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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #320323
Title: A new species of Chaenusa Haliday sensu lato (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Nearctic Region

Author
item Kula, Robert
item HARMS, N. - Specpro, Inc

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/2015
Publication Date: 1/31/2016
Citation: Kula, R.R., Harms, N.E. 2016. A new species of Chaenusa Haliday sensu lato (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from the Nearctic Region. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(1):101-108.

Interpretive Summary: Parasitic wasps attack pest insects that cause billions of dollars of damage to crops and natural resources annually. They also attack beneficial natural enemies and are pests when they disrupt biocontrol. The wasps treated in this paper parasitize fly larvae that feed on a plant related to an aquatic weed targeted for biocontrol. The weed is targeted for biocontrol using herbivores such as the fly species parasitized by this wasp. Increased knowledge of this wasp can help determine its potential impact as a biocontrol antagonist. One new species is described. A key for identifying the new species and its congeners in the Western Hemisphere is amended. This paper will be useful to scientists, as well as State and Federal personnel, involved in aquatic weed biocontrol.

Technical Abstract: Chaenusa psillosae Kula, new species from the Nearctic Region is described. Specimens upon which the new species is described were reared from an undetermined species of Hydrellia Robineau-Desvoidy infesting Sagittaria latifolia Willd. A key to the New World species of Chaenusa sensu lato is amended to include the new species.