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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #291316
Title: The description and bionomics of Tropideucoila blepharoneurae Buffington and Condon, new species (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Zaeucoilini), parasitoid of Blepharoneura Loew fruit flies (Tephritidae)

Author
item Buffington, Matthew
item CONDON, M. - Cornell College - Iowa

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2013
Publication Date: 7/15/2014
Publication URL: http://www.bioone.org/doi/full/10.4289/0013-8797.115.4.349
Citation: Buffington, M.L., Condon, M.A. 2014. The description and bionomics of Tropideucoila blepharoneurae Buffington and Condon, new species (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Zaeucoilini), parasitoid of Blepharoneura Loew fruit flies (Tephritidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 115:349-357.

Interpretive Summary: Gall wasps and their relatives include numerous agricultural pests, as well as many predators important in biological control. In most cases, the biological attributes of these wasps are poorly known. Some species induce unsightly and damaging galls, other species are natural enemies of economically important species of flies that attack plants and livestock. The species described in this paper attacks the larvae of flower feeding flies in South America. This paper provides detailed diagnostic information and illustrations that will assist other researchers in distinguishing the new species from other species. This information will assist a broad array of scientists in better understanding the relationships, evolution, and feeding habits of these wasps.

Technical Abstract: Tropideucoila blepharoneurae, a new species of Zaeucoilini, is described from Peru. All specimens were reared from numerous species of the tephritid Blepharoneura feeding on species of Gurania (Cucurbitaceae). Prior to the discovery of this species, it was hypothesized that species of Tropideucoila were restricted to Agromyzidae hosts; this new species is remarkable for its host association with Tephritidae. To support the inclusion of this new species in Tropideucoila, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic reconstruction of the Zaeucoilini; this new species was recovered (with strong branch support) within Tropideucoila.