Hymenoptera

The development and viability of Gryon gallardoi (Brethes) (Hym.: Scelionidae) in Spartocera dentiventris (Berg) (Hem.: Coreidae) eggs were studied under four temperatures: 15, 20, 25, and 30 +/- 1 degree C, with a 12-h photophase. No parasitoid developed at 15 degrees C. Otherwise, viability reached 98.8% without varying significantly over the temperature range tested. The duration of development for males and females was inversely proportional to the temperature increase, varying respectively from 46.2 +/- 0.13 and 47.1 +/- 0.11 days (20 degrees C) to 13.3 +/- 0.07 and 13.4 +/- 0.06 days (30 degrees C). Males developed faster than females. The values estimated for the lowest thermic thresholds of development and the thermic constants were 15.5 degrees C and 185.19 DD for males and 15.6 degrees C and 192.31 DD for females, respectively. Given the average weather conditions in Porto Alegre, RS (30 degrees 01' S and 51 degrees 13' W), Brazil, G. gallardoi could annually produ...

Resumen: Se relacionan las especies de la familia Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoi-dea) presentes en cultivos de maíz en el Estado de Durango, México. Se resalta la presencia de Meteorus arizonensis y Meteorus laphygmae (Euphorinae) como nuevos registros de pa-rasitoides del gusano cogollero, Spodoptera frugiperda. Estos nuevos registros contribuyen al conocimiento de la diversidad de himenópteros, los cuales, además pueden ser utilizados en programas de control biológico. Abstract: In this paper, are listed some species of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ich-neumonoidea) present in corn crops in the State of Durango, Mexico. The presence of Meteorus arizonensis and Meteorus laphygmae (Euphorinae) is highlighted as new records of parasitoids of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda. These new records contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of hymenopteran, which can also be used in biological control programs.

The influence of temperatures on the life parameters of the solitary oothecal parasitoid Evania appendigaster, was investigated in the laboratory. Parasitized oothecae of Periplaneta americana were left to develop under seven constant temperatures: 15, 17, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 °C. At the end, we found that: (i) E. appendigaster was able to complete development within the temperature range of 17–34 °C; (ii) mean adult longevity decreased as temperature increased, with the temperature of 40 °C being fatal in a matter of hours; (iii) males lived longer than females between 15 and 30 °C; (iv) adult emergence rate was the highest at 25 °C, and (v) no wasps emerged at 15 or 40 °C. Non-emerged oothecae contained either unhatched eggs or dead larvae. We determined the theoretical lower developmental threshold and thermal constant for the complete development as 12.9 °C and 584.8 day-degrees for males, and 13.1 °C and 588.2 day-degrees for females, respectively. A good balance between faster development, maximum adult longevity and good egg viability was obtained between 25–30 °C, and that would be the best temperature range for rearing E. appendigaster.

This study was conducted during the period from July 2013 to February 2016, concerning the diversity of plant pollinators, spontaneous and cultivated, especially the group Apoidea (Hymenoptera, Apoidea) in Algeria. In this study, two regions have been chosen. The first zone located in Mitidja, Algerian coast and the second in Biskra, in the south of Algeria. Several flowering species could be caught using a pillbox, a butterfly net or a sweep net. Captured specimens were sacrificed then spread out and pinned. The different groups were separated and placed in entomological boxes. The determination was made subsequently. The observations revealed the presence of 47 species of Apoidea, 5 families of Apoidea represented by 15 genera. These 5 families are Apidae with an abundance of 52.9%, represented by the genera Apis, Anthophora, Amegilla, Eucera, Melecta, Bombus and Xylocopa. Among Halictidae (17.8%) are Halictus and Lasioglossum species. Andrenidae corresponds to 14.5% of the species caught, represented with a single genus Andrena. Megachilidae (12.0%) are present in 3 genera. Those of Megachile, Osmia and Heriades. The family Colletidae is little mentioned with two genera, Colletes and Hylaeus (2.7%). The diversity of the species sampled is close to the maximum value with a Shannon-Weaver index value equal to 5, 0 bits and fairness equal to 0. 92. The study area had a great diversity of Apoidea which provides many pollinating insects from wild and cultivated plants.

The larvae and pupae of the ladybird Thalassa saginata develop inside colonies of the dolichoderine ant Dolichoderus bidens. This association is the first specific and obligatory relationship recorded between ants and ladybirds. The ants provide shelter and protection to the larvae but the diet of the latter remains unclear. The integration of T. saginata larvae into the ant colonies is achieved by mimicking the cuticular patterns of the ants’ brood. Moreover, the larvae secrete substances from their hairs and anal gland that are likely to enhance their attractiveness.

Social wasps participate in food webs, act as biological control agents in small crops and the natural environment, and act as potential pollinators. The objective of this study was to carry out an inventory of social wasps in five phytophysiognomies with different degrees of anthropogenic disturbance in São Paulo, Brazil. The collections were performed by active search and attractive traps to survey social wasps. We collected wasp for one year with collection campaigns every other month totaling six campaigns for site. We collected a total of 913 individuals representing 31 species and eight genera. The species with the highest abundances were Agelaia pallipes and Agelaia vicina. The highest richness of social wasps was found in the riparian forest and regenerating Cerrado. We conclude that social wasp richness and diversity varies according to habitat vegetation characteristics and that these effects are likely mediated by resulting differences in the provision of resources and ne...

