Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to study the systematics and natural history of parasitoid and phytophagous wasps to facilitate their identification, understand and predict their impact on agricultural commodities and products, and disseminate biosystematic information on them to an international clientele. Most species of Hymenoptera are beneficial natural enemies or pollinators, but some are plant pests or bio-control antagonists. This project will focus on chalcidoid, ichneumonoid, cynipoid, and platygastroid wasps, which are taxa of high priority to agriculture and for which the project investigators have expertise. Those groups are important to agriculture because they are useful for bio-control of pest insects and plants and also include species that cause damage to agricultural commodities and products or disrupt bio-control. In addition to conducting research on those groups, the investigators will develop expert systems to provide a broad community of customers increased access to information pertinent to beneficial natural enemies and pests. This project also includes an identification service function for regulatory and research organizations, as well as a curatorial service function for building and maintaining portions of the National Insect Collection (NIC) for use in specimen diagnostics and research. We will focus on the following objectives over the next five years: Objective 1: Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Objective 2: Compile, organize, and post on the web, searchable electronic databases of hymenopteran families in the U.S. National Insect and Mite Collection, tools, and images of parasitic and plant-feeding Hymenoptera. (non-hypothesis driven) Objective 3: Provide accurate and efficient identifications of Hymenoptera for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and other federal and state regulatory agencies, ARS researchers, and stakeholders across the United States. (non-hypothesis driven) Approach (from AD-416): Morphological and molecular characters (DNA sequences) will be generated to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among agriculturally important flies and parasitoid wasps that attack them. These data will be used to develop new diagnostic tools (descriptions, illustrations, keys). Databases containing scientific names, distributions, taxonomic literature, and host plant and specimen data pertaining to fruit flies will be expanded and disseminated to the user community. These and other taxonomic tools will be made accessible to the public via publications, the internet, and other electronic media. Timely and accurate identifications of flies will be provided, including those intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ or submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and portions of the National Collection in the National Museum of Natural History, a vital tool for research and identification, will be maintained and expanded. This is a final report for 8042-22000-289-00D. The new project plan is currently finishing up NP304 OSQR Review. 2015-2020 Objective 1. Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Partial milestone completeness was the result of a gap in technical support due to retirement. Revisionary systematics of Leptopilina and Trissolcus (Buffington). All milestones for this project were met. The final publication on the Trissolcus project was a phylogeny of Trissolcus species that attack BMSB and relatives. By the end of this project, species of Trissolcus from western Europe, North America, and Asia can all be readily identified to species. Furthermore, this fundamental research was leveraged for identifying the first record of Trissolcus japonicus in the continental U. S. The concerted research project on Trissolcus was featured in American Entomologist, and the cover of the same publication featured an image taken by our lab. Research on Leptopilina lagged slightly behind Trissolcus, but an inventory of the North American species was completed, along with a key to species and a new phylogeny of species. This project was completed just in time for new research in the Pacific Northwest on putative Asian species of Leptopilina that have made landfall in North America. Systematics of plant-feeding Eurytomidae and Eulophidae: Milestones for this project were completely or partially met. Milestones at 12 and 24 months were met both through specimen acquisition via collaborator network and travel to the Neotropics for the purpose of collecting. Several genera and the species therein were prepared, identified, and characterized. Milestones at 36, 48, and 60 months were partially met. Projects related to the biological control of various invasive plants and/ or insects emerged and required redirection of research effort. The initial conception of the number of specimens that could be processed to make them available for inclusion in research publications fell short, though many were processed and have been published or remain in the process of completion. Revisionary systematics of Symphya: Milestones for this portion of Objective 1 ranged from substantially met to not met. Progress that was made toward revisionary systematics of Symphya in months 24-48 included acquisition of DNA sequence data (i.e., mitochondrial COI, ribosomal 28S D2-D3) for five species, imaging via light microscopy for 12 species, and 206 specimens sorted into morphospecies and identified to species. Additionally, in months 36-60 sequences from 193-1,658 loci were obtained from each of 30 species via the UCE phylogenomic pipeline. Projects related to biocontrol of invasive insects and plants emerged that required the redirection of time and resources toward research on those invasive species. 2015-2020 Objective 2. The second objective of the current project was to develop new bioinformatics systems that provide data on parasitic and plant-feeding wasps. Accomplishments from this are as follows. We developed two websites to disseminate biosystematic information to customers worldwide: (1) ⿿Chalcidkey (www.codex.begoniasociety.org/ chalcidkey/), an online key to subfamilies of Chalcidoidea expanded from a dichotomous key published previously in a paper-based journal and (2) ⿿Hymenoptera Holotypes of the Smithsonian Institution (www.USNMHymtypes. org), a database of digital images and biosystematic information for non- aculeate hymenopteran species-group names with primary type specimens in the NIC. We also contributed content to ⿿WaspWeb (www.waspweb.org), a bioinformatics resource for wasps recorded from the Afrotropical Region. ⿿WaspWeb includes interactive keys (Penev et al. 2009) for several hymenopteran groups, including Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Cynipoidea. Another accomplishment from project Objective 2 was the biennial offering of a training course focused on the taxonomy, biology, and identification of Hymenoptera. Instructors for the course consisted of the investigators on this plan and scientists at the American Entomological Institute (Gainesville, Florida), the Canadian National Collection of Insects (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada), the University of California-Davis (Davis, California), the University of Kentucky (Lexington, Kentucky), Utah State University (Logan, Utah), and George Washington University (Washington, DC). It was designed to deliver biosystematic information to researchers studying beneficial and pest hymenopterans, as well as pest management and regulatory personnel. It was offered in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 and has served nearly 200 customers from 17 countries. The Hymenoptera project scientists also oversaw the rehousing and databasing of 21,162 ethanol specimens of sawflies (larvae and adults) and ants, the single most comprehensive collection of such material in world; the project also oversaw the imaging of primary holotypes of the NMNH Hymenoptera collection, totaling 25,832 images with all data associated with each image contained in the NMNH (National Museum of Natural History) specimen database. 