The Chalcidoidea bush of life: evolutionary history of a massive radiation of minute wasps.

Chalcidoidea are mostly parasitoid wasps that include as many as 500 000 estimated species. Capturing phylogenetic signal from such a massive radiation can be daunting. Chalcidoidea is an excellent example of a hyperdiverse group that has remained recalcitrant to phylogenetic resolution. We combined 1007 exons obtained with Anchored Hybrid Enrichment with 1048 ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) for 433 taxa including all extant families, >95% of all subfamilies, and 356 genera chosen to represent the vast diversity of the superfamily. Going back and forth between the molecular results and our collective knowledge of morphology and biology, we detected bias in the analyses that was driven by the saturation of nucleotide data. Our final results are based on a concatenated analysis of the least saturated exons and UCE datasets (2054 loci, 284 106 sites). Our analyses support an expected sister relationship with Mymarommatoidea. Seven previously recognized families were not monophyletic, so support for a new classification is discussed. Natural history in some cases would appear to be more informative than morphology, as illustrated by the elucidation of a clade of plant gall associates and a clade of taxa with planidial first-instar larvae. The phylogeny suggests a transition from smaller soft-bodied wasps to larger and more heavily sclerotized wasps, with egg parasitism as potentially ancestral for the entire superfamily. Deep divergences in Chalcidoidea coincide with an increase in insect families in the fossil record, and an early shift to phytophagy corresponds with the beginning of the "Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution". Our dating analyses suggest a middle Jurassic origin of 174 Ma (167.3-180.5 Ma) and a crown age of 162.2 Ma (153.9-169.8 Ma) for Chalcidoidea. During the Cretaceous, Chalcidoidea may have undergone a rapid radiation in southern Gondwana with subsequent dispersals to the Northern Hemisphere. This scenario is discussed with regard to knowledge about the host taxa of chalcid wasps, their fossil record and Earth's palaeogeographic history.

Effect of egg production dynamics on the functional response of two parasitoids.

Functional response describes the number of hosts attacked by a parasitoid in relation to host densities and plays an important role by connecting behavioral-level processes with community-level processes. Most functional response studies were carried out using simple experimental designs where the insects were confined to a plain and small arena with different host densities during a fixed period of time. With these designs, other factors that might affect the functional response of parasitoids were not analyzed, such as fecundity, age, and experience. We proposed a series of latent-variables Markovian models that comprised an integrated approach of functional response and egg production models to estimate the realized lifetime reproductive success of parasitoids. As a case study, we used the parasitoids Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), two candidate agents for neoclassical biocontrol of the Puerto Rican cactus pest mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The tested species were assessed according to their physiology and prior experience. We estimated the number of mature eggs after emergence, egg production on the first day, egg production rate, the proportion of eggs resorbed, egg resorption threshold, and egg storage capacity. Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus both presented a type III functional response. However, the two parasitoids behaved differently; for A. cachamai, the number of parasitized hosts decreased with female age and depended on the number of mature eggs that were available for oviposition, whereas A. lapachosus host parasitism increased with female age and was modulated by its daily egg load and previous experience. The methodology presented may have large applicability in pest control, invasive species management, and conservation biology, as it has the potential to increase our understanding of the reproductive biology of a wide variety of species, ultimately leading to improved management strategies.

A phylogenetic analysis of the megadiverse Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera).

Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) is extremely diverse with an estimated 500 000 species. We present the first phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily based on both morphological and molecular data. A web-based, systematics workbench mx was used to score 945 character states illustrated by 648 figures for 233 morphological characters for a total of 66 645 observations for 300 taxa. The matrix covers 22 chalcidoid families recognized herein and includes 268 genera within 78 of 83 subfamilies. Morphological data were analysed alone and in combination with molecular data from ribosomal 18S (2105 bp) and 28S D2-D5 expansion regions (1812 bp). Analyses were analysed alone and in combined datasets using implied-weights parsimony and likelihood. Proposed changes in higher classification resulting from the analyses include: (i) recognition of Eriaporidae, revised status; (ii) recognition of Cynipencyrtidae, revised status; (iii) recognition of Azotidae, revised status; (iv) inclusion of Sycophaginae in Agaonidae, revised status; (v) reclassification of Aphelinidae to include Aphelininae, Calesinae, Coccophaginae, Eretmocerinae and Eriaphytinae; (vi) inclusion of Cratominae and Panstenoninae within Pteromalinae (Pteromalidae), new synonymy; (vii) inclusion of Epichrysomallinae in Pteromalidae, revised status. At a higher level, Chalcidoidea was monophyletic, with Mymaridae the sister group of Rotoitidae plus the remaining Chalcidoidea. A eulophid lineage was recovered that included Aphelinidae, Azotidae, Eulophidae, Signiphoridae, Tetracampidae and Trichogrammatidae. Eucharitidae and Perilampidae were monophyletic if Eutrichosomatinae (Pteromalidae) was included, and Eupelmidae was monophyletic if Oodera (Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae) was included. Likelihood recovered a clade of Eupelmidae + (Tanaostigmatidae + (Cynipencyrtus + Encyrtidae). Support for other lineages and their impact on the classification of Chalcidoidea is discussed. Several life-history traits are mapped onto the new phylogeny.

Review of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in the Palaearctic region, with notes on extralimital distributions.

The Palaearctic species of the common and speciose fairyfly genus Gonatocerus Nees ab Esenbeck (Hymenoptera: My-maridae) are reviewed. Illustrated identification keys are provided to separate the three subgenera of Gonatocerus that oc-cur in the region and to females of the species in each subgenus. Distribution ranges, including new records of extralimital specimens examined, and known host associations of the species are given. Forty-two valid taxa are recognized including 19 newly described ones: two in G. (Gonatocerus)­G. bukashka sp. n. (Denmark, Russia) and G. koziavka sp. n. (Kyr-gyzstan), 15 in G. (Lymaenon Walker)­G. berezovskiyi sp. n. (Turkmenistan), G. beshbarmak sp. n. (Kyrgyzstan), G. ka-lika sp. n. (Denmark), G. karakum sp. n. (Italy, Turkmenistan), G. karlik sp. n. (China, Republic of Korea, Russia), G. katraps sp. n. (Republic of Korea, Russia), G. kazak sp. n. (Russia, Spain), G. komarik sp. n. (France), G. krasavchik sp. n. (Russia), G. kulik sp. n. (Russia), G. kum sp. n. (Russia), G. kusaka sp. n. (Russia), G. saulfrommeri sp. n. (Russia), G. svat sp. n. (China), G. ucri sp. n. (Russia), and two in G. (Cosmocomoidea Howard)­G. kikimora sp. n. (Russia) and G. woohoo sp. n. (Russia). New synonymies are proposed for the following names: G. (Gonatocerus) fuscicornis (Walker) [= G. sulphuripes (Foerster) syn. n., G. pictosimilis Soyka syn. n., Lymaenon synaptus Debauche syn. n., L. alecto De-bauche syn. n., and L. crassipes Debauche syn. n.]; G. (Gonatocerus) aegyptiacus Soyka [= G. saipanensis (Doutt) syn. n., G. alami Shamim & Shafee syn. n., G. tarae Narayanan & Subba Rao syn. n., G. miurai Sahad syn. n., and G. minor Matthews syn. n.]; G. (Gonatocerus) pictus (Haliday) [= G. orthopenitus Guo, Lin & Hu syn. n.]; G. (Lymaenon) aureus Girault [= G. tenuipennis Girault syn. n., G. chrysis (Debauche) syn. n., G. vopros nom. n. pro G. flavus Soyka, 1950 (nec G. flavus Foerster, 1841) syn. n., G. pahlgamensis (Narayanan) syn. n., G. kanheriensis Mani & Saraswat syn. n., G. grac-ilentus Hellén syn. n., G. aligarhensis Shamim & Shafee syn. n., and G. fukuokensis Sahad syn. n.]; G. (Lymaenon) lito-ralis (Haliday) [= Alaptus fuscus Förster syn. n., G. exiguus Förster syn. n., G. americanus Brues syn. n., G. anthonomi Girault syn. n., G. brunneus Girault syn. n., G. illinoiensis Girault syn. n., G. maevius Girault syn. n., G. texanus Girault syn. n., and G. priesneri Soyka syn. n.]; G. (Lymaenon) longior Soyka [= G. conicus (Mathot) syn. n.]; G. (Cosmoco-moidea) oxypygus Foerster [= G. ovicenatus Leonard & Crosby syn. n. and G. megalura (Mathot) syn. n.]. Lymaenon cunctator Mathot is reinstated as a valid species, G. (Lymaenon) cunctator (Mathot) stat. rev., based on study of its holo-type. Lectotypes are designated for Alaptus fuscus, Gonatocerus anthonomi, G. ater Foerster, G. brunneus, G. exiguus, G. texanus, Lymaenon fuscicornis Walker, L. tremulae Bakkendorf, and Rachistus sulphuripes Foerster. Neotypes are designated for G. aureus and G. oxypygus.

Egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae) of the gall-making leafhopper Scenergates viridis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) from Uzbekistan, with taxonomic notes on the Palaearctic species of Aphelinoidea.

A new species of the Aphelinoidea Girault (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae), A. (Aphelinoidea) sariq Triapitsyn & Rakitov sp. n., is described from Uzbekistan. Both sexes were reared from eggs of the only known truly gall-making leafhopper, Scenergates viridis (Vilbaste), laid inside its galls on camelthorn, Alhagi maurorum Medikus; additional females were found dead inside the galls. Aphelinoidea sariq is the only known species of the nominate subgenus of Aphelinoidea whose body color is predominantly yellow. Taxonomic notes on other Palaearctic species of Aphelinoidea are provided; A. scythica Fursov, syn. n. is synonymized underA. (Aphelinoidea) turanica S. Trjapitzin. Another trichogrammatid, Par-acentrobia (Paracentrobia) sp., was reared from eggs of S. viridis in much smaller numbers. Also described from the same locality and host is Gonatocerus (Lymaenon) mitjaevi Triapitsyn & Rakitov sp. n. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

Descriptions of two new species of Gonatocerus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from southeastern Europe.

Two new taxa, Gonatocerus (Lymaenon) bulgaricus Donev & Triapitsyn (Bulgaria, and also apparently mainland Greece) and G. (Lymaenon) mediterraneus Donev & Triapitsyn (Greece-Crete Island) are described, diagnosed, and illustrated. Also, a species tentatively identified as G (Lymaenon) ?beshbarmak Triapitsyn is reported from mainland Greece. If the species is indeed G. beshbarmak then this is the first record of it from Greece.

Two new host records for Centrodoraitalica Ferrière (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae) from eggs of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera, Ensifera) in northeastern Italy.

The egg parasitoid Centrodoraitalica Ferrière is reported for the first time from sentinel eggs of two species of Tettigoniidae (Orthoptera), Pachytrachisgracilis (Brunner von Wattenwyl) and Eupholidopteraschmidti (Fieber). In Italy, only two hosts of this parasitic wasp are known, one of which is a tettigoniid species. Exposure of sentinel eggs represented a useful method to detect new host associations of this parasitoid species that can search for their host's eggs in the ground. The parasitoids were identified by comparing our specimens with those of the type series, and the original description of C.italica.

Key to Ooctonus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in China, with one new species and three new country records.

A new species of Ooctonus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), O. innermongolicus Aishan Hu sp. nov., is described from Inner Mongolia and Tibet, China. Eight other species of the genus, including the three new records O. hemipterus Haliday, O. lokomotiv Triapitsyn and O. spartak Triapitsyn, are also reported and illustrated. A key to females is provided for the 18 species of Ooctonus known from China.

Taxonomic review of Polynema (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in Australia and New Zealand, with descriptions of eight new species.

