Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2017-03-09
Page range: 34–60
Abstract views: 137
PDF downloaded: 4

Description of Brachymeria philornisae sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a parasitoid of the bird parasite Philornis trinitensis (Diptera: Muscidae) in Tobago, with a review of the sibling species

Cirad-CBGP, 755 avenue du Campus Agropolis, CS30016, 34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez Cedex France.
University of Minnesota, Department of Entomology, 1980 Folwell Ave, St. Paul, MN, 5117 USA.
Abteilung Wirbellose Tiere, Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Faculty of Science and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, New Wing, Natural Sciences Building, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
Faculty of Science and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies, New Wing, Natural Sciences Building, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
University of South Florida, Department of Integrative Biology, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, Florida, 33620 USA
Hymenoptera biological control MRA linear discriminant analysis LDA principal component analysis shape PCA

Abstract

In this paper, we describe and illustrate a new species of parasitoid wasp as Brachymeria philornisae Delvare, sp. nov. The new species was reared from Philornis trinitensis Dodge & Aitken (Diptera: Muscidae) puparia that were found in the nests of the bird species Mimus gilvus (Vieillot) (Mimidae) and Tiaris bicolor (L.) (Thraupidae) in Tobago. The new species is of particular interest as it may be considered a potential biological control agent in locations where Philornis species are invasive, such as the Galapagos Islands. Closely related Brachymeria species had taxonomically ambiguous relationship in the past and are compared and reviewed. The species have been classified in the subgenus Pseudobrachymeria, but are here treated within the newly defined subconica species-group of Brachymeria as part of a sibling species complex designated as the subrugosa complex. Species assigned to the subconica species-group are listed and five, one unnamed, are assigned to the subrugosa complex and their females keyed. Species are separated by qualitative characters and morphometry using distance measurements. Trigonura annulipes Costa Lima is renamed as Brachymeria costalimai Delvare nom. nov. because of secondary homonymy.

 

References

  1. Andrade, T.V. de & Tavares, M.T. (2009) Revisão de Ceyxia Girault, stat. rev. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Brachymeriini). Revista Brasileira de Entomologia, 53 (4), 511-548.

    Aquino, D.A., Tavares, M.T., Balducci, E., Baca, V. & Quinteros de, S.Q. (2015) The microlepidopterous natural enemy Brachymeria subrugosa Blanchard, 1942 (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae): identity, hosts and geographic distribution. Zootaxa, 4013 (2), 293-300.

    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4013.2.10

    Ashmead, W.H. (1904) Classification of the chalcid flies of the superfamily Chalcidoidea, with descriptions of new species in the Carnegie Museum, collected in South America by Herbert H. Smith. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum, 1 (4), i-xi, 225-551, 39 pls.

    Baur, H. & Leuenberger, C. (2011) Analysis of ratios in multivariate morphometry. Systematic Biology, 60 (6), 813-825.

    https://doi.org/10.1093/sysbio/syr061

    Baur, H., Kranz-Baltensperger, Y., Cruaud, A., Rasplus, J.-Y., Timokhov, A.V. & Gokhman, V.E. (2014) Morphometric analysis and taxonomic revision of Anisopteromalus Ruschka (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) - an integrative approach. Systematic Entomology, 39, 691-709.

    https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12081

    Blanchard, E.E. (1935) Apuntes sobre calcididos argentinos (Hym. Chalc.). Revista de la Sociedad Entomológica Argentina, 7, 103-122.

    Blanchard, E.E. (1942) Parásitos de Alabama argillacea Hbn. en la Republica Argentina. Anales de la Sociedad Cientifica Argentina, 134, 94-128.

    Bouček, Z. (1988) Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A biosystematic revision of genera of fourteen families, with a reclassification of species. CAB International Institute of Entomology, The Cambrian News Ltd., Aberystwyth, 832 pp.

    Bouček, Z. (1992) The New World genera of Chalcididae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 53, 49-117.