2015-2020 Objective 3. The third objective of the project was to provide expert Hymenoptera identifications and curatorial services in the NIC. Notable accomplishments from project objective three are as follows. We identified 17,257 specimens representing 4,259 lots, including 1,822 specimens/lots that required urgent identification; accessioned 500,000 specimens into the NMNH; processed 415 loan requests and returns for specimens in the NMNH; and reorganized specimens in 480 drawers (310,000 specimens) in the NMNH. The aforementioned accomplishments are relevant because specimens accessioned into the NMNH, including those acquired from identification requests, were used for all objectives in the project. Further, curation of the NMNH, including specimen loans to specialists worldwide and reorganization given nomenclatural changes, resulted in a larger proportion of determined specimens that were accessed rapidly for use in the project. Progress on peripheral projects and baseline research for the next 5-year plan. Progress was made on a joint project with other scientists in Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C. that has resulted in the first phylogenomic analysis of Hymenoptera relationships, as well as spin off projects on the phylogenomics of Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Cynipoidea, Platygastroidea, Ceraphronoidea and Chalcidoidea. These big data projects include over 4, 000 species of Hymenoptera and 210,000 base pairs of data, requiring super computers to analyze. The resulting trees are the most accurate in Hymenoptera research, providing a predictive power to understanding beneficial insects and their control of pests, as well as pestiferous species that threaten agriculture. Progress was made on the identification and distribution of parasitoid species that attack spotted- wing Drosophila (SWD) throughout North America, Mexico southeast Asia, and Western Europe, and a paper is nearing publication. This includes a new species being described that is associated with SWD, first records of species attacking SWD in North America, and an updated species-level phylogeny that now circumscribes species of Leptopilina that attack SWD. Progress was made to generate interaction networks for plants, caterpillars, and parasitic insects in North America. This consisted of collaboration with four researchers (3 domestic institutions) on community dynamics for plants, caterpillars, and their associated parasitoids in eastern U.S. forests. Records of 397 interactions were compiled; the quality of each interaction record was assessed for use in generating quantitative interaction networks. Progress was made toward discerning species limits for braconid wasps in a genus containing cryptic species. This research consists of a collaboration among four researchers in SEL to obtain morphological and molecular data for species delimitation, as well as develop tools for species identification. Sequence data quality assessments were carried out for 147 specimens, and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to circumscribe the specimens into species. The utility of morphological characters for species delimitation was assessed given the resulting molecular phylogenies. Progress was made on determining the diversity of parasitoid wasps near crop fields in northern Virginia. Wasp specimens were sampled in grassland habitat near organic fruit and vegetable fields to discover novel parasitoid wasp diversity and determine the occurrence of natural enemies important for biocontrol of crop pests. Approximately 15,600 specimens were pulled from 24 insect trap samples; 1,800 specimens were prepared for identification and deposited into the NMNH. Accomplishments 01 Researching taxonomic and bionomic data on wasps helps protect U.S. agricultural interests. Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. ARS researchers at Beltsville, Maryland, focused on some 200 various species of parasitic wasps associated with: stink bugs that eat major food crops in the U.S. and infest homes; flies that eat strawberry and blackberry; herbivorous and wood-boring insects in U.S. forests that feed on trees and kill them; plant-feeding insects in grasslands adjacent to crop fields; invasive spiders in Europe; and fire ants that disturb livestock. Along with clarifying identification, new biological attributes and host records were discovered for wasps important to agriculture and natural resources. Correct identification of biological control agents, as well as an understanding of their biological role in mitigating pestiferous species populations, is essential for making rearing and quarantine decisions in the protection of U.S. agricultural interests worldwide.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Bon, M., Talamas, E., Hoelmer, K.A., Buffington, M.L. 2019. Molecular phylogeny of Trissolcus wasps (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), natural enemies of stink bugs. Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 73:201-217.
- Vandenberg, N.J. 2019. A new monotypic genus and new species of lady beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae: Coccinellini) from western South America. Zootaxa. 4712(3):413-422.
- Adamski, D., Gates, M.W., Torrens, J., Fidalgo, P., Kula, R.R., Buffington, M.L. 2018. Immature stages of Scrobipalpula patagonica Povolný (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae: Gnorimoschemini), a gall inducer of Suaeda divaricata Moq. (Amaranthaceae) in Argentina with a summary of its parasitoids. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 120(4) :659-669.
- Broadley, H.J., Kula, R.R., Boettner, G.H., Andersen, J.C., Griffin, B., Elkinton, J.S. 2019. Recruitment of native parasitic wasps to populations of the invasive winter moth in the Northeastern United States. Biological Invasions. 21:2871-2890.
- Cruaud, A., Delvare, G., Nidelet, S., Saune, L., Ratnasingham, S., Chartois, M., Blaimer, B., Gates, M.W., Brady, S.J., Faure, S., Van Noort, S., Rossi, J.P., Rasplus, J.Y. 2020. Ultra-Conserved Elements and morphology reciprocally illuminate conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses in Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea). Cladistics. 1-35.
- Figueroa, J., Sanchez-Garcia, J., Pineda, S., Martinez, A., Kula, R.R. 2019. Two new species of Coelinius Nees (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from Mexico. Zootaxa. 4664(4):559-564.
- Golec, J.R., Aparicio, E.M., Wang, X., Duan, J.J., Fuester, R.W., Tatman, D.M., Kula, R.R. 2020. Cerambycid communities and their associated hymenopteran parasitoids from major hardwood trees in Delaware, USA: implications for biocontrol of invasive longhorned beetles. Environmental Entomology.
- King, K., Mottern, J.L., Shimbori, E., Kula, R.R. 2018. Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) from Mount Desert Island and Schoodic Peninsula areas of Acadia National Park, including a new species of Clinocentrus Haliday (Rogadinae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 120(3):549-567.
- Zemenick, A.T., Kula, R.R., Russo, L., Tooker, J. 2018. A network approach reveals parasitoid wasps to be generalized nectar foragers. Arthropod- Plant Interactions. 13(2):239-251.
- Priest, R.J., Kula, R.R., Gates, M.W. 2020. Leaf mining insects and their parasitoids in the old-growth forest of the Huron Mountains. Great Lakes Entomologist. 52(3-4):117-160.
- Valenzuela Ecoboza, F.O., Palacios Torres, R., Cortez Mondaca, E., Buffington, M.L., Lomeli Flores, J., Valdez Carrasco, J. 2020. Species of Eucoilinae Associated with Agromyzidae in Mexico. Southwestern Entomologist. 44:705-714.
