Review of the leucotela species-group of Conura (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) from Amazon rainforest.

The leucotela species-group of Conura Spinola (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) was initially proposed to include C. leucotela (Walker 1862) within the subgenus Spilochalcis Thomson. Despite this treatment, the accurate identification of C. leucotela is not possible based on the literature. In this paper, C. leucotela is redescribed and two new species, C. paraleucotela sp. nov. and C. pseudoleucotela sp. nov., are described within the leucotela group, with all the species based on female singletons. Additionally, diagnoses and illustrations are presented for two other unnamed species based on males. The taxonomic concept of the species group is discussed, and new diagnostic characters are proposed. An identification key and illustration of species are provided. The morphology of the coupling mechanism of the propodeum and gaster of some species of the leucotela group and its relation with possible hosts is discussed. A short discussion of rarity of the leucotela group is presented.

The South American species of Chalcis Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae).

Chalcis Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) currently includes over 50 described species, most of them from temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Prior to the present study, only Chalcis pilicauda (Cameron) had been recorded from South America. The examination of specimens collected in Argentina, southern Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Uruguay allowed the description of six new species: C. boi Saguiah Tavares sp. nov., C. danunciae Saguiah Tavares sp. nov., C. intervalensis Saguiah Tavares sp. nov., C. periotoi Saguiah Tavares sp. nov., C. quechua Saguiah Tavares sp. nov., and C. winstonae Saguiah Tavares sp. nov. Chalcis pilicauda is redescribed, and C. ornatifrons (Cameron) stat. rev. is removed from synonym under C. pilicauda and re-established. An identification key for South American species is presented.

Accelerating the knowledge of Peruvian Chalcididae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea) with integrative taxonomy.

We present the first regional inventory of the fauna of Chalcididae in the Peruvian Amazon, with a nearly 6-fold increase in the number of species recorded for the country. A total of 418 specimens of Chalcididae were collected between 2000 and 2017 at the Panguana Reserve, Peruvian Amazon, 400 of which were obtained using Malaise traps and the remaining 18 specimens by canopy fogging. The morphological analyses indicated that these specimens represent 183 species of Chalcididae in 10 different genera, with 173 new to Peru and 134 potentially new species. We submitted 268 specimens, representing 167 species, to DNA barcoding. Of these, 141 specimens yielded sequences, 136 of them with a minimum of 300 bp. Sixty specimens were assigned a BIN by the Barcode of Life Database System (BOLD), resulting in 50 BINs. A cluster analysis of 138 individuals that yielded DNA sequences longer than 100 bp revealed 118 MOTUs (molecular operative taxonomic units), all of them highly congruent with the morphological data. Prior to the present study, 37 species in 9 genera of Chalcididae were known from Peru. With our results, this number was increased to 210 species in 13 genera. The present study is the result of a joint effort between the SNSB - Zoologische Staatssammlung München, Germany (ZSM) and the Insect Biodiversity Laboratory of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil (LaBI-UFES), intending to apply an accelerated taxonomic treatment of the Chalcididae of the Panguana reserve using traditional morphological approaches in combination with DNA barcoding. The complete molecular dataset and associated voucher information is publicly available through BOLD. The new species that were discovered as part of the study are being formally described elsewhere as part of taxonomic treatments of Neotropical and world generic revisions at LaBI-UFES.

Conura baturitei sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae): a hyperparasitoid of spiders through Zatypota riverai (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).

Conura, the largest genus of Chalcididae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), is mostly distributed in the New World where 295 of the 301 described species occur. Chalcididae are in some cases hyperparasitoids of insects. In this study, we report the unusual association of the hyperparasitoid Conura baturitei sp. nov. with spider species of the genus Theridion Walckenaer (Theridiidae) through Zatypota riverai Gauld (Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae, Polysphincta genus-group), a primary ectoparasitoid of spiders. The new species is described and illustrated, and the host-parasitoid-hyperparasitoid interaction is discussed.

First Report of Aprostocetus asthenogmus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) in South America and Parasitizing Eggs of Triatominae Vectors of Chagas Disease.

We report for the first time the parasitism of eggs of two triatomine Chagas disease vectors, Triatoma infestans and T. vitticeps, by the microhymenopterous parasitoid Aprostocetus asthenogmus. We also describe the first identification of this parasitoid in South America. A. asthenogmus were captured near unparasitized triatomine colonies in the municipality of Vitória, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, and placed into pots with recently laid triatomine eggs. After 24 days, we observed wasps emerging from T. infestans and T. vitticeps eggs. Several characteristics of this parasitoid species suggest that it could be a potential biological control agent of triatomine species.

