Three new species in the genus Wilkinsonellus (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) from the Neotropics, and the first host record for the genus

Diana Carolina Arias-Penna, James B. Whitfield, Daniel H. Janzen, Winnie Hallwachs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The genus Wilkinsonellus Mason is a poorly sampled but widely distributed tropical genus of Microgastrinae (Braconidae), parasitoid wasps that exclusively attack caterpillars (Lepidoptera). Currently, species of Wilkinsonellus have been described only from the Palaeotropics, but the genus was known to occur in the Neotropics. Here we describe the first three species from Central and South America: Wilkinsonellus alexsmithi sp. n., Wilkinsonellus kogui sp. n., and Wilkinsonellus panamaensis sp. n. These species descriptions confirm that Wilkinsonellus is a Pantropical genus. A dichotomous key for the three new Neotropical species is given. The first recorded host for the genus, Microthyris prolongalis (Crambidae), is also reported, for Wilkinsonellus alexsmithi.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)79-95
Number of pages17
JournalZooKeys
Volume302
DOIs
StatePublished - 2013

Keywords

  • Biodiversity
  • Caterpillars
  • Parasitoid wasps
  • Tropical rain forest lowlands

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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

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