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to study the systematics and natural history of parasitoid and phytophagous wasps to facilitate their identification, understand and predict their impact on agricultural commodities and products, and disseminate biosystematic information on them to an international clientele. Most species of Hymenoptera are beneficial natural enemies or pollinators, but some are plant pests or bio-control antagonists. This project will focus on chalcidoid, ichneumonoid, cynipoid, and platygastroid wasps, which are taxa of high priority to agriculture and for which the project investigators have expertise. Those groups are important to agriculture because they are useful for bio-control of pest insects and plants and also include species that cause damage to agricultural commodities and products or disrupt bio-control. In addition to conducting research on those groups, the investigators will develop expert systems to provide a broad community of customers increased access to information pertinent to beneficial natural enemies and pests. This project also includes an identification service function for regulatory and research organizations, as well as a curatorial service function for building and maintaining portions of the National Insect Collection (NIC) for use in specimen diagnostics and research. We will focus on the following objectives over the next five years: Objective 1: Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Objective 2: Compile, organize, and post on the web, searchable electronic databases of hymenopteran families in the U.S. National Insect and Mite Collection, tools, and images of parasitic and plant-feeding Hymenoptera. (non-hypothesis driven) Objective 3: Provide accurate and efficient identifications of Hymenoptera for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and other federal and state regulatory agencies, ARS researchers, and stakeholders across the United States. (non-hypothesis driven) Approach (from AD-416): Morphological and molecular characters (DNA sequences) will be generated to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among agriculturally important flies and parasitoid wasps that attack them. These data will be used to develop new diagnostic tools (descriptions, illustrations, keys). Databases containing scientific names, distributions, taxonomic literature, and host plant and specimen data pertaining to fruit flies will be expanded and disseminated to the user community. These and other taxonomic tools will be made accessible to the public via publications, the internet, and other electronic media. Timely and accurate identifications of flies will be provided, including those intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ or submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and portions of the National Collection in the National Museum of Natural History, a vital tool for research and identification, will be maintained and expanded. Progress was made on a joint project with other scientists in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Washington D.C., which has resulted in the first phylogenomic analysis of Hymenoptera relationships, as well as spin off projects on the phylogenomics of Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, Cynipoidea, Platygastroidea, Ceraphronoidea and Chalcidoidea. These big data projects include over 4000 species of Hymenoptera and 210,000 base pairs of data, requiring super computers to analyze. The resulting trees are the most accurate in Hymenoptera research, providing a predictive power to understanding beneficial insects and their control of pests, as well as pestiferous species that threaten agriculture. Progress was made on the identification and distribution of parasitoid species that attack spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD) throughout North America, Mexico, southeast Asia, and Western Europe, and a paper is nearing publication. A new genus is being described that is associated with SWD, and an updated species-level phylogeny now circumscribes species of Leptopilina that attack SWD. Progress was made on a species-level phylogeny of Trissolcus wasps that attack the brown marmorated stink bug. This phylogeny, which is nearing publication, is the first of it⿿s kind and clarifies patterns of evolution and species limitations within the genus. Progress was made on the discovery and description of new species from China and Mexico. The new species are in genera with congeners known to attack flies in wheat and mushrooms. Progress was also made in research on wasps parasitic on herbivorous insects in U.S. forests. Morphological and molecular data were used to discover and diagnose wasp species parasitic on winter moth, a serious exotic pest in U.S. forests, and discern the effect of those wasps on winter moth populations. Parasitic wasps were also reared from leaf-mining flies in U.S. forests and morphological features analyzed to discover new plant-herbivore-wasp associations. Additionally, research was conducted to determine the extent that parasitic wasps visit flowers and to what degree particular plant species support parasitic wasp diversity⿿two factors critical in conservation biocontrol. Research was also conducted to determine natural enemies of a moth used for classical biocontrol of exotic invasive Old World climbing fern; it resulted in discovery of new records of two wasp species attacking the biocontrol agent in Florida. Progress was made on the discovery, description, and biological characterization of parasitic wasps associated with squash bug in the U.S. and determining the role of nectar resources on level of bug parasitisim. An invasive spider expanding its range and displacing native species in Europe was discovered to be parasitized by a wasp described from India, which is in the native range of the spider. Work examining the effects of competition among hyperparasitoids on primary biological control agents was completed. A genus of wasp that induces galls on oaks was reviewed as these wasps can cause deformities on both commercially available trees, impacting resale, and recently planted trees, decreasing their landscape value and vigor. Objective 4 was met, which falls under National Program 304; Component 3, Insects and Mites; Subcomponent 3B, Natural Ecosystems; Problem Statement 3B1, Early detection and prevention of both invasive and native insect and mite pests. During the past year, ARS researchers in Beltsville, Maryland (Smithsonian Institution), completed identifications of Hymenoptera, including those intercepted at all ports-of-entry into the U. S., and those submitted to the laboratory by universities and agricultural extension agencies, and entered the data in the Systematic Entomology Laboratory Identification System. Significant numbers of Hymenoptera identifications have been made, which are typically split between ant identifications for ports, and parasitoid identifications for biological control research. In the period from October 1, 2018 to May 22, 2019, 323 submittal lots (2,393 specimens) were identified, including 162 ⿿urgent, 161 ⿿prompt and ⿿routine submittals for USDA-USDA-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Plant Protection Quarantine (APHIS- PPQ) of specimens intercepted on perishable commodities at ports of entry. ⿿Urgent identifications (those requiring same day turn-around of specimens intercepted on perishable commodities at ports of entry) have been processed daily as submitted. Obstacles to achieving this milestone include shortness of staff specialists to perform identifications, diversion of scientific staff to perform technical and IT functions due to loss of former positions, and loss of collaborating specialists who formerly handled regular lots for some groups. These identifications are critical to APHIS-PPQ, regulatory agencies, universities and state extension agencies. Accomplishments 01 Researching taxonomic and bionomic data on wasps helps protect U.S. agricultural interests. Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. ARS researchers at Beltsville, Maryland, focused on some 200 various species of parasitic wasps associated with: stink bugs that eat major food crops in the U.S. and infest homes; flies that eat strawberry, blackberry, and mushrooms; leaf-miners in U.S. forests; invasive spiders in Europe, caterpillars and beetles that feed on trees and kill them; fire ants that disturb livestock; and caterpillars released for the biocontrol of invasive pest plants. Along with clarifying identification, new biological attributes and host records were discovered for wasps important to agriculture and natural resources. Correct identification of biological control agents, as well as an understanding of their biological role in mitigating pestiferous species populations, is essential for making rearing and quarantine decisions in the protection of the U.S. agricultural interests worldwide. 02 Big data initiative to resolve the phylogeny of Hymenoptera using genomic data. This project includes scientists in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Washington D.C., and has resulted in the first phylogenomic analysis of Hymenoptera relationships, as well as more thorough analyses within superfamilies. This project includes over 4000 species of Hymenoptera, and 210,000 base pairs of data, requiring super computers to analyze. The resulting trees are the most accurate, to date, in Hymenoptera research, and will be essential for researchers, around the world, for delimiting species, resolving the monophyly of genera, and identify novel sources of evolutionary data.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Lake, E.C., Kula, R.R., Gates, M.W., Smith, M., Minteer, C., Tipping, P.W. 2019. The first pupal parasitoids of Neomusotima conspurcatalis Warren (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), a biological control agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Cav.) R. Br. (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae) in Florida. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 121(2):314-319.
- Li, L., Rasnitsyn, A., Shih, C., Labandeira, C., Buffington, M.L., Ren, D. 2018. Phylogeny of Evanioidea (Hymenoptera, Apocrita), with descriptions of new Mesozoic species from China and Myanmar. Cladistics. 43:810842.
- Lobato-Vila, I., Cibrian-Tovar, D., Barrera-Ruiz, U., Equiha-Martinez, A., Estrada-Venegas, E., Buffington, M.L., Pujade-Villar, J. 2019. Review of the Synergus Hartig species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) associated with tuberous and other tumor-like galls on oaks from America with the description of three new species from Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 121(2):193-255.
