Revision of the genus Pseudapanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with emphasis on the species in Area de Conservación Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica

Name game conundrum: identical specific epithets in Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

It is a privilege to recognize a new species and immortalize it with a name. Taxonomists may use etymologies recalling the sampling locality, habitat, species morphology, people (actor, writer, singer, politician, scientist), culture (customs, beliefs), fictional characters (gods, demons, cartoons), brands, ancient names, and others. Naming a species is a creative act that allows scientists to express their love for nature. By drawing on personal and cultural associations, species names are often imbued with far greater meaning than one might initially assume. Unconventional names for species can be an effective way to capture the imagination of the public and make the species memorable. In other words, species names can be both meaningful and whimsical. The central focus of this study was to pinpoint species in the subfamily Microgastrinae that share the same specific epithet that often creates confusion regarding which species is being referred to. The findings showed that 153 specific epithets were repeated representing 340 species in 52 genera, while the remaining 2,823 species have unique epithets. Three of the five categories proposed accommodate the majority of the etymologies: people (42%), morphology (27%), and geography (15%) whereas the categories of other (9%) and biology (7%) achieve the least representation. Approximately 95% of the same specific epithets had a single clear meaning, while for the remaining 5%, it was not possible to trace etymology. The study revealed that the average length of specific epithets was 9.01 letters, the longest contains 18 (eliethcantillanoae) while the shortest four (eros and erro). Additionally, most identical specific epithets were repeated two times (85.25% of the occurrences), although three (12.82%), five, six, and even nine (each one with 0.64%) repetitions were also found. Finally, a list of recommendations for taxonomists when faced with the task of naming a new species is provided.

Turbo taxonomy approaches: lessons from the past and recommendations for the future based on the experience with Braconidae (Hymenoptera) parasitoid wasps

Not aplicable to a Forum paper, but if needed I can write one.

Annotated and illustrated world checklist of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

