A five-gene molecular phylogeny reveals Parapanteles Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to be polyphyletic as currently composed.

Parapanteles Ashmead (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) is a medium-sized genus of microgastrine wasps that was erected over a century ago and lacks a unique synapomorphic character, and its monophyly has not been tested by any means. Parapanteles usually are parasitoids of large, unconcealed caterpillars (macrolepidoptera) and have been reared from an unusually large diversity of hosts for a relatively small microgastrine genus. We used Cytochrome Oxidase I sequences ("DNA barcodes") available for Parapanteles and other microgastrines to sample the generic diversity of described and undescribed species currently placed in Parapanteles, and then sequenced four additional genes for this subsample (wingless, elongation factor 1-alpha, ribosomal subunit 28s, and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1). We constructed individual gene trees and concatenated Bayesian and maximum-likelihood phylogenies for this 5-gene subsample. In these phylogenies, most Parapanteles species formed a monophyletic clade within another genus, Dolichogenidea, while the remaining Parapanteles species were recovered polyphyletically within several other genera. The latter likely represent misidentified members of other morphologically similar genera. Species in the monophyletic clade containing most Parapanteles parasitized caterpillars from only five families - Erebidae (Arctiinae), Geometridae, Saturniidae, Notodontidae, and Crambidae. We do not make any formal taxonomic decisions here because we were not able to include representatives of type species for Parapanteles or other relevant genera, and because we feel such decisions should be reserved until a comprehensive morphological analysis of the boundaries of these genera is accomplished.

Four new species of Philoplitis Nixon (Braconidae, Microgastrinae) with an updated key and illustrations of all described species.

The Microgastrinae genus Philoplitis Nixon is revised and four new species are described: P.keralensis sp. n. and P.trifoveatus sp. n. authored by Ranjith & Fernandez-Triana, and P.dzangasangha sp. n. and P.margalla sp. n. authored by Fernandez-Triana & Ranjith. A key to all nine known species is provided. Philoplitisadustipalpus Ahmad is redescribed and illustrated. Additional specimen records are presented, and the diagnostic value of some morphological characters previously used is discussed. Based on the very few specimens available for study in collections, Philoplitis seems to be restricted to the Old World tropics (Afrotropical and Oriental regions), with most known species found in the Oriental region. The first DNA barcodes for the genus are presented. No host data is currently available, but for one species a mass of five wasp cocoons was found and is illustrated for the first time.

A revision of the genus Protomicroplitis Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), with the description of a new species.

The New World genus Protomicroplitis is revised. One new species is described from Central America, a dichotomous key and extensive illustrations for the three known species are provided. The genus has a restricted distribution, from Canada (45° N) to Costa Rica (10° N). Two species of Condica (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are the only known hosts. The following new taxonomic and nomenclatural acts are made. New species: Protomicroplitis centroamericanus Fernandez-Triana. New combinations: Diolcogaster alce (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster breviterebrus Rao & Chalikwar, 1970, Diolcogaster coenonymphae (Watanabe, 1937), Diolcogaster erro (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster glaphyra (de Saeger, 1944), Diolcogaster integra (Wilkinson, 1929), Diolcogaster medon (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster melleus (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster nephele (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster orientalis (Rao & Chalikwar, 1970), Diolcogaster pyrene (Nixon, 1965), Diolcogaster rugulosus (Rao & Chalikwar, 1970), Diolcogaster urios (Nixon, 1965). Revised combinations: Choeras tegularis (Szépligeti, 1905), Diolcogaster seriphus (Nixon, 1965).

DNA barcoding species inventory of Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from a Mexican tropical dry forest.