- Giorgini, M., Wang, X., Wang, Y., Chen, F., Zhang, H., Chen, Z., Cascone, P., Formisano, G., Carvalho, G.A., Buffington, M.L., Hoelmer, K.A., Guerrieri, E. 2018. Exploration for native parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii in China reveals a diversity of parasitoid species and narrow host range of the dominant parasitoid. Journal of Pest Science. 92:509-522.
- Girod, P., Ris, N., Borowiec, N., Zhang, J., Wu, H., Fang, Y., Chen, G., Xiao, C., Kimura, M., Buffington, M.L., Peris-Fillipp, F.R., Aebi, A., Haye, T., Kenis, M. 2018. The parasitoid complex of D. suzukii and other fruit feeding Drosophila species in Asia. Biological Control. 8:11839.
- Buffington, M.L., Talamas, E., Hoelmer, K.A. 2018. Team Trissolcus: Integrating taxonomy and biological control to combat the brown marmorated stink bug. American Entomologist. 64:224-232.
- Buffington, M.L., Copeland, R., Van Noort, S. 2018. Description of Afroserphus masneri, new species (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupidae) and clarification of the identity of Afroserphus bicornis Masner, 1961. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 120:687-707.
- Yao, J., Kula, R.R., Chen, J. 2018. Two new species of Anisocyrta Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from China. Zootaxa. 4459(3):575-582.
- Lue, C., Borowy, D., Buffington, M.L., Lieps, J. 2018. Geographic and Seasonal Variation in Species Diversity and Community Composition of Frugivorous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae) and their Leptopilina (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) Parasitoids. Environmental Entomology. 47:1096- 1106.
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to study the systematics and natural history of parasitoid and phytophagous wasps to facilitate their identification, understand and predict their impact on agricultural commodities and products, and disseminate biosystematic information on them to an international clientele. Most species of Hymenoptera are beneficial natural enemies or pollinators, but some are plant pests or bio-control antagonists. This project will focus on chalcidoid, ichneumonoid, cynipoid, and platygastroid wasps, which are taxa of high priority to agriculture and for which the project investigators have expertise. Those groups are important to agriculture because they are useful for bio-control of pest insects and plants and also include species that cause damage to agricultural commodities and products or disrupt bio-control. In addition to conducting research on those groups, the investigators will develop expert systems to provide a broad community of customers increased access to information pertinent to beneficial natural enemies and pests. This project also includes an identification service function for regulatory and research organizations, as well as a curatorial service function for building and maintaining portions of the National Insect Collection (NIC) for use in specimen diagnostics and research. We will focus on the following objectives over the next five years: Objective 1: Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Objective 2: Compile, organize, and post on the web, searchable electronic databases of hymenopteran families in the U.S. National Insect and Mite Collection, tools, and images of parasitic and plant-feeding Hymenoptera. (non-hypothesis driven) Objective 3: Provide accurate and efficient identifications of Hymenoptera for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and other federal and state regulatory agencies, ARS researchers, and stakeholders across the United States. (non-hypothesis driven) Approach (from AD-416): Morphological and molecular characters (DNA sequences) will be generated to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among agriculturally important flies and parasitoid wasps that attack them. These data will be used to develop new diagnostic tools (descriptions, illustrations, keys). Databases containing scientific names, distributions, taxonomic literature, and host plant and specimen data pertaining to fruit flies will be expanded and disseminated to the user community. These and other taxonomic tools will be made accessible to the public via publications, the internet, and other electronic media. Timely and accurate identifications of flies will be provided, including those intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ or submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and portions of the National Collection in the National Museum of Natural History, a vital tool for research and identification, will be maintained and expanded. Progress was made on a joint project with other scientists in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., and France that has resulted in the first phylogenomic analysis of Hymenoptera relationships. This big data project includes over 1,000 species of Hymenoptera, and 210, 000 base pairs of data, requiring super computers to analyze. The resulting trees are the most accurate in Hymenoptera research, providing a predictive power to understanding beneficial insects and their control of pests, as well as pestiferous species that threaten agriculture. Progress was made on the identification and distribution of parasitoid species that attack pest insects around the globe: spotted-wing Drosophila throughout North America, Mexico, southeast Asia, and Western Europe; winter moth, an exotic invasive forest pest in North America; new species and uncovering new plant-aphid-parasitic wasp associations in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region, particularly in semi-natural areas near agroecosystems; and new species of parasitoids that attack economically important scale species. All research for these projects included molecular and morphological data. Progress was made on determining parasitic wasp diversity in eastern deciduous forest and comparing parasitic wasp diversity in different forest strata, including the discovery of new species. Additional progress was made documenting parasitoid species from the Old World tropical and temperate zones. Progress was made researching the parasitoid community of prairie- dominant plants, including some considered for bio-fuel, resulting in the first records of some new hosts, as well as clearly diagnosed species for future research. The field season of 2018 will see this research expand dramatically with new cooperators and field sites/locations. In addition to peer-reviewed publications, the scientists on this project presented results on seven occasions at three scientific meetings held both nationally and internationally. This included organizing two symposia, as well as invited presentations in two symposia. The SEL Hymenoptera Unit completed 322 �urgent� identifications and 478 �routine� identifications for APHIS and other ARS cooperators and stakeholders. At the museum level, the SEL Hymenoptera Unit completed a total of 75 transactions through the NMNH, with nearly 22,000 specimens coming in and going out on exchange; these transactions were with a total of 17 countries worldwide, as well as numerous institutions in the U.S. An estimated 15,000 images were captured for three superfamilies of wasps, and these images are publically available on the Internet; a further 1, 500 species names were checked and verified in the National Insect Collection. Accomplishments 01 Researching taxonomic and bionomic data on wasps helps protect U.S. agricultural interests. Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. ARS researchers stationed at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., focused on some 200 various species of parasitic wasps associated with aphids that attack cereals; stink bugs that eat major food crops in the U.S. and infest homes; flies that eat strawberry and blackberry; caterpillars and beetles that feed on trees and kill them; pestiferous scale insects; fire ants that disturb livestock; and caterpillars released for the biocontrol of invasive pest plants. Along with clarifying identification, the biological attributes and host records are updated for the first time in these groups. Correct identification of biological control agents, as well as an understanding of their biological role in mitigating pestiferous species populations, is essential for making rearing and quarantine decisions in the protection of the U.S. agricultural interests worldwide. Lastly, a joint project with other scientists in Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Washington, D.C., has resulted in the first phylogenomic analysis of Hymenoptera relationships. This big data project includes over 1,000 species of Hymenoptera, and 210,000 base pairs of data, requiring super computers to analyze. The resulting trees are the most accurate, to date, in Hymenoptera research.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Gates, M.W., Kula, R.R., Buffington, M.L., Javier, T., Patricio, F. 2017. The Gall Associates of Asphondylia poss. swaedicola Kieffer & J�rgensen (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Suaeda divaricata Moq. (Amaranthaceae) in Semiarid Argentina and Summary of Parasitic Hymenoptera Associated with Suaeda. Neotropical Entomology. 2:1-12.