A checklist of world species of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is provided. A total of 81 genera and 2,999 extant species are recognized as valid, including 36 nominal species that are currently considered as species inquirendae. Two genera are synonymized under Apanteles. Nine lectotypes are designated. A total of 318 new combinations, three new replacement names, three species name amendments, and seven species status revised are proposed. Additionally, three species names are treated as nomina dubia, and 52 species names are considered as unavailable names (including 14 as nomina nuda). A total of three extinct genera and 12 extinct species are also listed. Unlike in many previous treatments of the subfamily, tribal concepts are judged to be inadequate, so genera are listed alphabetically. Brief diagnoses of all Microgastrinae genera, as understood in this paper, are presented. Illustrations of all extant genera (at least one species per genus, usually more) are included to showcase morphological diversity. Primary types of Microgastrinae are deposited in 108 institutions worldwide, although 76% are concentrated in 17 collections. Localities of primary types, in 138 countries, are reported. Recorded species distributions are listed by biogeographical region and by country. Microgastrine wasps are recorded from all continents except Antarctica; specimens can be found in all major terrestrial ecosystems, from 82°N to 55°S, and from sea level up to at least 4,500 m a.s.l. The Oriental (46) and Neotropical (43) regions have the largest number of genera recorded, whereas the Palaearctic region (28) is the least diverse. Currently, the highest species richness is in the Palearctic region (827), due to more historical study there, followed by the Neotropical (768) and Oriental (752) regions, which are expected to be the most species rich. Based on ratios of Lepidoptera and Microgastrinae species from several areas, the actual world diversity of Microgastrinae is expected to be between 30,000–50,000 species; although these ratios were mostly based on data from temperate areas and thus must be treated with caution, the single tropical area included had a similar ratio to the temperate ones. Almost 45,000 specimens of Microgastrinae from 67 different genera (83% of microgastrine genera) have complete or partial DNA barcode sequences deposited in the Barcode of Life Data System; the DNA barcodes represent 3,545 putative species or Barcode Index Numbers (BINs), as estimated from the molecular data. Information on the number of sequences and BINs per genus are detailed in the checklist. Microgastrinae hosts are here considered to be restricted to Eulepidoptera, i.e., most of the Lepidoptera except for the four most basal superfamilies (Micropterigoidea, Eriocranioidea, Hepialoidea and Nepticuloidea), with all previous literature records of other insect orders and those primitive Lepidoptera lineages being considered incorrect. The following nomenclatural acts are proposed: 1) Two genera are synonymyzed under Apanteles: Cecidobracon Kieffer & Jörgensen, 1910, new synonym and Holcapanteles Cameron, 1905, new synonym; 2) Nine lectotype designations are made for Alphomelondisputabile (Ashmead, 1900), Alphomelonnigriceps (Ashmead, 1900), Cotesiasalebrosa (Marshall, 1885), Diolcogasterxanthaspis (Ashmead, 1900), Dolichogenideaononidis (Marshall, 1889), Glyptapantelesacraeae (Wilkinson, 1932), Glyptapantelesguyanensis (Cameron, 1911), Glyptapantelesmilitaris (Walsh, 1861), and Pseudapantelesannulicornis Ashmead, 1900; 3) Three new replacement names are a) Diolcogasteraurangabadensis Fernandez-Triana, replacing Diolcogasterindicus (Rao & Chalikwar, 1970) [nec Diolcogasterindicus (Wilkinson, 1927)], b) Dolichogenideaincystatae Fernandez-Triana, replacing