    Bouček, Z. & Delvare, G. (1992) The identities of species described or classified under Chalcis by J.C. Fabricius. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 53, 11-48.

    Bulgarella, M. & Heimpel, G.E. (2015) Host range and community structure of bird parasites in the genus Philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) on the island of Trinidad. Ecology and Evolution, 5, 3696-3703.

    Bulgarella, M., Quiroga, M.A., Brito Vera, G.A., Dregni, J.S., Cunninghamme, F., Mosquera, D.A., Causton, C.E. & Heimpel, G.E. (2015) Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae), an avian nest parasite invasive to the Galapagos Islands, in mainland Ecuador. Annals of the Entomological Society of America, 108, 242-250.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/aesa/sav026

    Bulgarella, M., Quiroga, M.A., Boulton, R., Ramirez, I., Moon, R.D., Causton, C.E. & Heimpel, G.E. (2017) Life cycle and host specificity of the parasitoid Conura annulifera (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae), a potential biological control agents of Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in the Galapagos Islands. Annals of the Entomological Society of America. [in press]

    Burks, B.D. (1960) A revision of the genus Brachymeria Westwood in America north of Mexico (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 86 (3), 225-273.

    Costa Lima da, A.M. (1919) Contribuçao as conhecimento dos microhymenópteros parasitos de lagarta rosea de Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders) no Brasil. Archivos da Escuela Superior de Agricultura e Medicina Veterinaria, Nictheroy, Rio de Janeiro, New Series, 3 (1-2), 57-63.

    Couri, M.S., Tavares, M.T. & Stenzel, R.R. (2006) Parasitoidism of Chalcidid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) on Philornis sp. (Diptera, Muscidae). Brazilian Journal of Biology, 66 (2A), 553-557.

    Cresson, E.T. (1872) Synopsis of the North American species belonging to the genera Leucospis, Smicra and Chalcis. Transactions of the American Entomological Society, 4, 29-60.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/25076262

    De Santis, L. (1967) Catálogo de los Himenópteros Argentinos de la Serie Parasitica, incluyendo Bethyloidea. Comision de Investigacion Cientificas, La Plata, Provincia de Buenos Aires, 337 pp.

    De Santis, L. (1979) Catálogo de los himénopteros calcidoideos de América al sur de los Estados Unidos. Comisión de Investigaciones Cientificas Provincia de Buenos Aires, Publicación Especial, 488 pp.

    Delvare, G. (1992) A reclassification of the Chalcidini with a checklist of the New World species. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute, 53, 119-441.

    Delvare, G. (1993) Les Chalcididae (Hymenoptera) d'importance économique dans les palmeraies d'Amérique tropicale. Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 97 (4), 349-372.

    Delvare, G., Talaee, L. & Goldansaz, S.H. (2011) New Chalcididae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) of economic importance from Iran. Annales Zoologici, Warszawa, 61 (4), 789-801.

    https://doi.org/10.3161/000345411X622598

    Dodge, H.R. & Aitken, T.H.G. (1968) Philornis Flies from Trinidad (Diptera: Muscidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society, 41, 134-154.

    Dudaniec, R.Y. & Kleindorfer, S. (2006). Effects of the parasitic flies of the genus Philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) on birds. Emu, 106 (1), 13-20.
    https://doi.org/10.1071/MU04040

    Fessl, B. & Tebbich, S. (2002) Philornis downsi - a recently discovered parasite on the Galapagos archipelago - a threat to Darwin's finches? Ibis, 144, 445-451.

    Fessl, B., Couri, M.S. & Tebbich, S. (2001) Philornis downsi Dodge & Aitken, new to the Galapagos Islands (Diptera, Muscidae). Studia dipterologica, 8 (1), 317-322.