- Morin, H., Gates, M.W., Miko, I. 2017. A new species of Ormocerus Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) from North America and a range expansion for Ormocerus latus Walker. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119(4):619-628.
- Broadley, H.J., Kelly, J., Elkinton, J.S., Kula, R.R., Boettner, G.H. 2018. The impact of native hyperparasitoids on winter moth (Operophtera brumata) biological control. Biological Control. 121:99-108.
- Buffington, M.L., Prasifka, J., Gates, M.W., Kula, R.R., Peterson, K. 2017. New host plant and distribution records for Antistrophus laciniatus Gillette, 1891 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae), an herb gall wasp on Silphium. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119(4):660-666.
- Buffington, M.L. 2017. The description of Humboldteria, a new genus Neotropical Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119(sp1):718-736.
- Le, T.N., Graziosi, I., Cira, T.M., Gates, M.W., Wyckhuys, K.G. 2018. Landscape context does not constrain biological control of Phenacoccus manihoti in intensified cassava systems of southern Vietnam. Biocontrol Science and Technology. 121:129-139.
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Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to study the systematics and natural history of parasitoid and phytophagous wasps to facilitate their identification, understand and predict their impact on agricultural commodities and products, and disseminate biosystematic information on them to an international clientele. Most species of Hymenoptera are beneficial natural enemies or pollinators, but some are plant pests or bio-control antagonists. This project will focus on chalcidoid, ichneumonoid, cynipoid, and platygastroid wasps, which are taxa of high priority to agriculture and for which the project investigators have expertise. Those groups are important to agriculture because they are useful for bio-control of pest insects and plants and also include species that cause damage to agricultural commodities and products or disrupt bio-control. In addition to conducting research on those groups, the investigators will develop expert systems to provide a broad community of customers increased access to information pertinent to beneficial natural enemies and pests. This project also includes an identification service function for regulatory and research organizations, as well as a curatorial service function for building and maintaining portions of the National Insect Collection (NIC) for use in specimen diagnostics and research. We will focus on the following objectives over the next five years: Objective 1: Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Objective 2: Compile, organize, and post on the web, searchable electronic databases of hymenopteran families in the U.S. National Insect and Mite Collection, tools, and images of parasitic and plant-feeding Hymenoptera. (non-hypothesis driven) Objective 3: Provide accurate and efficient identifications of Hymenoptera for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and other federal and state regulatory agencies, ARS researchers, and stakeholders across the United States. (non-hypothesis driven) Approach (from AD-416): Morphological and molecular characters (DNA sequences) will be generated to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among agriculturally important flies and parasitoid wasps that attack them. These data will be used to develop new diagnostic tools (descriptions, illustrations, keys). Databases containing scientific names, distributions, taxonomic literature, and host plant and specimen data pertaining to fruit flies will be expanded and disseminated to the user community. These and other taxonomic tools will be made accessible to the public via publications, the internet, and other electronic media. Timely and accurate identifications of flies will be provided, including those intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ or submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and portions of the National Collection in the National Museum of Natural History, a vital tool for research and identification, will be maintained and expanded. Data is ready for submission on the competition between species of parasitic wasp that attack a variety of Drosophila species along the eastern seaboard of North America. Flies species include spotted-wing Drosophila. The paper will elucidate how these species interactions influence the parasitism rate of the wasps that attack fly larvae. Progress was made on the identification and distribution of parasitoid species that attack spotted-wing Drosophila throughout North America, Mexico, southeast Asia, and Western Europe. To date, three species in two genera have been recorded, and data capture for this project is still ongoing. Data is ready for submission on the identification of species of parasitic wasp that attack various species of leaf mining fly (including pestiferous species) throughout the New World. The paper will update new host records, provide synonymies, update nomenclature, describe new species, and provide an identification key. Research at the NMNH for the investigation of parasitoid phylogenetics using ultra-concerved elements (UCE�s) of the hymenopteran genome is underway. This proven technique provides ample sequence data from over 1000 genes per species, and can generate quality sequence data from very old specimens, thereby increasing the sampling rate for phylogenetic work. All three current SEL SY�s as well as post-docs and an emeritus scientist, are cooperating on this joint project that spans the diversity of the order Hymenoptera. Progress was made toward discerning the efficacy of adding pan traps to malaise traps for increased sampling efficiency in threatened coastal strand habitat. 288 samples were collected and sorted resulting in acquisition of thousands of specimens. Three replicate plots are currently being sampled, and year one of the study is sorted to family; year three is currently underway. The SEL Hymenoptera Unit completed 419 �urgent� identifications and 573 �routine� identifications for APHIS and other ARS cooperators and stakeholders. At the museum level, the SEL Hymenoptera Unit completed a total of 68 transactions through the NMNH, with nearly 22000 specimens coming in and going out on exchange; these transactions were with a total of 14 countries worldwide, as well as numerous institutions in the United States. An estimated 2000 images were captured for three superfamilies of wasps, and these images are publically available on the web; a further 500 species names were checked and verified in the National Insect Collection. Finally, the entire gall collection was re-organized and updated for more effective research. Accomplishments 01 Researching taxonomic and bionomic data on wasps helps protect U.S. agricultural interests. Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. ARS researchers at Beltsville, Maryland, focused on some 200 various species of parasitic wasps associated with: aphids that attack cereals; stink bugs that eat major food crops in the US and infest homes; flies that eat strawberry and blackberry; beetles that bore into trees and kill them; fire ants that disturb livestock, and caterpillers released for the biocontrol of invasive pest plants. Along with clarifying identification, the biological attributes and host records are updated for the first time in these groups. Correct identification of biological control agents, as well as an understanding of their biological role in mitigating pestiferous species populations, is essential for making rearing and quarantine decisions in the protection of the US agricultural interests worldwide.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Liu, H., Mottern, J.L. 2017. An old remedy for a new problem? Identification of Ooencyrtus kuvanae (Howard) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as egg parasitoids of spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America. Journal of Insect Science. 17(1):1-6.
- Burks, R., Mottern, J.L., Dominguez, C., Heacox, S., Hersty, J.M. 2017. Biting the bullet: revisionary notes on the Oraseminae of the Old World (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eucharitidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 55:139-188.
- Kula, R.R., Gates, M.W., Buffington, M.L., Harms, N.E. 2017. Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) associated with Sagittaria latifolia Willd. and Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelm.) J. G. Sm. (Alismatales: Alismataceae) in the Nearctic Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119(2):215-227.
- Kula, R.R., Johnson, P.J., Heidel-Baker, T.T., Boe, A. 2017. A new species and key for Acanthocaudus Smith (Braconidae: Aphidiinae), with new host and distribution records for aphidiines associated with Silphium perfoliatum L. (Asterales: Asteraceae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 4235(3):543-552.