Euplectrus furnius parasitizing Spodoptera frugiperda in maize in Brazil / Euplectrus furnius parasitando Spodoptera frugiperda em milho no Brasil

Brazil is among the world's biggest maize producers and fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is the main insect pest on this crop in the country. Despite the importance of its natural enemies, there still is a lack of information about parasitoids species that attack this insect-pest, such as larval parasitoids. This research reports Euplectrus furnius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitizing S. fugiperda larvae on maize crop in Brazil.

O Brasil está entre os maiores produtores de milho do mundo e a lagarta-do-cartucho, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) é o principal inseto-praga nessa cultura no país. Apesar da importância de seus inimigos naturais, ainda existe uma falta de informação sobre as espécies de parasitoides que atacam esse inseto-praga, tais como os parasitoides larvais. Este trabalho relata Euplectrus furnius Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) parasitando larvas de S. frugiperda em milho no Brasil.

Revisão de Ceyxia Girault, stat. rev. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Brachymeriini) / Revision of Ceyxia Girault, stat. rev. (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae, Brachymeriini)

O gênero Ceyxia Girault é revalidado e 27 espécies são combinadas a ele. Sete espécies previamente descritas são diagnosticadas (ou redescritas) e discutidas, e 20 espécies novas são descritas. Ceyxia flaviscapus Girault, 1911 and C. ventrispinosa Girault, 1911 stat. rev. foram originalmente combinadas com Ceyxia e as seguintes são combinações novas: C. belfragei (Crawford, 1910) comb. nov., stat. rev.; C. concitator (Walker, 1862) comb. nov.; C. decreta (Walker, 1862) comb. nov.; C. dorsalis (Walker, 1861) comb. nov.; e C. villosa (Olivier, 1790) comb. nov. Ceyxia paraguayensis Girault, 1911 é consyiderada sinônimo júnior de Ceyxia flaviscapus Girault, 1911. As novas espécies são: C. acutigaster sp. nov.; C. amazonica sp. nov.; C. atuberculata sp. nov.; C. bellissima sp. nov.; C. dentiformis sp. nov.; C. diminuta sp. nov.; C. fusidentata sp. nov.; C. gibbosa sp. nov.; C. laminata sp. nov.; C. laticlipeata sp. nov.; C. latilabra sp. nov.; C. longiarticulata sp. nov.; C. longiscutellaris sp. nov.; C. longispina sp. nov.; C. nigropetiolata sp. nov.; C. paraensis sp. nov.; C. parvidentata sp. nov.; C. perparva sp. nov.; C. pseudovillosa sp. nov.; e C. tibiodilatata sp. nov. Dados sobre a associação com hospedeiros são apresentados para algumas espécies do gênero. Uma chave para as espécies do gênero é incluída.

The genus Ceyxia Girault has its status revalidated and 27 species are assembled under it. Seven species previously described are diagnosed (or redescribed) and discussed and 20 new species are described. Ceyxia flaviscapus Girault, 1911 and C. ventrispinosa Girault, 1911 stat. rev. were originally combined with Ceyxia and following are new combinations: C. belfragei (Crawford, 1910) comb. nov., stat. rev.; C. concitator (Walker, 1862) comb. nov.; C. decreta (Walker, 1862) comb. nov.; C. dorsalis (Walker, 1861) comb. nov.; and C. villosa (Olivier, 1790) comb. nov. Ceyxia paraguayensis Girault, 1911 is proposed as junior synonymy of Ceyxia flaviscapus Girault, 1911. The new species are: C. acutigaster sp. nov.; C. amazonica sp. nov.; C. atuberculata sp. nov.; C. bellissima sp. nov.; C. dentiformis sp. nov.; C. diminuta sp. nov.; C. fusidentata sp. nov.; C. gibbosa sp. nov.; C. laminata sp. nov.; C. laticlipeata sp. nov.; C. latilabra sp. nov.; C. longiarticulata sp. nov.; C. longiscutellaris sp. nov.; C. longispina sp. nov.; C. nigropetiolata sp. nov.; C. paraensis sp. nov.; C. parvidentata sp. nov.; C. perparva sp. nov.; C. pseudovillosa sp. nov.; and C. tibiodilatata sp. nov. Host relationships of some species of the genus are presented. A key to species of the genus is also included.