    Fessl, B., Kleindorfer, S. & Tebbich, S. (2006) An experimental study on the effects of an introduced parasite in Darwin's finches. Biological Conservation, 127, 55-61.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.07.013

    Fessl, B., Young, G.H., Young, R.P., Rodríguez-Matamoros, J., Dvorak, M., Tebbich, S. & Fa, J.E. (2010) How to save the rarest Darwin's finch from extinction: the mangrove finch on Isabela Island. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, Series B, Biological Sciences, 365 (1543), 1019-1030.
    https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2009.0288

    Fessl, B., Heimpel, G.E. & Causton, C.E. (2017) Invasion of an avian nest parasite, Philornis downsi, to the Galapagos Islands: colonization history, adaptations to novel ecosystems, and conservation challenges. In: Parker, P.G. (Ed.), Disease Ecology: Galapagos Birds and their Parasites. Springer, Dordrecht. [in press]

    Franklin, M., Sánchez, P., Herrera, B., Liendo-Barandiaran, C., Muñoz, W. & Hernández, J.V. (2009) Pupal development, longevity and behavior of Carmenta theobromae (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae), Florida Entomologist, 92 (2), 355-361.
    https://doi.org/10.1653/024.092.0222

    Frederickx, C., Dekeirsschieter, J., Verheggen, F.J. & Haubruge, E. (2014) Host-habitat location by the parasitoids Nasonia vitripennis Walker (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae). Journal of Forensic Science, 59 (1), 242-249.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/15564029.12267

    García, J.L. & Montilla, R. (2010) Hymenopteros parasitoides de insectos asociados a las plantaciones de cacao, en la región costera del estado Aragua, Venezuela. Agronomía Tropical, Maracay, 60, 91-97.

    Gebiola, M., Monti, M.M., Johnson, R.C., Woolley, J.B., Hunter, M.S., Giorgini, M. & Pedata, P.A. (2016) A revision of the Encarsia pergandiella species complex (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) shows cryptic diversity in parasitoids of whitefly pests. Systematic Entomology. [published online]
    https://doi.org/10.1111/syen.12187

    Girault, A.A. (1915) Australian Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea - XIV. The family Chalcididae with descriptions of new genera and species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum, 4, 314-365.

    Habu, A. (1960) A revision of the Chalcididae (Hymenoptera) of Japan with description of sixteen new species. Bulletin of National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Tokyo (C), 11, 131-363.

    Howard, L.O. (1885) Descriptions of North American Chalcididae from the collections of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and of Dr C.V. Riley, with biological notes. (First paper). Together with a list of the described North American species of the family. Bulletin of the United States Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Entomology, 5, 1-47.

    Ichiki, R.T, Kainoh, Y., Yamawaki, Y. & Nakamura, S. (2010) The parasitoid fly Exorista japonica uses visual and olfactory cues to locate herbivore-infested plants. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata, 138, 175-183.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1570-7458.2010.01091.x

    Kirby, W.F. (1883) On the genera of the subfamily Chalcidinae, with synonymic notes and descriptions of new species of Leucospidinae and Chalcidinae. Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoology, 17, 53-78, pls. 3, 4.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1883.tb00236.x

    Kleindorfer, S., Peters, K.J, Custance, G., Dudaniec, R.Y. & O'Connor, J.A. (2014) Changes in Philornis infestation behavior threaten Darwin's finch survival. Current Zoology, 60, 542-550.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/czoolo/60.4.542

    Knutie, S.A. (2014) Effects of an introduced parasitic nest fly on endemic avian hosts in the Galápagos Islands. PhD dissertation, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, 182 pp.