- Lue, C., Mottern, J.L., Walsh, G., Buffington, M.L. 2017. New record for the invasive Spotted Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii Matsumura (Diptera: Drosophilidae) in Anillaco, Argentina. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 119:146-150.
- Milnes, J.M., Wiman, N., Talamas, E.J., Brunner, J.F., Hoelmer, K.A., Buffington, M.L., Beers, E.H. 2016. Discovery of an exotic egg parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (St�l) in the Pacific Northwest. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118:466- 470.
- Branstetter, M., Danforth, B., Pitts, J., Faircloth, B., Ward, P., Buffington, M.L., Gates, M.W., Kula, R.R., Brady, S. 2017. Phylogenomic analysis of ants, bees and stinging wasps: Improved taxon sampling enhances understanding of hymenopteran evolution. Nature Ecology and Evolution. 27:1019-1025.
- Nomano, F., Kasuya, N., Matsuura, A., Suwito, A., Mitsui, H., Buffington, M.L., Kimura, M. 2017. Genetic differentiation of Ganaspis brasiliensis (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) from East and Southeast Asia. Applied Entomology and Zoology. DOI 10.1007/s13355-017-0493-0.
- Talamas, E.J., Miko, I., Johnston-Jordan, D. 2017. Convergence in the ovipositor system of platygastroid wasps (Hymenoptera). Journal of Pest Science. 56:263-276.
- Kolesik, P., Gagne, R.J. 2016. A revision of the early taxa of Australian gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Zootaxa. 4205:301�338.
- Zhang, J., Zhang, F., Gariepy, T., Mason, P., Gillespie, D., Talamas, E.J., Haye, T. 2017. Seasonal parasitism and host specificity of Trissolcus japonicus in northern China. Journal of Pest Science. 1:1-15.
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Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16
Outputs
Progress Report Objectives (from AD-416): The long-term goal of this project is to study the systematics and natural history of parasitoid and phytophagous wasps to facilitate their identification, understand and predict their impact on agricultural commodities and products, and disseminate biosystematic information on them to an international clientele. Most species of Hymenoptera are beneficial natural enemies or pollinators, but some are plant pests or bio-control antagonists. This project will focus on chalcidoid, ichneumonoid, cynipoid, and platygastroid wasps, which are taxa of high priority to agriculture and for which the project investigators have expertise. Those groups are important to agriculture because they are useful for bio-control of pest insects and plants and also include species that cause damage to agricultural commodities and products or disrupt bio-control. In addition to conducting research on those groups, the investigators will develop expert systems to provide a broad community of customers increased access to information pertinent to beneficial natural enemies and pests. This project also includes an identification service function for regulatory and research organizations, as well as a curatorial service function for building and maintaining portions of the National Insect Collection (NIC) for use in specimen diagnostics and research. We will focus on the following objectives over the next five years: Objective 1: Generate revised classifications, phylogenies, species concepts, natural history data and identification tools for wasps in the Cynipoidea, Chalcidoidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Platygastroidea lineages (the latter including Trissolcus wasps, which are important natural enemies of invasive stink bugs). Objective 2: Compile, organize, and post on the web, searchable electronic databases of hymenopteran families in the U.S. National Insect and Mite Collection, tools, and images of parasitic and plant-feeding Hymenoptera. (non-hypothesis driven) Objective 3: Provide accurate and efficient identifications of Hymenoptera for APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine and other federal and state regulatory agencies, ARS researchers, and stakeholders across the United States. (non-hypothesis driven) Approach (from AD-416): Morphological and molecular characters (DNA sequences) will be generated to test species concepts and hypotheses of relationship among agriculturally important flies and parasitoid wasps that attack them. These data will be used to develop new diagnostic tools (descriptions, illustrations, keys). Databases containing scientific names, distributions, taxonomic literature, and host plant and specimen data pertaining to fruit flies will be expanded and disseminated to the user community. These and other taxonomic tools will be made accessible to the public via publications, the internet, and other electronic media. Timely and accurate identifications of flies will be provided, including those intercepted at ports-of-entry by APHIS-PPQ or submitted by a wide range of scientists and regulatory agencies, and portions of the National Collection in the National Museum of Natural History, a vital tool for research and identification, will be maintained and expanded. Progress was made toward discerning the efficacy of flight traps, pan traps, and sweep netting for sampling parasitic and herbivorous wasps, as well as bees (via collaborators), in grasslands. Sixty-five samples were collected and sorted resulting in acquisition of thousands of specimens. Specimen preparation and identification are ongoing. Progress was made toward discerning the efficacy of pan traps affixed to dying ash trees infested with emerald ash borer. Ten tree-pair replicates at each of four sites in the Washington D.C. metro area were deployed and samples are being collected during the 2016 field season. Statistical analyses will be conducted on the effect of trap placement on the diversity and abundance of parasitic wasps collected, wit particular focus on those that are known to attack emerald ash borer. Data is ready for submission on the identification of species of parasitic wasp that attack a variety of insect leafminers in boreal forest of the north-central USA. Over 100 wasps have been identified, databased and a manuscript prepared. The paper will include information a wasp hosts and biology as well as diagnostics for recognizing host leafmine morphology. Progress was made on the identification of two encyrtid wasps discovered attacking the eggs of a recent invasive species, the spotted lanternfly. Molecular and morphological comparisons will be made against known native and exotic species of encyrtid wasps and this data will be published with a key for species identification. Progress was made on the identification and distribution of parasitoid species that attack spotted-wing Drosophila throughout North America, Mexico, southeast Asia, and Western Europe. To date, three species in two genera have been recorded, and data capture for this project is still ongoing. Data is ready for submission on the identification of species of parasitic wasp that attack a variety of Drosophila species along the eastern seaboard of North America. Flies species include spotted-wing Drosophila. The paper will update new host records, provide synonymies, update nomenclature, describe new species, and provide an identification key. Data is ready for submission on the identification of species of parasitic wasp that attack various species of stink bug (including pestiferous species) throughout the Palearctic region. The paper will update new host records, provide synonymies, update nomenclature, describe new species, and provide an identification key. A note is also in preparation reporting an Asian species of wasp from Washington State that is newly recorded there on pest stink bug. Data is ready for submission on the efficacy of propylene glycol as an insect tissue preservative for the DNA barcode region. 376 specimens collected under ambient environmental conditions at Joshua Tree National Park were tested. Information on extraction amplification success rates and barcode sequence quality will be provided. Data is ready for submission on the identification of species of parasitic wasp that attack various species of leaf mining fly (including pestiferous species) throughout the New World. The paper will update new host records, provide synonymies, update nomenclature, describe new species, and provide an identification key. Funding was secured through the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) for the investigation of parasitoid phylogenetics using ultra-concerved elements (UCE�s) of the hymenopteran genome. This proven technique provides ample sequence data from over 1000 genes per species, and can generate quality sequence data from very old specimens, thereby increasing the sampling rate for phylogenetic work. Scientist in Beltsvile, Maryland, as well as post-docs and an emeritus scientist, are cooperating on this joint project that spans the diversity of the order Hymenoptera. Progress was made toward discerning the efficacy of adding pan traps to malaise traps for increased sampling efficiency in threatened coastal strand habitat. 