Two Australian species of Polynema Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), P. (Polynema) draperi Girault and P. (Polynema) editha Girault, are redescribed, as is the Australasian and Oriental P. (Dorypolynema) mendeli Girault; the previously unknown female of P. draperi and male of P. editha are also described. One new species group, the draperi group, is newly defined in P. (Polynema), in which eight new species are described: P. (Polynema) aristokratka sp. n. (New Zealand), P. (Polynema) baronessa sp. n. (New Zealand), P. (Polynema) grafinya sp. n. (New Zealand), P. (Polynema) imperatrix sp. n. (Australia), P. (Polynema) koroleva sp. n. (New Zealand), P. (Polynema) markiza sp. n. (New Zealand), P. (Polynema) princessa sp. n. (Australia), and P. (Polynema) rangatira sp. n. (New Zealand). Keys to the two treated subgenera of Polynema, both sexes of the world species of P. (Dorypolynema Hayat Anis), and to females of the 10 described P. (Polynema) species in Australia and New Zealand are given. Taxonomic notes are provided for the Afrotropical species Polynema (Dorypolynema) mboroense (Risbec), comb. n. from Acmopolynema Ogloblin, whose previously unknown female is described, and for the Australian species Palaeoneura frater (Girault), comb. n. from Polynema.

Anagrus avalae Soyka, 1956, a new synonym of A. bakkendorfi Soyka, 1946 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).

Soyka (1946) described the European fairyfly species Anagrus bakkendorfi Soyka (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from a single female collected on the same day, 7.x.1931, together with several non-type specimens incorrectly labeled as paratypes (Chiappini Triapitsyn 1999), on a window at its type locality, the former St. Ignatius Jesuit College in Valkenburg, Limburg, the Netherlands. Soyka (1956) did not mention type specimens of any of his species of Anagrus Haliday. He described Anagrus avalae Soyka (Soyka 1956) based apparently on a specimen collected on Mt. Avala, Belgrade, Serbia, former Yugoslavia, along with several other nominal species (some also from Valkenburg) that were later synonymized with A. avalae and A. bakkendorfi by Chiappini (1989) and Chiappini Triapitsyn (1999). The only, minor, morphological difference between the two nominal species is the length of the ovipositor in females relative to the length of the protibia, being at least 2.6× in A. bakkendorfi and at most 2.3× in A. avalae (Triapitsyn 2015). Specimens identifiable as both species were captured by the second author in 2000 by a Malaise trap in Iratibizkar, Irati Forest (Selva de Irati), Navarra, Spain. Chiappini Triapitsyn (1999) discussed both nominal species but despite recognizing their apparent conspecificity, no formal synonymy was proposed. Triapitsyn Berezovskiy (2004) and Triapitsyn (2015) also did not propose synonymy because at that time genetic evidence for conspecificity was lacking. However, Triapitsyn et al. (2019) obtained DNA and sequenced selected mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal gene regions (COI and ITS2) from a specimen unambiguously identified by the first author as A. avalae that was collected in Sevenoaks, Kent County, England, United Kingdom. Because of this we decided to collect fresh specimens identifiable as A. bakkendorfi for molecular analysis and genetic comparison with those identifiable as A. avalae. Based on the previous record (Triapitsyn 2015), several females of A. bakkendorfi were successfully captured by the second author on 4.ix.2020 in Irati Forest, preserved in ethanol, and shipped to the first and third authors for morphological and molecular identification, respectively.

Re-collection and identity of Ooencyrtus californicus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), and its new synonym, Ooencyrtus lucidus.

