A New Species of Aleiodes Wesmael (Braconidae, Rogadinae) with Potential for Biological Control of Spodoptera spp. (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), and Notes on the Definition of the gastritor, circumscriptus, and Related Species-Groups.

A new species of Aleiodes Wesmael in the gastritor Thunberg species-group is described and illustrated. The new species, Aleiodes ceres Shimbori sp.n., occurs in Southern Brazil and Argentina. It is a potential biological control agent of caterpillars in the genus Spodoptera Guenée, namely S. cosmioides (Walker), S. eridania (Stoll), and S. frugiperda (J.E. Smith), which are serious pests on major crops including maize and soybean. The position of the new species within Aleiodes is discussed in relation to existing proposals of subdivisions of the genus into species-groups. In agreement with recent publications, the gastritor species-group is treated as separate from the circumscriptus Nees/bicolor Spinola group, as evidence suggests the latter is absent in the New World. We also propose the provisional shakirae Shimbori & Shaw species-group, to accommodate a clade of Neotropical species with geometrid hosts and morphological features similar to the gastritor and circumscriptus groups. A key to Neotropical species in the gastritor group and similar species is provided, except for species recently named without a morphological description.

The Apanteles adelinamoralesae species group (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Brazil, with descriptions of three new species reared from fruit borers(Lepidoptera, Depressariidae).

With more than 633 species, Apanteles is the largest genus within the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae). We describe three new species reared from pests of commercial fruits, Apanteles ahuacatl Shimbori, Giacomelli & Fernández-Triana sp. n., A. aratiku Shimbori sp. n., and A. mayochinchipe Shimbori sp. n. They parasitize caterpillars in the subfamily Stenomatinae (Depressariidae): the soursop moth Cerconota anonella (Sepp), in fruits of sweetsop (Annona squamosa L.) and atemoya (Annona squamosa x Annona cherimola Mill.) (Annonaceae), the avocado borer Stenoma catenifer Walsingham, in fruits of avocado (Persea americana Mill.) (Lauraceae), and the cacao shoot borer Stenoma decora Zeller, in fruits and shoots of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) (Malvaceae). The new Apanteles species are included in an expanded version of the key provided by Fernández-Triana et al. (2014) for the Apanteles adelinamoralesae species group. In addition, the previous record of Apanteles stenomae Muesebeck in Brazil is revised and considered to actually represent the species A. yolandarojasae Fernández-Triana.

New Species of Distatrix Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Brazil, with biological notes.

A new species of the genus Distatrix Mason, 1981 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Brazil is described and illustrated. This parasitoid was reared from larvae of Argyrotome paraguayaria Schaus, 1927 (Lepidoptera: Geometridae: Palyadini), feeding on Myrsine umbellata Mart. (Primulaceae). This is the first record of parasitism in the genus.

Redescription of Neocarus platensis Silvestri, 1905 (Acari: Opilioacaridae) and a new species from the syntype series.

Neocarus platensis is redescribed from part of the syntype series collected in Argentina and lectotype specimens are designated. The remaining syntype material from Uruguay represents a new species, herein named Neocarus paraplatensis sp. nov. Taxonomic problems within the Opilioacaridae are discussed in light of a comparative morphological discussion including setae quantity variation.

First record of Neorthostigma Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from Neotropical region with description of two new species.

The genus Neorthostigma Belokobylskij, 1998 is recorded in the Neotropical region for the first time, with description of two new species from Brazil viz. Neorthostigma neotropicalis sp. nov. and Neorthostigma signifrons sp. nov. A dichotomous identification key for the known species of Neorthostigma is provided.

A New Darwin Wasp (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and New Records of Behavioral Manipulation of the Host Spider Leucauge volupis (Araneae: Tetragnathidae).