288 samples were collected and sorted resulting in acquisition of thousands of specimens. Three replicate plots are currently being sampled, and year one of the study is sorted to family; year two is currently underway. Progress was made in the statistical analysis of pan-trap color preference study that has been underway since 2007. The data have been fully groomed and are undergoing statistical analysis and visualization using R (in conjunction with collaborators). Progress was made toward determining the community of insects parasitic on herbivorous insects on American chestnut, Chinese chestnut, and red oak. Samples (n=108) were collected and sorted resulting in thousands of wasp specimens. Tens of thousands of herbivorous insect specimens were pulled from the samples and distributed to collaborators. Caterpillar specimens (n=279) were collected on the host plants resulting in 60 parasitic wasp specimens reared from hosts isolated individually. Specimen rearing, preparation, and identification are ongoing. Progress was made toward determining braconid parasitic wasp diversity in managed meadows near organic crop fields. Fifty-three samples were sorted resulting in acquisition of thousands of wasp specimens. Specimen preparation and identification are ongoing. Funds was secured from NMNH to renovate the gall wasp collection. This involves rehousing this critical collection, updating names on drawers and unit trays, and replacing the currently outdated storage system. The Systematic Entomology Laboratory (SEL) Hymenoptera Unit completed 347 �urgent� identifications, 48 �prompt� identifications, and 234 �routine� identifications for APHIS and other ARS cooperators and stakeholders. At the museum level, the Hymenoptera Unit completed a total of 72 transactions through the NMNH, with nearly 1300 specimens going out in 13 transactions, and acquiring some 3 million specimens in another 48 transactions; these transactions were with a total of 14 countries worldwide, as well as numerous institutions in the United States. An estimated 5000 images were captured for three superfamilies of wasps, and these images are publically available on the web; a further 2000 species names were checked and verified in the National Insect Collection. Finally, the entire Hymenoptera Collection was re-organized to make room for collection growth and expansion over the next 20 years. Accomplishments 01 Agroecosystem vegetation and parasitic insect diversity. The wasps and flies treated attack herbivorous insects, including crop pests. The relationship between vegetational surroundings and natural enemy species richness was tested for parasitic insects foraging in cole crops. As landscape intensification for crop production increased, overall parasitic wasp and fly richness and abundance in the focal crop field decreased. Parasitic wasp and fly richness overall was positively associated with the amount of forest and grassland surrounding crop fields. This research is useful to scientists conducting research on vegetable crop pests, as well as vegetable producers and agricultural extension agencies. 02 Parasitic wasps associated with herbivorous insects on delta arrowhead. The wasps treated parasitize fly larvae that feed on a plant related to an aquatic weed targeted for biocontrol. The weed is targeted for biocontrol using herbivores such as the fly species parasitized by this wasp. Increased knowledge of this wasp can help determine its potential impact as a biocontrol antagonist. One new braconid wasp species was described, and a key for identifying 16 species was revised. This research is useful to scientists, as well as State and Federal personnel, involved in aquatic weed biocontrol. 03 Parasitic wasp diversity in grasslands near agroecosystems. The wasps treated attack plant-feeding insects, including species that attack pests such as potato tuberworm moth. This paper provides information on identification, biology, and distribution of eight species. One new species was described, diagnoses to facilitate identification were provided for eight species, and new distribution records were reported for two species. This research is useful to scientists conducting research on these wasps and their hosts, as well as pest management and regulatory personnel responsible for controlling and limiting the spread of plant-feeding insects. 04 Revision of parasitic braconid wasps from Mesoamerica. The parasitic wasps treated attack caterpillars, including pests of sweet potato and tobacco. Increased knowledge of these wasps can help determine their impact as natural enemies of pest and potential pest caterpillars. Twenty-eight species from Costa Rica new to science were described, and a key to 33 species from Costa Rica was provided. This research is useful to scientists conducting research on caterpillars in the Western Hemisphere, as well as personnel responsible for controlling and regulating the distribution of pest and potential pest caterpillars. 05 Description of a new species of parasitic encyrtid wasp from North America. The emerald ash borer, a massively destructive invasive beetle from China, is responsible for the destruction of hundreds of millions of ash trees in the U.S. Parasitic wasps that attack this beetle have been discovered and imported from the beetle�s native range and released in the U.S. to provide biological control of this beetle. The wasp treated here is compared to new native U.S. species in the same genus recently discovered in the U.S., enabling workers to reliably separate the different species from one another. This work will be used by scientists, foresters, ecologists involved in biological control of the emerald ash borer in the U.S. 06 Comparison of exotic parasitic encyrtid wasps attacking emerald ash borer and description of a new species. The emerald ash borer, a massively destructive invasive beetle from China, is responsible for the destruction of hundreds of millions of ash trees in the U.S. Parasitic wasps attacking the eggs of this beetle have been discovered and imported from the beetle�s native range and released in the U.S. to provide biological control of this beetle. One species treated here is compared with another closely related species using large genomic and morphological datasets, providing a name for the sister species so that it may be released against the emerald ash borer in the U.S. This work will be used by scientists, foresters, and ecologists involved in biological control of the emerald ash borer in the U.S. 07 Report on the efficacy of native parasitic wasps attacking a pest of squash. Parasitic wasps provide natural control of insect pests in a variety of agricultural and horticultural ecosystems, saving hundreds of millions of dollars annually. We reported on wasps that provide control of squash bugs by attacking their eggs. These wasps can help growers of squash (and relatives) reduce chemicals used in control of these pests, reducing harmful effects on the environment caused by chemicals. This work will be used by biocontrol specialists, scientists, and extension agents. 08 Report on the parasitic wasps attacking a biocontrol agent of Old World climbing fern. Parasitic wasps are often instrumental in providing biological control of insect pests of agricultural and horticultural crops. However, in some cases these wasps may have an antagonistic effect in attacking a biological control agent released to control some pest, often an invasive plant. In this paper, we report on a species of wasp that attacks the eggs of a moth released to control an invasive plant in Florida. This is the first report of any parasitic wasp attacking the eggs of a member of this genus of moth. 09 New genus and species of gall wasp. Gall wasps and their relatives include numerous agricultural pests, as well as many predators important in biological control. The genus and species described in this paper possess characters unlike any other known wasp species. This paper provides detailed diagnostic information and illustrations that will assist other researchers in distinguishing the new species from other species. This information will assist a broad array of scientists in better understanding the relationships, evolution, and feeding habits of these enigmatic wasps. 