Girault (1917) very briefly described and diagnosed the encyrtid wasp species Ooencyrtus californicus Girault (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) with the following limited data (p. 22): "Sacramento, California, from bug eggs on Pinus sabiniana, September". The first author examined its two syntypes, poorly mounted on a slide, of which only parts of the four antennae and a slightly damaged fore wing remain (Triapitsyn et al. 2020). They concluded that this species was better considered a nomen dubium until fresh specimens could be collected from the same host plant in or near the type locality. In July 2019, an effort was made to re-collect O. californicus from foothill (or gray) pine, Pinus sabiniana (Pinaceae), in the Oakhurst area of Madera County, California, USA, where this pine is abundant, but no specimens were captured. At the same time, a very similar insect was collected from sentinel eggs of the invasive stink bug Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) in Riverside, California. This insect was cultured in the laboratory as part of a B. hilaris biological control program. Due to the poor preservation of the type specimens and in the absence of genetic evidence, it was impossible to positively and properly attribute specimens of this newly collected parasitoid to O. californicus. Therefore, to provide a much needed scientific name for this native egg parasitoid, it was described as Ooencyrtus lucidus Triapitsyn Ganjisaffar in Triapitsyn et al. (2020). The two nominal species were separated based on minor differences in the proportions of the scape, pedicel, and first funicular segment of the female antenna (Triapitsyn et al. 2020). John S. Noyes, world expert on Encyrtidae and one of the reviewers of Triapitsyn et al. (2020), disagreed with the erection of O. lucidus as a new taxon based on the morphological similarities of the female antenna with that of O. californicus, so the description was published with the understanding that the two might be conspecific. But to settle this one way or another new specimens of O. californicus had to be collected to allow morphological and molecular analyses.

Illustrated key to the genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in the Afrotropical region.

Separate identification keys for females, and for males where known, of the 40 genera of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in the Afrotropical region are given. The subgenera of four genera are also included in the key to females. The genera are illustrated with over 300 photographs. The 122 named, valid species reported from the region are catalogued. Reliable host records are reported for 6 genera and 11 species from rearings undertaken in the region. An appendix lists the 27 species from northern Africa and offshore islands (Canary Islands, Madeira) but not recorded in the Afrotropical region as defined in this publication. Camptoptera (Zemicamptoptera) Ogloblin Annecke, syn. n. is synonymized with Camptoptera (Camptoptera) Foerster. Eofoersteria Mathot, syn. n. is synonymized with Camptoptera Foerster and is treated as subgenus C. (Eofoersteria) Mathot, stat. n.; its type species Eofoersteria camptopteroides Mathot is transferred to Camptoptera as C. (Eofoersteria) camptopteroides (Mathot), comb. n. Polynema megacephala (Risbec) is transferred to Lymaenon as L. megacephala (Risbec), comb. n. Limacis opuntiae Risbec is transferred to Encarsia Foerster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as E. opuntiae (Risbec), comb. n. A few corrections to Huber et al. (2020) are given.

Influence of competition and intraguild predation between two candidate biocontrol parasitoids on their potential impact against Harrisia cactus mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae).

When two or more parasitoid species, particularly candidates for biocontrol, share the same target in the same temporal window, a complex of behaviors can occur among them. We studied the type of interactions (competition and intraguild predation) that existed between the nymphal parasitoids Anagyrus cachamai and A. lapachosus (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), two candidate neoclassical biocontrol agents against the Puerto Rican cactus pest mealybug, Hypogeococcus sp. (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The surrogate native congener host in Argentina, the cactus mealybug Hypogeococcus sp., was studied to predict which species should be released; in the case that both should be released, in which order, and their potential impact on host suppression. In the laboratory we conducted experiments where different densities of the host mealybug were exposed to naive females of A. cachamai and A. lapachosus sequentially in both directions. Experiments were analyzed by combining a series of competitive behavioral and functional response models. A fully Bayesian approach was used to select the best explaining models and calculate their parameters. Intraguild predation existed between A. cachamai, the species that had the greatest ability to exploit the resource, and A. lapachosus, the strongest species in the interference competition. The role that intraguild predation played in suppression of Hypogeococcus sp. indicated that a multiple release strategy for the two biocontrol agents would produce better control than a single release; as for the release order, A. lapachosus should be released first.

A review of the Chinese species of Lymaenon (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with description of six new species.