Some ichneumonid wasps of the Polysphincta group of genera (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) induce behavioral modifications in their host spiders during a specific moment of their development, resulting in the construction of webs that differ in several aspects from those constructed by unparasitized individuals. In this study, we describe the parasitoid wasp Hymenoepimecis pinheirensis sp. n. (Ichneumonidae: Pimplinae) and present information on behavioral modifications in the orb-web structure of its host, the spider Leucauge volupis (Keyserling 1893). Previously, reported observation on this host/parasitoid interaction was restricted to one locality, and the wasp species was misidentified as Hymenoepimecis jordanensis Loffredo and Penteado-Dias 2009. Modified webs built by parasitized spiders lack adhesive spirals and have several radii that converge to the web hub. The cocoon built by the wasp larvae is attached to the web hub, suspended by horizontal radial lines, and surrounded by a tridimensional tangle positioned below the hub. This modified web structure is similar to the most frequent architecture of webs constructed by individuals of Leucauge mariana (Taczanowski 1881) parasitized by Hymenoepimecis tedfordi Gauld 1991. However, cocoon webs built by L. volupis parasitized by H. pinheirensis sp. n. differ from the cocoon webs described for the other Leucauge species parasitized by Hymenoepimecis wasps. This evidence suggests that the modified web pattern in Leucauge species is determined by specific responses of each spider species to the behavioral manipulation mechanism displayed by the wasps.

A new species of Adelius Haliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae) from the Afrotropical Region.

In this paper we describe a new species of Adelius (Braconidae, Cheloninae) from the Afrotropical region, the first record of the genus for Angola, and a significant extension of its geographical distribution.

A new species of Boethella Bennett, 2003 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) from Brazil, redescription of the genus and a key to world species.

Boethella jatai sp. nov. is described from a savanna area in the southeast of Brazil. The genus is redescribed to include the new species and an identification key for world species is provided.

An update of the genera Idiasta Foerster and Rhacalysia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) and the descriptions of new species from the Neotropical Region.

Taxonomic combinations have been made involving the two genera Idiasta Foerster and Rhacalysia Cameron. Four new species are described from Brazil: Idiasta rupina sp. nov., Rhacalysia ampla sp. nov., Rhacalysia jatai sp. nov., and Rhacalysia monteiroi sp. nov. Dichotomous identification keys to the Neotropical species of Idiasta and Rhacalysia are provided. Phaenocarpa delicata Papp, 1969 is included in Rhacalysia and is a new combination.

New Neotropical species of Pantisarthrus Förster, 1871 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).

The Pantisarthrus genus is recorded for the first time from the Neotropical region and P. communis sp. nov., P. flavocingulatus sp. nov. and P. paraitinga sp. nov. are described and illustrated. A key to described species is provided.

Four new species of Coelinius (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from the neotropical region.

The genus Coelinius (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) is reported for the first time from Brazil and the Neotropical region. The genus occurs in southeastern Brazil, in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. Four new species of Coelinius are described and illustrated: C. canastra sp. nov, C. itamonte sp. nov., C. kali sp. nov. and C. lux sp. nov.

Three new species of the subfamily Euphorinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Brazil.

The genera Ecclitura Kokujev and Streblocera Westwood are reported for the first time from Brazil. Three new species of the subfamily Euphorinae are described and illustrated: Ecclitura shawi sp. n., Marshiella tupi sp. n. and Streblocera brasiliana sp. n. These species are restricted to Atlantic forest remnants in southeastern Brazil.

Description of the first species of Cymodusa Holmgren from Brazil (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae).

Cymodusa ypy sp. nov., the first species of the genus to be formally described from Brazil, is described and illustrated. This record extends significantly the known distribution of the genus in the Neotropical region.

First record of the genera Centistoides van Achterberg and Pygostolus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Brazil, with the description of new species.

The genera Centistoides and Pygostolus are recorded for the first time in Brazil. Centistoides manoeli sp. nov., Pygostolus carolinae sp. nov. and Pygostolus odeterochae sp. nov. are described and illustrated.

Parasitoides associados com Helicoverpa armigera em áreas de refúgio de algodão, no Oeste da Bahia, Brasil

ABSTRACT: Natural biological control is one of the major causes responsible for reduction of pest population in agricultural ecosystem. However, natural biological control importance is usually minimized by not being estimated. This study reports the occurrence of Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend, 1915) and Archytas incertus (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Tachinidae) associated with Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The rate of larval parasitism was up to 41% in structured refuge areas of cotton, without chemical control with insecticides. This study strengthens our knowledge relating to parasitoids associated with natural control of H. armigera in the American continent. In addition, it documents the rule that structured refuge areas could play as a source of natural enemies, besides their contribution to production of non-selective populations to Bt technology.