Dolichogenidealobesia Liu & Chen, 2019 [nec Dolichogenidealobesia Fagan-Jeffries & Austin, 2019], and c) Microplitisvitobiasi Fernandez-Triana, replacing Microplitisvariicolor Tobias, 1964 [nec Microplitisvaricolor Viereck, 1917]; 4) Three names amended are Apantelesirenecarrilloae Fernandez-Triana, 2014, Cotesiaayerzai (Brèthes, 1920), and Cotesiariverai (Porter, 1916); 5) Seven species have their status revised: Cotesiaarctica (Thomson, 1895), Cotesiaokamotoi (Watanabe, 1921), Cotesiaukrainica (Tobias, 1986), Dolichogenideaappellator (Telenga, 1949), Dolichogenideamurinanae (Capek & Zwölfer, 1957), Hypomicrogasteracarnas Nixon, 1965, and Nyererianigricoxis (Wilkinson, 1932); 6) New combinations are given for 318 species: Alloplitiscongensis, Alloplitisdetractus, Apantelesasphondyliae, Apantelesbraziliensis, Apantelessulciscutis, Choerasaper, Choerasapollion, Choerasdaphne, Choerasfomes, Choerasgerontius, Choerashelle, Choerasirates, Choeraslibanius, Choeraslongiterebrus, Choerasloretta, Choerasrecusans, Choerassordidus, Choerasstenoterga, Choerassuperbus, Choerassylleptae, Choerasvacillatrix, Choerasvacillatropsis, Choerasvenilia, Cotesiaasavari, Cotesiabactriana, Cotesiabambeytripla, Cotesiaberberidis, Cotesiabhairavi, Cotesiabiezankoi, Cotesiabifida, Cotesiacaligophagus, Cotesiacheesmanae, Cotesiacompressithorax, Cotesiadelphinensis, Cotesiaeffrena, Cotesiaeuphobetri, Cotesiaelaeodes, Cotesiaendii, Cotesiaeuthaliae, Cotesiaexelastisae, Cotesiahiberniae, Cotesiahyperion, Cotesiahypopygialis, Cotesiahypsipylae, Cotesiajujubae, Cotesialesbiae, Cotesialevigaster, Cotesializeri, Cotesiamalevola, Cotesiamalshri, Cotesiamenezesi, Cotesiamuzaffarensis, Cotesianeptisis, Cotesianycteus, Cotesiaoeceticola, Cotesiaoppidicola, Cotesiaopsiphanis, Cotesiapachkuriae, Cotesiapaludicolae, Cotesiaparbhanii, Cotesiaparvicornis, Cotesiapratapae, Cotesiaprozorovi, Cotesiapterophoriphagus, Cotesiaradiarytensis, Cotesiarangii, Cotesiariverai, Cotesiaruficoxis, Cotesiasenegalensis, Cotesiaseyali, Cotesiasphenarchi, Cotesiasphingivora, Cotesiatransuta, Cotesiaturkestanica, Diolcogasterabengouroui, Diolcogasteragama, Diolcogasterambositrensis, Diolcogasteranandra, Diolcogasterannulata, Diolcogasterbambeyi, Diolcogasterbicolorina, Diolcogastercariniger, Diolcogastercincticornis, Diolcogastercingulata, Diolcogastercoronata, Diolcogastercoxalis, Diolcogasterdipika, Diolcogasterearina, Diolcogasterepectina, Diolcogasterepectinopsis, Diolcogastergrangeri, Diolcogasterheterocera, Diolcogasterhomocera, Diolcogasterindica, Diolcogasterinsularis, Diolcogasterkivuana, Diolcogastermediosulcata, Diolcogastermegaulax, Diolcogasterneglecta, Diolcogasternigromacula, Diolcogasterpalpicolor, Diolcogasterpersimilis, Diolcogasterplecopterae, Diolcogasterplutocongoensis, Diolcogasterpsilocnema, Diolcogasterrufithorax, Diolcogastersemirufa, Diolcogasterseyrigi, Diolcogastersubtorquata, Diolcogastersulcata, Diolcogastertorquatiger, Diolcogastertristiculus, Diolcogasterturneri, Diolcogastervulcana, Diolcogasterwittei, Distatrixanthedon, Distatrixcerales, Distatrixcuspidalis, Distatrixeuproctidis, Distatrixflava, Distatrixgeometrivora, Distatrixmaia, Distatrixtookei, Distatrixtermina, Distatrixsimulissima, Dolichogenideaagamedes, Dolichogenideaaluella, Dolichogenideaargiope, Dolichogenideaatreus, Dolichogenideabakeri, Dolichogenideabasiflava, Dolichogenideabersa, Dolichogenideabiplagae, Dolichogenideabisulcata, Dolichogenideacatonix, Dolichogenideachrysis, Dolichogenideacoffea, Dolichogenideacoretas, Dolichogenideacyane, Dolichogenideadiaphantus, Dolichogenideadiparopsidis, Dolichogenideadryas, Dolichogenideaearterus, Dolichogenideaensiger, Dolichogenideaeros, Dolichogenideaevadne, Dolichogenideafalcator, Dolichogenideagelechiidivoris, Dolichogenideagobica, Dolichogenideahyalinis, Dolichogenideairiarte, Dolichogenidealakhaensis, Dolichogenidealampe, Dolichogenidealaspeyresiella, Dolichogenidealatistigma, Dolichogenidealebene, Dolichogenidealucidinervis, Dolichogenideamalacosomae, Dolichogenideamaro, Dolichogenideamendosae, Dolichogenideamonticola, Dolichogenideanigra, Dolichogenideaolivierellae, Dolichogenideaparallelis, Dolichogenideapelopea, Dolichogenideapelops, Dolichogenideaphaenna, Dolichogenideapisenor, Dolichogenidearoepkei, Dolichogenideascabra, Dolichogenideastatius, Dolichogenideastenotelas, Dolichogenideastriata, Dolichogenideawittei, Exoryzaasotae, Exoryzabelippicola, Exoryzahylas, Exoryzamegagaster, Exoryzaoryzae, Glyptapantelesaggestus, Glyptapantelesagynus, Glyptapantelesaithos, Glyptapantelesamenophis, Glyptapantelesantarctiae, Glyptapantelesanubis, Glyptapantelesarginae, Glyptapantelesargus, Glyptapantelesatylana, Glyptapantelesbadgleyi, Glyptapantelesbataviensis, Glyptapantelesbistonis, Glyptapantelesborocerae, Glyptapantelescacao, Glyptapantelescadei, Glyptapantelescinyras, Glyptapanteleseryphanidis, Glyptapanteleseuproctisiphagus, Glyptapanteleseutelus, Glyptapantelesfabiae, Glyptapantelesfulvigaster, Glyptapantelesfuscinervis, Glyptapantelesgahinga, Glyptapantelesglobatus, Glyptapantelesglyphodes, Glyptapantelesguierae, Glyptapanteleshorus, Glyptapantelesintricatus, Glyptapanteleslamprosemae, Glyptapanteleslefevrei, Glyptapantelesleucotretae, Glyptapanteleslissopleurus, Glyptapantelesmadecassus, Glyptapantelesmarquesi, Glyptapantelesmelanotus, Glyptapantelesmelissus, Glyptapantelesmerope, Glyptapantelesnaromae, Glyptapantelesnepitae, Glyptapantelesnigrescens, Glyptapantelesninus, Glyptapantelesnkuli, Glyptapantelesparasundanus, Glyptapantelespenelope, Glyptapantelespenthocratus, Glyptapantelesphilippinensis, Glyptapantelesphilocampus, Glyptapantelesphoebe, Glyptapantelesphytometraduplus, Glyptapantelespropylae, Glyptapantelespuera, Glyptapantelesseydeli, Glyptapantelessiderion, Glyptapantelessimus, Glyptapantelesspeciosissimus, Glyptapantelesspilosomae, Glyptapantelessubpunctatus, Glyptapantelesthespis, Glyptapantelesthoseae, Glyptapantelesvenustus, Glyptapanteleswilkinsoni, Hypomicrogastersamarshalli, Iconellacajani, Iconelladetrectans, Iconellajason, Iconellalynceus, Iconellapyrene, Iconellatedanius, Illidopsazamgarhensis, Illidopslamprosemae, Illidopstrabea, Keylimepiestriatus, Microplitisadisurae, Microplitismexicanus, Neoclarkinellaariadne, Neoclarkinellacurvinervus, Neoclarkinellasundana, Nyereriaituriensis, Nyererianioro, Nyereriaproagynus, Nyereriataoi, Nyereriavallatae, Parapantelesaethiopicus, Parapantelesalternatus, Parapantelesaso, Parapantelesatellae, Parapantelesbagicha, Parapantelescleo, Parapantelescyclorhaphus, Parapantelesdemades, Parapantelesendymion, Parapantelesepiplemicidus, Parapantelesexpulsus, Parapantelesfallax, Parapantelesfolia, Parapantelesfurax, Parapanteleshemitheae, Parapanteleshyposidrae, Parapantelesindicus, Parapantelesjavensis, Parapantelesjhaverii, Parapantelesmaculipalpis, Parapantelesmaynei, Parapantelesneocajani, Parapantelesneohyblaeae, Parapantelesnydia, Parapantelesprosper, Parapantelesprosymna, Parapantelespunctatissimus, Parapantelesregalis, Parapantelessarpedon, Parapantelessartamus, Parapantelesscultena, Parapantelestransvaalensis, Parapantelesturri, Parapantelesxanthopholis, Pholetesoracutus, Pholetesorbrevivalvatus, Pholetesorextentus, Pholetesoringenuoides, Pholetesorkuwayamai, Promicrogasterapidanus, Promicrogasterbriareus, Promicrogasterconopiae, Promicrogasteremesa, Promicrogastergrandicula, Promicrogasterorsedice, Promicrogasterrepleta, Promicrogastertyphon, Sathonbekilyensis, Sathonflavofacialis, Sathonlaurae, Sathonmikeno, Sathonruandanus, Sathonrufotestaceus, Venanidesastydamia, Venanidesdemeter, Venanidesparmula, and Venanidessymmysta.