    Knutie, S.A., McNew, S.M, Bartlow, A.W., Vargas, D.A. & Clayton, D.H. (2014) Darwin’s finches combat introduced nest parasites with fumigated cotton. Current Biology, 24, 335–356. [R355–R356]
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2014.03.058

    Knutie, S.A., Herman, J.M., Owen, J.P. & Clayton, D.H. (2017) Tri-trophic ecology of native parasitic nest flies of birds in Tobago. Ecosphere, 8 (1), e01670. [published online[
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1670

    Koop, J.A., Owen J.P., Knutie, S.A., Aguilar, M.A. & Clayton, D.H. (2013) Experimental demonstration of a parasite-induced immune response in wild birds: Darwin’s finches and introduced nest flies. Ecology and Evolution, 3, 2514-2523.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.651

    Koop, J.A.H., Kim, P.S., Knutie, S.A., Adler, F. & Clayton, D.H. (2016) An introduced parasitic fly may lead to local extinction of Darwin's finch populations. Journal of Applied Ecology, 53, 511-518.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12575

    Lincago, P. & Causton, C. (2008) Crianza en cautiverio de Philornis downsi, en las Islas Galápagos. Technical Report. Charles Darwin Research Station, Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz, 24 pp.

    Masi, L. (1929) Risultati zoologici della Missione inviata dalla R. Società Geografica Italiana per l'esplorazione dell'Oasi di Giarabub (1926-1927). Hymenoptera Chalcididae. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria, 53, 195-240.

    Narendran, T.C. & Varghese, T. (1989) A study on the genus Thaumatelia Kirby (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). Journal of Ecobiology, 1 (1), 43-50.

    Noyes, J.S. (1982) Collecting and preserving chalcid wasps. Journal of Natural History, 16, 315-334.

    Noyes, J.S. (2016) Universal Chalcidoidea database. Available from: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/chalcidoids/index.html (accessed 3 June 2016)

    Seltmann, K.C., Yoder, M.J., Mikó, I., Forshage, M., Bertone, M.A., Agosti, D., Austin, A.D., Balhoff, J.P., Borowiec M.L., Brady, S.G., Broad, G.R., Brothers, D.J., Burks, R.A., Buffington M.L., Campbell, H.M., Dew, K.J., Ernst, A.F., Fernández-Triana, J.L., Gates, M.W., Gibson, G.A.P., Jennings, J.T., Johnson, N.F., Karlsson, D., Kawada, R., Krogmann, L., Kula, R.R., Mullins, P.L., Ohl, M., Rasmussen, C., Ronquist, F., Schulmeister, S., Sharkey, M.J., Talamas, E., Tucker, E., Vilhelmsen, L., Ward, P.S., Wharton, R.A. & Deans, A.R. (2012) A hymenopterists' guide to the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology: utility, clarification and futures directions. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 27, 67-88.
    https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.27.2961

    Silvie, P.J., Delvare, G., Aberlenc H.-P., Prudent, P., Santana, H.J., Gomez, V.A., Cardozo, R. & Michel, B. (2014) Diversité des Arthropodes rencontrés en culture cotonnière au Paraguay. 2. Insectes prédateurs, parasitoïdes et hyperparasitoïdes. Entomologie Faunistique - Faunistic Entomology, 67, 179-191.

    Teixeira, D. M. (1999) Myiasis caused by obligatory parasites. Ib. General observations on the biology of species of the genus Philornis Meinert, 1890 (Diptera, Muscidae). In: Guimaraes, J.H. & Papavero, N. (Eds.), Myiasis in man and animals in the Neotropical region. Editora Pleiade, São Paulo, pp. 71–96.

    Turlings, T.C.J., Wäckers, F.L., Vet, L.E.M., Lewis, W.J., Tumlinson, J.H. (1993) Learning of host-finding cues by hymenopterous parasitoids. Ecological and Evolutionary Perspectives, 3, 51-78.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-2814-2_3

    Vinson, S.B. (1976) Host selection by insect parasitoids. Annual Review of Entomology, 21, 109-133.
    https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.en.21.010176.000545

    Walker, F. (1862) Characters of undescribed species of the family Chalcidae. Journal of Entomology, 1, 172-185.

    Wickham, H. (2009) ggplot2: elegant graphics for data analysis. Springer, Dordrecht, 212 pp.