RESUMO: O controle biológico natural é um dos principais componentes responsáveis pela redução populacional de pragas em agroecossistemas. Entretanto, a importância do controle biológico natural, usualmente, é minimizada devido não ser estimada. Este estudo documenta a ocorrência de Campoletis sonorensis (Cameron, 1886) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas marmoratus (Townsend, 1915) e Archytas incertus (Macquart, 1851) (Diptera: Tachinidae) associados a Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner, 1809) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). A taxa de parasitismo larval foi superior a 41% em áreas de refúgio estruturado de algodão, sem uso de inseticidas químicos. Este estudo fortalece o conhecimento relacionado com os parasitoides associados ao controle natural de H. armigera no Continente Americano. Adicionalmente, documenta o efeito que áreas de refúgio estruturado podem desempenhar como fonte de inimigos naturais, além da sua contribuição para produzir insetos não expostos à tecnologia Bt.

Description of two new species closely related to Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti, 1911) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), based on morphometric and molecular analyses.

This study clarifies the identity of two morphs that appear similar but not identical to the braconid wasp Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), by analyses of fore wing morphometry and the ITS2 and D2 region of 28S ribosomal DNA. Wing measurements of D. areolatus and the two morphs, one with a yellow stigma and one with a brown stigma, from several Brazilian localities, were taken and subjected to geometric morphometry. Evaluation of 20 anatomical points on the fore wing by means of multivariate analysis revealed that these morphs consistently differ from D. areolatus. Intraspecific size variation in both molecular markers (ITS2 and 28S-D2 rDNA) was also detected among populations of D. areolatus from the states of Amapá, São Paulo, Goiás, and Tocantins, but no such difference was observed among samples of the two morphs. However, high sequence variability was observed for both markers among D. areolatus and these morphs. Morphometric analysis yielded similar results and produced dendrogram congruent with those based on the molecular markers, also indicating that D. areolatus corresponds to a complex of cryptic species. Therefore, our morphometric and molecular data, in addition to revealing that D. areolatus includes cryptic species, showed that the unidentified morphs actually represent two distinct, previously undescribed species of Doryctobracon. These new taxa are formally described herein, as D. whartoni sp. nov. and D. adaimei sp. nov.

A review of the genus Orionis Shaw (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Euphorinae) and first records of the genus from South America and the Oriental Region.

Orionis is a small Neotropical euphorine genus, currently in the tribe Perilitini. Although the biology of the genus is unknown, Orionis eximius (Muesebeck) was described from a single female specimen reared from a cocoon associated with Lantana camara. Here, we present a taxonomic revision of Orionis and the first records of the genus from South America and Thailand, with descriptions of three new species: O. brasiliensis sp. nov., O. ecuadoriensis sp. nov. and O. orientalis sp. nov. We also report the first record of O. eximius from South America (Ecuador). A revised key for the described species is presented.

The subfamily Mendesellinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) in Brazil, with the description of six new species.

In this paper, we study the Mendesellinae wasps from Brazil deposited at Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva da Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, SP, Brazil collection. Two new species of Epsilogaster (E. masoni sp. n. and E. whitfieldi sp. n.) and four new species of Mendesella (M. albipleura sp. n., M. itatiaia sp. n., M. japi sp. n., M. yamadai sp. n.) are described and illustrated.

A NEW SPECIES OF Bolivar Zaldívar-Riverón et Rodríguez-Jiménez (BRACONIDAE, DORYCTINAE) FROM BRAZIL, WITH NEW RECORDS OF THE AMAZONIAN B. ecuadorensis Zaldívar-Riverón et López-Estrada.

A new species of the doryctine genus Bolivar (Braconidae), B. brasiliensis sp. nov., is described from the Atlantic coastal region in Brazil. New records and taxonomic notes of the Amazonian B. ecuadorensis Zaldívar-Riverón et López-Estrada are also provided.