Twenty-two species of Lymaenon Walker (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from China are keyed; illustrations, taxonomic and other notes are also provided for some of these taxa. Six species are newly described: L. funiculus Aishan Hu sp. n., L. ledongus Aishan Hu sp. n., L. longitus Aishan Hu sp. n., L. naiquanlini Aishan Hu sp. n., L. radiculus Aishan Hu sp. n., and L. zhui Aishan Hu sp. n., all from the Oriental part of the country. Eleven species are newly recorded from China: L. bashai (Zeya), L. berijamus (Mani Saraswat), L. breviterebratus (Subba Rao), L. delhiensis Narayanan Subba Rao, L. katraps (Triapitsyn), L. kazak (Triapitsyn), L. krasavchik (Triapitsyn), L. longior (Soyka), L. narayani Subba Rao Kaur, L. sundus (Zeya Anwar), and L. tamilanus (Mani Saraswat).

Description of the male of Tanyxiphium harriet (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), with new distribution records and synonymy.

Tanyxiphium longissimum Huber, syn. n. (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is synonymized under T. harriet (Zeya) based on examination of specimens from Hainan Island and Yunnan Province in the Oriental part of China, Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, Peninsular Malaysia, and Thailand. These are new country distribution records except for Thailand. The previously unknown male of T. harriet is described from Sulawesi Island, and the female is redescribed and illustrated based on non-type material examined.

Illustrated key to genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in America north of Mexico.

Identification keys for females, and for males where known, to the 39 genera and 11 subgenera of Mymaridae in America north of Mexico are given. The genera are illustrated with over 1010 photographs and/or scanning electron micrographs. The 202 currently named and valid species reported from America north of Mexico are catalogued. Reliable host records are reported for 16 genera and almost 90 species from rearings in the region. The five genera represented by more than one subgenus in the region are: Anagrus Haliday, Anaphes Haliday, Erythmelus Enock, Kalopolynema Ogloblin, and Polynema Haliday. Five other genera are represented only by unnamed and possibly undescribed species. About 1000 literature references, mainly the North American ones, are listed. Three new species are described: Callodicopus floridanus Huber, sp. n., Neostethynium americanum Huber, sp. n., and Stephanocampta xanthogaster Huber, sp. n. Cosmocomoidea marilandica (Girault), stat. rev., is placed in synonymy under C. dolichocerus (Ashmead). Platypatasson Ogloblin is given subgeneric status as Platystethynium (Platypatasson Ogloblin), stat. rev. Corrections and additions to the mymarid fauna of Mexico by Guzmán-Larralde et al. (2017) are also given.

Two new species of Camptopteroides (Camptopteroides) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from the Oriental region with a key to Old World species.

An overview of the Oriental species of the nominate subgenus of Camptopteroides Viggiani (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) is given. Two new species, C. (Camptopteroides) formosa Manickavasagam Sankararaman sp. n. from India and C. (Camptopteroides) reducta Triapitsyn sp. n. from Thailand and Malaysia, are described, and C. formosa additionally compared to two unnamed species. The holotype male of the type species of this genus, C. armata Viggiani from Sri Lanka, is diagnosed and illustrated. A key to Old World species of Camptopteroides is provided.

Species complex diversification by host plant use in an herbivorous insect: The source of Puerto Rican cactus mealybug pest and implications for biological control.

Cryptic taxa have often been observed in the form of host-associated species that diverged as the result of adaptation to alternate host plants. Untangling cryptic diversity in species complexes that encompass invasive species is a mandatory task for pest management. Moreover, investigating the evolutionary history of a species complex may help to understand the drivers of their diversification. The mealybug Hypogeococcus pungens was believed to be a polyphagous species from South America and has been reported as a pest devastating native cacti in Puerto Rico, also threatening cactus diversity in the Caribbean and North America. There is neither certainty about the identity of the pest nor the source population from South America. Recent studies pointed to substantial genetic differentiation among local populations, suggesting that H. pungens is a species complex. In this study, we used a combination of genome-wide SNPs and mtDNA variation to investigate species diversity within H. pungens sensu lato to establish host plant ranges of each one of the putative members of the complex, to evaluate whether the pattern of host plant association drove diversification in the species complex, and to determine the source population of the Puerto Rican cactus pest. Our results suggested that H. pungens comprises at least five different species, each one strongly associated with specific host plants. We also established that the Puerto Rican cactus pest derives from southeastern Brazilian mealybugs. This is an important achievement because it will help to design reliable strategies for biological control using natural enemies of the pest from its native range.

