion for the North American species of Microplitis. Already the species can be largely identified using a database of photographs deposited in a searchable database on the web at http://www.life.uiuc.edu/whitfield/data and work is well advanced on producing a printed illustrated key for an entomological journal. The large number of new neotropical species are being organized, photographed and gradually described. A paper describing the systematics and biology of the New World species of Microplitis that attack sphingid caterpillars has already been published, and additional papers are in the planning stages. Finally, a number of the species are being sequenced for 4 genes (16S, 28S, COI and longwave opsin) to provide data for molecular phylogeny of the species groups within Microplitis, and to place Microplitis within the subfamily classification.
Impacts
Microplitis is a large and economically important genus within the Braconidae, and includes a number of biological control agents. The genus has never had a satisfactory classification, and the only available identification keys for the New World were incomplete and lacked illustrations. This new comprehensive work will produce a comprehensive treatment of this group for both specialists and non-specialists alike.
Publications
- Deans, A.R., Whitfield, J.B. and Janzen, D.H. 2003. Taxonomy and natural history of the microgastrine braconid genus Alphomelon. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 12: 1-41.
- Janzen, D.H., Walker, A.K., Whitfield, J.B., Delvare, G. and Gauld, I.D. 2003. Host-specificity and hyperparasitoids of three new species of Costa Rican Microplitis (Braconidae: Microgastrinae), parasitoids of sphingid caterpillars. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 12: 42-76.
- Valerio, A.A. and Whitfield, J.B. 2003. A new species of the enigmatic genus Teremys Mason, T. hanniae, from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Zootaxa 364: 1-9.
- Whitfield, J.B. and Oltra Moscardo, M.T. 2004. Revision of the neotropical species of Deuterixys Mason (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Journal of Hymnoptera Research (In Press).
- Valerio, A.A., Deans, A.R. and Whitfield, J.B. 2004. Review of the Microgastrine Braconid wasp genus Exoryza, with description of a new species, E. monocavus, from Central America. Zootaxa (In Press).
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