The cosmopolitan Microgastrinae is probably the most diverse braconid subfamily of parasitoid wasps, yet its species diversity is far from being known. As part of a global initiative for DNA barcoding Microgastrinae species, here we show the results of a study that assessed the species richness of this subfamily in a Mexican tropical dry forest located in the Chamela region, near the Pacific coast of Jalisco. Barcoding sequences of a total of 551 microgastrine specimens were generated, corresponding to 238 haplotypes. Performance of two species delineation approaches, a 2% corrected pairwise distance criterion and the general mixed Yule-coalescent (GMYC) method, yielded 100 and 112 putative species, respectively, which belong to 13 genera. The species delimited by the above two approaches were mostly congruent with our morphospecies identification. Ten molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) were split into twenty-two species by the GMYC approach. We found morphological differences between the GMYC species corresponding to three of these MOTUs. Thus, a total of 103 microgastrine species were confirmed for the region of study. Thirty-three species were only represented by males, and therefore, their generic assignment is only tentatively proposed. Fornicia, Dolichogenoidea, Distatrix, Glyptapanteles and Pholetesor represent new generic records for the Mexican territory. A new record for the country is also provided for the Diolcogaster-basimacula species group. Based on a comparison of nearly 20 000 barcoding sequences released for Microgastrinae from 75 countries, only five microgastrine species from Chamela were found to occur in other countries, four in Costa Rica and one in Canada and the United States.

A review of Paroplitis (Braconidae, Microgastrinae), and description of a new genus from New Zealand, Shireplitis, with convergent morphological traits.

A new genus of Microgastrinae, Shireplitis Fernández-Triana and Ward, is described as endemic from New Zealand. Shireplitis resembles the Holarctic genus Paroplitis Mason, although morphological and molecular data reveal they are not likely to be closely related but are an example of convergent evolution. Shireplitis comprises species mostly found in moss, litter, or tussock grasslands, usually at moderate altitude on several New Zealand mountain ranges. Keys to all species from both genera are provided. Seven new species are described: Paroplitis vietnamensis van Achterberg and Fernández-Triana, and six Shireplitis species authored by Fernández-Triana and Ward: S. bilboi, S. frodoi, S. meriadoci, S. peregrini, S. samwisei and S. tolkieni.

DNA barcoding and the taxonomy of Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera, Braconidae): impacts after 8 years and nearly 20 000 sequences.

Microgastrine wasps are among the most species-rich and numerous parasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera). They are often host-specific and thus are extensively used in biological control efforts and figure prominently in trophic webs. However, their extraordinary diversity coupled with the occurrence of many cryptic species produces a significant taxonomic impediment. We present and release the results of 8 years (2004-2011) of DNA barcoding microgastrine wasps. Currently they are the best represented group of parasitoid Hymenoptera in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD), a massive barcode storage and analysis data management site for the International Barcoding of Life (iBOL) program. There are records from more than 20 000 specimens from 75 countries, including 50 genera (90% of the known total) and more than 1700 species (as indicated by Barcode Index Numbers and 2% MOTU). We briefly discuss the importance of this DNA data set and its collateral information for future research in: (1) discovery of cryptic species and description of new taxa; (2) estimating species numbers in biodiversity inventories; (3) clarification of generic boundaries; (4) biological control programmes; (5) molecular studies of host-parasitoid biology and ecology; (6) evaluation of shifts in species distribution and phenology; and (7) fostering collaboration at national, regional and world levels. The integration of DNA barcoding with traditional morphology-based taxonomy, host records, and other data has substantially improved the accuracy of microgastrine wasp identifications and will significantly accelerate further studies on this group of parasitoids.

Status of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in Cuba

Current understanding of Cuban ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) is analysed. A new Subfamily (Tersilochinae) including 13 genera and two species are first reports for Cuba. In contrast with Braconidae, the sister group, the ichneumonids are poorly known because of the lack of local taxonomists and bacause nets, rather than interception, light and yellow pan traps have been used. Using Ophioninae as a reference, and comparing the percentage of ophionines in the fauna of Costa Rican ichneumonids, the ratio of species of Costa Rican to Cuban Ophioninae and the increase in the number of described Cuban ophionines, we suggest that actual Cuban biodiversity in this group may be between 400 and 600 species.

Status of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) in Cuba

Current understanding of Cuban ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea) is analysed. A new Subfamily (Tersilochinae) including 13 genera and two species are first reports for Cuba. In contrast with Braconidae, the sister group, the ichneumonids are poorly known because of the lack of local taxonomists and bacause nets, rather than interception, light and yellow pan traps have been used. Using Ophioninae as a reference, and comparing the percentage of ophionines in the fauna of Costa Rican ichneumonids, the ratio of species of Costa Rican to Cuban Ophioninae and the increase in the number of described Cuban ophionines, we suggest that actual Cuban biodiversity in this group may be between 400 and 600 species(AU)