Abstract
Macrocentrus pryeri Yang, Song & Cao, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a gregarious larval endo-parasitoid of Dioryctria pryeri Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), is described and illustrated. The hosts is serious pest of the cone, seed and shoot of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc., a dominant forest tree species in northeastern China. The parasitoid has potential as a biocontrol agent for the pest as an average parasitism rate of 27.5% has been observed (Maximum 40%), and, on average, 40.4 parasitoid adults (range 29–48) emerge from a single host with female:male ratio of 1.9:1 (Maximum 2.8:1). Detailed photographs of the key characters of the female and male of the new species are provided.
References
Achterberg, C. van (1993a) Illustrated key to the subfamilies of the Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 283, 1–189.
Achterberg, C. van (1993b) Revision of the subfamily Macrocentrinae Foerster (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Palaearctic region. Zoologische Verhandelingen, 286, 1–110.
Achterberg, C. van (2001) Macrocentrus sylvestrellae spec. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Macrocentrinae), a parasitoid of Dioryctria sylvestrella (Ratzeburg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Zoologische Mededelingen, 75 (4), 79–88.
Clausen, C.P. (1940) Entomophagous insects. McGraw-Hill, New York & London, 688 pp.
Gordh, G. & Hall, J.C. (1979) A critical point drier used as a method of mounting insects from alcohol. Entomological News, 90, 57–59.
He, J.-H., Chen, X.-X. & Ma, Y. (1996) Five new Chinese record species of Macrocentrus Curtis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Macrocentrinae). Entomotaxonomia, 18 (1), 77–78.
He, J.-H., Chen, X.-X. & Ma, Y. (2000) Hymenoptera Braconidae. Fauna Sinica. Insecta Vol. 18. Science Press, Beijing, 757 pp.
He, J.-H. & Lou, X.-M. (1993) Description of a new species of Macrocentrus Curtis parasitic on Cnaphanocrocis medinalis Guenee (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Macrocentrinae). Entomological Journal of East China, 2 (2), 12–16.
He, J.-H., Wei, S.-J. & Chen, X.-X. (2008) A new species of the genus Macrocentrus Curtis (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Macrocentrinae) from China. Entomotaxonomia, 30 (4), 294–296.
Mao, B.J., Zhou, S.L. & Xu, Q.S. (2006) Study on biological characteristics of Dioryctria pryeri. Jilin Forestry Science and Technology, 35 (2), 29–31. [in Chinese]
Shaw, M.R. & Huddleston, T. (1991) Classification and biology of braconid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects, 7 (11), 1–126.
Song, L.-W. (2016) Investigation on natural enemies of Korea pine cone borers and application for biological control. Post-doctoral Research Report, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Beijing, 81 pp. [in Chinese with English abstract]
Wang, J.-Y. (1982) Tibet Insects. Science Press, Beijing, 508 pp.
Wharton, R.A. (1997) Subfamily Macrocentrinae. In: Wharton, R.A., Marsh, P.M. & Sharkey, M.J. (Eds.), Manual of the New World genera of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Special Publication of the International Society of Hymenopterists, No. 1, pp. 1–439.
Yu, D.S.K. (2017) Taxapad Ichneumonoidea. In: Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 23rd December 2016. Col. Species 2000: Naturalis, Leiden, the Netherlands, ISSN 2405-8858. Digital resource. Available from: http://www.catalogueoflife.org/ (accessed 19 July 2017)
Zang, N. (2007) Studies on the genus Dioryctria spp. and the biology of four species on the Korean pine in Jilin Province. Master Dissertation of Jilin Agricultural University, V + 32 pp. [in Chinese with English abstract]
Zhang, G.-H. & Ge, L. (2011) Control technique study of Dioryctria pryeri in seed orchard of Pinus koraiensis. Ecology Agriculture of the Contemporary Era, 2011(3 & 4), 138–139. [in Chinese]