Species of Lepidoptera defoliators of Eucalyptus as new host for the parasitoid Palmistichus elaeisis (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae)

Pupae of Thyrinteina arnobia (Stoll) and Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) were obtained from Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell and Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake plants, respectively. Specimens of a parasitoid emerged from T. arnobia pupae and also found parasitising T. leucoceraea pupae in the field were identified as Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). This is the first report on P. elaeisis parasitizing T. arnobia and T. leucoceraea pupae in natural conditions in Brazil. P. elaeisis also parasitized these hosts and Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, Pseudaletia sequax Franclemont, Alabama argillacea Huebner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) and Halysidota pearsoni Watson (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae) in the laboratory. The production and release of P. elaeisis could be an efficient alternative for controlling Lepidoptera defoliators in eucalyptus plantations.

Pupas de Thyrinteina arnobia (Stoll) e Thyrinteina leucoceraea Rindge (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) foram coletadas em Eucalyptus cloeziana F. Muell e Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, respectivamente. Espécimes de Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare and LaSalle (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) emergiram de T. arnobia e foram encontrados sobre pupas de T. leucoceraea em plantas de eucalipto no campo. Esse é o primeiro relato de P. elaeisis parasitando pupas de T. arnobia e T. leucoceraea em condições naturais no Brasil. Além desses hospedeiros, P. elaeisis parasitou em laboratório Bombyx mori Linnaeus (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), Anticarsia gemmatalis Hubner, Pseudaletia sequax Franclemont, Alabama argillacea Huebner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), Dirphia moderata Bouvier (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) e Halysidota pearsoni Watson (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). A produção de P. elaeisis e sua liberação em eucaliptais podem representar uma alternativa eficiente de controle de lagartas desfolhadoras de eucalipto.

Revisão das espécies de Melanosmicra Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) / Revision of species of Melanosmicra Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae)

São tratadas treze espécies, das quais quatro redescritas: Melanosmicra areta (Burks, 1939), M. flavicollis (Cameron, 1904), M. gracilis (Kirby, 1889) e M. immaculata Ashmead, 1904. Melanosmicra variventris (Cameron, 1913) é proposta como sinônimo júnior de M. immaculata. São descritas nove espécies novas: M. acutodentata sp. nov., M. bilobata sp. nov., M. carenata sp. nov., M. guara sp. nov., M. latidentata sp. nov., M. nigra sp. nov., M. polita sp. nov., M. rugosa sp. nov. e M. tricolor sp. nov.. São apresentadas chave de identificação e ilustrações para as espécies.

Thirteen species are treated, four are redescribed: Melanosmicra areta (Burks, 1939), M. flavicollis (Cameron, 1904), M. gracilis (Kirky, 1889) and M. immaculata Ashmead, 1904. Melanosmicra variventris (Cameron, 1913) is proposed as a new junior synonym of M. immaculata. Nine new species are described: M. acutodentata sp. nov., M. bilobata sp. nov., M. carenata sp. nov., M. guara sp. nov., M. latidentata sp. nov., M. nigra sp. nov., M. polita sp. nov., M. rugosa sp. nov. and M. tricolor sp. nov.. A key and illustration are presented for males and females.

Espécies de Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Insecta) do Estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil / Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Insecta) species from Espírito Santo State, Brazil

Uma lista das espécies de Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Insecta) é apresentada para o Estado do Espírito Santo. Os exemplares são procedentes de 22 localidades e pertencem a 37 espécies e 11 gêneros, sendo que somente duas espécies e cinco gêneros já haviam sido registrados para o Estado. Sete espécies e um gênero são novos registros para o Brasil e duas espécies são registradas pela primeira vez para a região Neotropical. A composição desta fauna é discutida em relação à distribuição geográfica das espécies.

A checklist of Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Insecta) species is presented for the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil. Specimens were collected in 22 localities and belong to 37 species and 11 genera. Only two species and five genera have been previously recorded for the state. Seven species and one genus are recorded for the first time for Brazil and two species are new records for the Neotropical region. The geographic distribution of these species is discussed.

Chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera) of Actinote parapheles Jordan, 1913 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) / Parasitóides Chalcidóideos (Hymenoptera) de Actinote parapheles Jordan, 1913 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Three parasitoids of Actinote parapheles Jordan 1913 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), in the Superfamily Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) are recorded: Brachymeria mnestor (Walker 1841) (Chalcididae), Palmistichus elaiesis Delvare & LaSalle 1993 and Tetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae).

Três parasitóides de Actinote parapheles Jordan 1913 (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae), pertencentes à Superfamília Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera), são registrados: Brachymeria mnestor (Walker 1841) (Chalcididae), Palmistichus elaiesis Delvare & LaSalle 1993 e Tetrastichus sp. (Eulophidae).