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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Systematic Entomology Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329411
Title: Redescription of Helorus ruficornis Förster (Hymenoptera: Heloridae), with a new synonymy and new Afrotropical specimen records

Author
item Buffington, Matthew
item COPELAND, R. - African Insect Science For Food And Health (ICIPE)

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/6/2016
Publication Date: 9/19/2016
Citation: Buffington, M.L., Copeland, R.S. 2016. Redescription of Helorus ruficornis Förster (Hymenoptera: Heloridae), with a new synonymy and new Afrotropical specimen records. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 118(3):330-344.

Interpretive Summary: Parasitoid wasps are potent natural enemies of many species of pest insect. Correct identification and name usage in parasitoid wasp biology are key factors in the success of biological control. This paper helps clarify the identity of a species of wasp that attacks lacewing larvae, and expands the known distribution of the species throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Biological control workers, extension agents, and APHIS cooperators worldwide will find this research product essential for their own work.

Technical Abstract: Research up to this point has recorded two species of Afrotropical Heloridae: Helorus ruficornis Foerster and H. elgoni Risbec. After examining recently collected specimens from Kenya and Burundi, we have been able to better understand intraspecific variation with H. ruficornis, and as a result, we hereby synonimize H. elgoni with H. rufifornis, redescirbe H. ruficornis, and illustrate the holotype of H. elgoni for the first time. We also discuss new collection records for Afrotropical Heloridae, as well as possible habitat preferences.