First record of the genus Venanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) in Mesoamerica, with the description of two new species from Costa Rica

Jose L. Fernandez-Triana, James B. Whitfield, M. Alex Smith, Winnie Hallwachs, Daniel H. Janzen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The New World genus Venanus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is a small group of parasitoid wasps that includes two Nearctic and seven Neotropical species. Here two additional species, authored by Fernández-Triana & Whitfield, are described from Costa Rica: V. johnnyrosalesi sp. n. from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG) and V. randallgarciai sp. n. from Area de Conservación Cordillera Volcanica Central. They represent the first record of the genus for Mesoamerica. A previous key to all known Venanus (Whitfield et al. 2011) is modified to include the new species. The Costa Rican species were collected at altitudes of 1,400-1,460 m, but nothing is known of their biology. DNA barcodes were obtained for both species and are included as part of the description along with extensive photos. This paper is part of a series inventorying the diversity of Microgastrinae in ACG.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere4167
JournalBiodiversity Data Journal
Volume2
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Area de Conservación Guancaste
  • Costa Rica
  • Mesoamerica
  • Microgastrinae
  • Taxonomy
  • Venanus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
  • Plant Science
  • Insect Science

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