Abstract
The braconid parasitoid wasp subfamily Microgastrinae is perhaps the most species-rich subfamily of animals on Earth. Despite their small size, they are familiar to agriculturalists and field ecologists alike as one of the principal groups of natural enemies of caterpillars feeding on plants. Their abundance and nearly ubiquitous terrestrial distribution, their intricate interactions with host insects, and their historical association with mutualistic polydnaviruses have all contributed to Microgastrinae becoming a key group of organisms for studying parasitism, parasitoid genomics, and mating biology. However, these rich sources of data have not yet led to a robust genus-level classification of the group, and some taxonomic confusion persists as a result. We present the current status of understanding of the general biology, taxonomic history, diversity, geographical patterns, host relationships, and phylogeny of Microgastrinae as a stimulus and foundation for further study. Current progress in elucidating the biology and taxonomy of this important group is rapid and promises a revolution in the classification of these wasps in the near future.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 389-406 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Annual Review of Entomology |
| Volume | 63 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 7 2018 |
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Keywords
- classification
- coevolution
- endoparasitism
- host specificity
- phylogenetics
- polydnaviruses
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Insect Science
Cite this
Systematics, Biology, and Evolution of Microgastrine Parasitoid Wasps. / Whitfield, James Bryan; Austin, Andrew D.; Fernandez-Triana, Jose L.
In: Annual Review of Entomology, Vol. 63, 07.01.2018, p. 389-406.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Systematics, Biology, and Evolution of Microgastrine Parasitoid Wasps
AU - Whitfield, James Bryan
AU - Austin, Andrew D.
AU - Fernandez-Triana, Jose L.
PY - 2018/1/7
Y1 - 2018/1/7
N2 - The braconid parasitoid wasp subfamily Microgastrinae is perhaps the most species-rich subfamily of animals on Earth. Despite their small size, they are familiar to agriculturalists and field ecologists alike as one of the principal groups of natural enemies of caterpillars feeding on plants. Their abundance and nearly ubiquitous terrestrial distribution, their intricate interactions with host insects, and their historical association with mutualistic polydnaviruses have all contributed to Microgastrinae becoming a key group of organisms for studying parasitism, parasitoid genomics, and mating biology. However, these rich sources of data have not yet led to a robust genus-level classification of the group, and some taxonomic confusion persists as a result. We present the current status of understanding of the general biology, taxonomic history, diversity, geographical patterns, host relationships, and phylogeny of Microgastrinae as a stimulus and foundation for further study. Current progress in elucidating the biology and taxonomy of this important group is rapid and promises a revolution in the classification of these wasps in the near future.
AB - The braconid parasitoid wasp subfamily Microgastrinae is perhaps the most species-rich subfamily of animals on Earth. Despite their small size, they are familiar to agriculturalists and field ecologists alike as one of the principal groups of natural enemies of caterpillars feeding on plants. Their abundance and nearly ubiquitous terrestrial distribution, their intricate interactions with host insects, and their historical association with mutualistic polydnaviruses have all contributed to Microgastrinae becoming a key group of organisms for studying parasitism, parasitoid genomics, and mating biology. However, these rich sources of data have not yet led to a robust genus-level classification of the group, and some taxonomic confusion persists as a result. We present the current status of understanding of the general biology, taxonomic history, diversity, geographical patterns, host relationships, and phylogeny of Microgastrinae as a stimulus and foundation for further study. Current progress in elucidating the biology and taxonomy of this important group is rapid and promises a revolution in the classification of these wasps in the near future.
KW - classification
KW - coevolution
KW - endoparasitism
KW - host specificity
KW - phylogenetics
KW - polydnaviruses
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040675198&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85040675198&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043405
DO - 10.1146/annurev-ento-020117-043405
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29058979
AN - SCOPUS:85040675198
VL - 63
SP - 389
EP - 406
JO - Annual Review of Entomology
JF - Annual Review of Entomology
SN - 0066-4170
ER -