10 A survey of natural enemies of the invasive spotted wing drosophila fly. The invasive spotted wing drosophila fly (SWD) is a native of East Asia and is now widely established in North America and Europe. Unlike other species in this genus, SWD is a major pest of soft fruits worldwide. This paper summarizes work to date on research focused on locating natural enemies of SWD to control its populations. Research entomologists, extension agents, biological control practitioners, and ecologists will find these data essential for their work. 11 Redescription of a natural enemy of spotted wing drosophila flies. The highly invasive and destructive spotted-wing drosophila is a major pest of soft fruits worldwide. As solutions are sought for the control of this species, natural enemy wasps are being investigated, and the species treated here has great potential to kill these flies as larvae. The species here is carefully described and illustrated, so other researchers will be able to identify this wasp from other species they may be investigating. This product will be useful to biological control practitioners, extension agents, and research entomologists investigating the control of pest flies. 12 Description of a new species of pest gall wasp. Many species of gall wasp essentially co-exist with their host oak tree species. Occasionally, the association becomes destructive to the tree, as is the case with new species described here. This species is a twig galler, and as such, in the cases of heavy infestation, cause flagging, leaf clumping, and dieback of branches and twigs. Records of this species in North America, as well as related species, are summarized, and methods for their identification are discussed. This product will be very useful to extension entomologists dealing with these pest species, as well as research entomologists and ecologists working on oak-related species. 13 A survey of the fossil parasitic wasps in the NMNH. Two new species are described from fossils imbedded in amber; another 20 species are reviewed. All the specimens are housed at the National Museum of Natural History. Fossils have been used to determine the minimum age of animals, and here, we use this new fossil to question how insects and their natural enemies evolved. We posit that long associations may result in better management of natural enemies, while novel associations may be more virulent, yet may lead to unexpected consequences later on. Biological control specialists, taxonomists, and extension agents will find the published data useful for their work. 14 A survey of beetles that live in ant nests. Leaf beetles and ants and wasps are among the most important insects for U.S. agriculture. This works synthesizes our knowledge about the relationship between ants, parasitoid wasps, and beetles with discussion on the evolution of this interesting behavior and interdependency of these various insect groups. This contribution should stimulate future research on ant loving beetles and their parasitoid wasps. This publication will be useful to biological control workers, taxonomists, ecologists, conservation biologists, coleopterists, morphologists and those interested in plant- feeding beetles. 15 Description of new technology for micro photography. Effective illustration enhances the scientific content of any work on the classification of insects. Extremely small insects, on the order of 0.5- 1.5mm adult length, can confound this process. We have developed a lighting system for photographing such small insects that is both modular and scalable. Further, the system can be built, by hand, using basic tools, saving researchers time and money. This system will be extremely useful to systematic entomologists, extension agents, and biological control workers that need to photograph small insects. 16 Report on a worldwide survey for natural enemies of spotted wing drosophila fly. The invasive spotted wing drosophila fly (SWD) is a native of East Asia and is now widely established in North America and Europe. Unlike other species in this genus, SWD is a major pest of soft fruits worldwide. This paper summarizes work to date on research focused on locating natural enemies of SWD to control its populations. Research entomologists, extension agents, biological control practitioners, and ecologists will find these data essential for their work. 17 Redescription of a native African species of wasp. Parasitoid wasps are potent natural enemies of many species of pest insect. Correct identification and name usage in parasitoid wasp biology are key factors in the success of biological control. This paper helps clarify the identity of a species of wasp that attacks lacewing larvae, and expands the known distribution of the species throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Biological control workers, extension agents, and APHIS cooperators worldwide will find this research product essential for their own work.
Impacts
(N/A)
Publications
- Kula, R.R. 2016. Cardiochilinae and Ichneutinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of Konza Prairie. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(2):273-288.
- Kula, R.R., Harms, N.E. 2016. A new species of Chaenusa Haliday sensu lato (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Nearctic Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(1):101-108.
- Fernandez-Triana, J., Whitfield, J.B., Smith, M.A., Kula, R.R., Hallwachs, W., Janzen, D.H. 2015. Revision of the genera Microplitis and Snellenius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica, with a key to all species previously described from Mesoamerica. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift . 62(2):137-201.
- Letourneau, D.K., Bothwell, A.G., Kula, R.R., Sharkey, M.J., Stireman, J.I. 2015. Habitat eradication and cropland intensification may reduce parasitoid diversity and natural pest control services in annual crop fields. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene. 3:1-13.
- Triapitsyn, S., Petrice, T., Gates, M.W., Bauer, L.S. 2015. Two new species of Oobius Trjapitzin (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) egg parasitoids of Agrilus spp. (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) from the USA, including a key and taxonomic notes on other congeneric Nearctic taxa. ZooKeys. 498:29-50.
- Buffington, M.L., Copeland, R. 2015. Muhaka icipeins, an enigmatic new genus and species of Kleidotomini (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae) from an East African coastal forest. Journal of Natural History. doi: 10. 1080/00222933.2015.1042411.
- Daane, K., Wang, X., Biondi, A., Miller, B., Miller, J.C., Riedl, H., Shearer, P.W., Guerrieri, E., Giorgini, M., Buffington, M.L., Van Achterberg, K., Song, Y., Kang, T., Yi, H., Jung, C., Lee, D., Chung, B., Hoelmer, K.A., Walton, V.M. 2016. First foreign exploration for asian parasitoids of Drosophila suzukii. Journal of Pest Science. doi: 10.1007/ s10340-016-0740-0.
- Agrain, F.A., Buffington, M.L., Chaboo, C.S., Chamorro, M.L., Scholler, M. S. 2015. Leaf beetles are ant-nest beetles: the curious life of the juvenile stages of case-bearers (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cryptocephalinae). ZooKeys. 547:133-164.
- Kawada, R., Buffington, M.L. 2016. Advanced imaging techniques III: a scalable and modular dome illumination system for scientific microphotography on a budget. PLoS One. 11(5):e0153426. doi: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0153426.
- Lake, E., Gates, M.W., Smith, M., Witkus, G., Pratt, P. 2015. First report of an egg parasitoid reared from Neomusotima conspurcatalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) a biological control agent of Lygodium microphyllum (Polypodiales: Lygodiaceae). Florida Entomologist. 98:(4):1244-1246.
- Buffington, M.L., Forshage, M. 2016. Redescription of Ganaspis brasiliensis (Ihering, 1905), new combination, (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) a natural enemy of the invasive Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura, 1931) (Diptera: Drosophilidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(1):1-13.doi: 10.4289/0013-8797.118.1.1.
- Buffington, M.L., Melika, G., Davis, M., Elkinton, J.S. 2016. The description of Zapatella davisae, new species, (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) a pest gall wasp of black oak (Quercus velutina) in New England. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(1): 14-26.doi: 10.4289/ 0013-8797.118.1.14.
- Yao, Y., Duan, J.J., Hopper, K.R., Mottern, J.L., Gates, M.W. 2016. A new species of genus Oobius (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) from the Russian Far East that parasitizes eggs of Emerald Ash Borer. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 1-10: doi: 10.1093/aesa/saw022.
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