A revision of Dolichogenidea (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with the second mediotergite broadly rectangular from Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica

The first species of Dolichogenidea (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with the second mediotergite broadly quadrate to rectangular are revised, and eight new species from Area de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica are described, all authored by Fernandez-Triana & Boudreault: alejandromasisi, angelagonzalezae, carlosmanuelrodriguezi, genuarnunezi, josealfredohernandezi, melaniamunozae, rogerblancoi, and yeimycedenoae. A new species group (carlosmanuelrodriguezi) within the genus is proposed to accommodate those species, as well as additional undescribed species from the Neotropical region found in collections. All new species are found in rainforests (120–900 m) and all are parasitoids of Depressariidae (except for one species parasitizing Choreutidae). The unique shape of the second mediotergite and long ovipositor are features shared with the alejandromorai species group in the genus Apanteles, an example of convergent evolution; both wasp groups also parasitize similar hosts in ACG.

A biodiversity hotspot for Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in North America: annotated species checklist for Ottawa, Canada

Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the city of Ottawa and its surroundings (a 50-km radius circle, ~7,800 km2) were studied based on 1,928 specimens collected between 1894 and 2010, and housed in the Canadian National Collection of Insects. A total of 158 species from 21 genera were identified, which is by far the highest number of species ever recorded for a locality in North America. An annotated checklist of species is provided.Choerasparasitellae(Bouché, 1834) andPholetesornanus(Reinhard, 1880) are recorded for the first time in the Nearctic (previously only known from the Palearctic region),Cotesiadepressa(Viereck, 1912) is recorded for the first time in Canada (previously only known from the United States), andCotesiahemileucae(Riley, 1881) andProtapantelesphlyctaeniae(Muesebeck, 1929) are recorded for the first time in the province of Ontario. In Ottawa the most diverse genera areCotesia,Apanteles,Microplitis,Pholetesor,Microgaster, andDolichogenidea, altogether comprising 77% of the species found in the area. A total of 73 species (46%) were represented by only one or two specimens, suggesting that the inventory for Ottawa is still relatively incomplete. Seasonal distribution showed several peaks of activity, in spring, summer, and early fall. That general pattern varied for individual species, with some showing a single peak of abundance either in the summer or towards the end of the season, others species attaining two peaks, in late spring and late summer, or in early summer and early fall, and yet others attaining up to three different peaks, in spring, summer and fall. At least 72 of the Microgastrinae species from Ottawa have been previously associated with 554 species of Lepidoptera as hosts – but those historical literature records are not always reliable and in many cases are based on data from areas beyond Ottawa. Thus, our knowledge of the associations between the 158 species of microgastrine parasitoids and the caterpillars of the 2,064 species of Lepidoptera recorded from Ottawa is still very incomplete.

A biodiversity hotspot for Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in North America: annotated species checklist for Ottawa, Canada

Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the city of Ottawa and its surroundings (a 50-km radius circle, ~7,800 km²) were studied based on 1,928 specimens collected between 1894 and 2010, and housed in the Canadian National Collection of Insects. A total of 158 species from 21 genera were identified, which is by far the highest number of species ever recorded for a locality in North America. An annotated checklist of species is provided. Choerasparasitellae (Bouché, 1834) and Pholetesornanus (Reinhard, 1880) are recorded for the first time in the Nearctic (previously only known from the Palearctic region), Cotesiadepressa (Viereck, 1912) is recorded for the first time in Canada (previously only known from the United States), and Cotesiahemileucae (Riley, 1881) and Protapantelesphlyctaeniae (Muesebeck, 1929) are recorded for the first time in the province of Ontario. In Ottawa the most diverse genera are Cotesia, Apanteles, Microplitis, Pholetesor, Microgaster, and Dolichogenidea, altogether comprising 77% of the species found in the area. A total of 73 species (46%) were represented by only one or two specimens, suggesting that the inventory for Ottawa is still relatively incomplete. Seasonal distribution showed several peaks of activity, in spring, summer, and early fall. That general pattern varied for individual species, with some showing a single peak of abundance either in the summer or towards the end of the season, others species attaining two peaks, in late spring and late summer, or in early summer and early fall, and yet others attaining up to three different peaks, in spring, summer and fall. At least 72 of the Microgastrinae species from Ottawa have been previously associated with 554 species of Lepidoptera as hosts – but those historical literature records are not always reliable and in many cases are based on data from areas beyond Ottawa. Thus, our knowledge of the associations between the 158 species of microgastrine parasitoids and the caterpillars of the 2,064 species of Lepidoptera recorded from Ottawa is still very incomplete.

DNA barcoding the Lepidoptera inventory of a large complex tropical conserved wildland, Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica

The 37-year ongoing inventory of the estimated 15 000 species of Lepidoptera living in the 125 000 terrestrial hectares of Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, northwestern Costa Rica, has DNA barcode documented 11 000+ species, and the simultaneous inventory of at least 6000+ species of wild-caught caterpillars, plus 2700+ species of parasitoids. The inventory began with Victorian methodologies and species-level perceptions, but it was transformed in 2004 by the full application of DNA barcoding for specimen identification and species discovery. This tropical inventory of an extraordinarily species-rich and complex multidimensional trophic web has relied upon the sequencing services provided by the Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding, and the informatics support from BOLD, the Barcode of Life Data Systems, major tools developed by the Centre for Biodiversity Genomics at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, and available to all through couriers and the internet. As biodiversity information flows from these many thousands of undescribed and often look-alike species through their transformations to usable product, we see that DNA barcoding, firmly married to our centuries-old morphology-, ecology-, microgeography-, and behavior-based ways of taxonomizing the wild world, has made possible what was impossible before 2004. We can now work with all the species that we find, as recognizable species-level units of biology. In this essay, we touch on some of the details of the mechanics of actually using DNA barcoding in an inventory.