Egg parasitoids of Arboridia apicalis (Nawa, 1913) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), a leafhopper pest of grapevines in Japan, with description of a new species of Anagrus Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae).

Several species of egg parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae) of the leafhopper pest of grapevines in Japan, Arboridia (Arboridia) apicalis (Nawa) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae), were reared and identified for the first time. Using a combination of genetic and morphological evidence, Anagrus (Anagrus) arboridiae Triapitsyn & Adachi-Hagimori, sp. nov. (Mymaridae) is described and illustrated from Honshu Island (Shimane Prefecture) and Kyushu Island (Miyazaki Prefecture). It is shown to be different from Anagrus (Anagrus) japonicus Sahad and A. flaviapex Chiappini & Lin, to which it is most similar; the latter species was originally described from China and is newly recorded here from Okinawa Island, Japan. Mitochondrial and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data provide clear evidence for the separation of A. arboridiae from A. flaviapex, A. japonicus, and some other members of the Anagrus (Anagrus) atomus (L.) species group. Two other species of Anagrus Haliday, A. (Anagrus) avalae Soyka and A. atomus, are also identified in Japan from eggs of the leafhoppers Edwardsiana ishidae (Matsumura) and Eurhadina ? betularia Anufriev, respectively. An updated key to females of the Japanese species of Anagrus is given. Oligosita pallida Kryger (a new record for Japan), Oligosita sp., and an Aphelinoidea (Aphelinoidea) sp. (Trichogrammatidae) were the other, although much less abundant, apparent egg parasitoids of A. apicalis in Shimane Prefecture, mainly in non-organic vineyards.

Egg parasitoids of proconiini (hemiptera: cicadellidae) in northwestern Mexico, with description of a new species of gonatocerus (hymenoptera: mymaridae).

Nine species of Mymaridae and Trichogrammatidae parasitic on eggs of Proconiini sharpshooters (Cicadellidae: Cicadellinae) were collected in northwestern Mexico in relation to neoclassical biological control efforts against glassy-winged sharpshooter, Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), in California. Gonatocerus chula Triapitsyn and Bernal sp. n., which belongs to the ater species group of Gonatocerus Nees (Mymaridae), is described. Specimens of G. chula sp. n. were reared from eggs of the smoke-tree sharpshooter, Homalodisca liturata Ball, on jojoba [Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C. K. Schneider] leaves collected in central Sonora state, Mexico. Also given are new data on other egg parasitoids of Homalodisca spp. and Oncometopia spp. in Sinaloa and Sonora states, Mexico, including Gonatocerus atriclavus Girault, G. morrilli (Howard), and G. novifasciatus Girault, and the Trichogrammatidae Burksiella sp(p)., Ittys sp., Pseudoligosita sp., Ufens ceratus Owen, and U. principalis Owen. For the first time, a species of Ittys is recorded from eggs of Proconiini, and U. principalis from Mexico. Colonies of G. atriclavus, G. novifasciatus and Pseudoligosita sp. were successfully established in a quarantine laboratory at University of California, Riverside, on eggs of the glassy-winged sharpshooter. These three parasitoid species had never been reared under laboratory conditions. In addition, seven species of Proconiini were collected in central and northwestern Mexico: Cyrtodisca major (Signoret), Homalodisca insolita (Walker), H. liturata Ball, Oncometopia sp. cf. clarior (Walker), O. sp. cf. trilobata Melichar, O. (Similitopia) sp., and Phera centrolineata (Signoret). Oncometopia sp. cf. clarior, O. sp. cf. trilobata, and O. (Similitopia) sp. appeared to be undescribed species.