Eucalyptus trees, which are native to Australia, are now a commercial resource worldwide, and planted forest cover in some African countries is often dominated by these trees. Here, we report, from Rwanda, the presence of Blastopsylla occidentalis (Hemipetra: Psyllidae), a serious invasive pest of Eucalyptus, and its natural enemy parasitoids for the first time. First, we confirmed the occurrence of this psyllid species from Rubavu, Bugesera and Gasabo Districts of the country. Second, we found many mummified nymphs of the psyllid and identified the associated parasitoid as Psyllaephagus blastopsyllae (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae). Furthermore, another psyllid parasitoid Psyllaephagus pilosus was also confirmed. A comprehensive study of the alien psyllid pests together with their natural enemies is necessary in Africa to develop biocontrol pest management and protection of eucalypts.

The world Sclerogibbidae are revised. The following four genera are recognized: Caenosclerogibba Yasumatsu, Sclerogibba Riggio & De Stefani-Perez, Probethylus Ashmead and the fossil new genus Pterosclerogibba. The world species belonging to the above genera are described or redescribed. The known hosts are listed. New keys to the world genera and species are presented. New synonymies are established.

In this article I discuss the political themes attached to the eusocial creatures, specifically ants and bees, in Old Norse sources. I consider the situation of Old Norse as a transnational literature, encompassing one country that lacked ants and bees (Iceland) and one that did not (Norway). Although the behavioural ecology of eusociality, or indeed the classification of ants and bees as taxonomically related, is a relatively recent development in human knowledge, I argue that the fundamental qualities of swarming and mutual aid were clearly recognisable long before modern science. The differing environments and differing political systems between Iceland and Norway are examined as factors shaping the depiction of eusocial insects. However, the Old Norse sources are also integrated into their European context in order to explore the abstract - even universal - ideological questions that are prompted when humans compare their own societies to those of ants and bees.

Within the frame of the Entomofauna project of the Cesa, Hymenoptera of Turkey is submitted here. For this purpose, 971 publications are  evaluated. Totally 5749 species of 1277 genera are listed alphabetically under 53 families. Numerous scientific names revised nomenclaturally. Synonymous names are given chronologically. Distributional information are mentioned as codes. 79 dual maps are prepared. Rates of success of some hymenopterists are discussed. Present situation of the Entomofauna Project in Turkey is also explained.  Studied families are listed alphabetically under key words.

Turkey constitutes an biogeographical bridge that connects Europe, Asia and Africa. Publications on its insect fauna began almost 180 years ago. To date, no studies have summarized the data in the massive body of publications compiled on its insect diversity. The current research addressed that situation by throroughly analyzing published notes, catalogues, databases and systematic revisions and other work on the insect fauna of Turkey. This study reports that the insect fauna of Turkey as of end-2019 is composed of 33820 known species and subspecies in 562 families and 25 orders. The number of species and subspecies of the dominant orders and their percentages are given in descending order, as follows: Coleoptera (11910 / 35.22%), Hymenoptera (6641 / 19.64%), Lepidoptera (5580 / 16.50%), Diptera (3742 / 11.06%), Hemiptera (3424 / 10.13%) and Orthoptera (734 / 2.17%). For these six orders, the total number of species and subspecies is 32031, which is 94.71% of the total. The extraordinary biogeographic diversity of Turkey, which includes Mediterranean, Irano-Anatolian and Caucasian biodiversity hotspots, is reflected in the chorotype analyses which showed that Mediterranean, European and Asiatic chorotypes are prominent. Moreover, there is a high proportion of endemic species and subspecies (3785 / 11.20% of total), with the numbers and percentages varying widely across the taxa. Furthermore, the number of reported endemics has increased by 49% since 2008. The data compiled in this study highlights the urgent need for protection of the extraordinarily diverse insect fauna of Turkey and their habitats.

El género Encarsia Fürster es uno de los más diversos y de gran importancia económica en la familia Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera). Un gran número de especies han sido utilizadas en programas de control biológico clásico en todo el mundo contra plagas de las familias Aleyrodidae y Diaspididae. Algunas especies fueron introducidas a México para combatir mosquitas blancas y escamas en cítricos. En este trabajo se estudiaron y revisaron por primera vez las especies del género Encarsia Fórster presentes en México. Un total de 88 especies son tratadas, incluyendo 47 especies nuevas. Doce especies fueron descritas previamente (catemaco, citricola, colima, dmitrii, flaviceps, guajavae, mexicana, pinella, tapachula, terebrella, trilineata y tuxtla), cuatro especies fueron descritas con otros autores (clavata, polaszeki, tamaulipeca y verticina), y 31 especies nuevas son descritas aquí por los autores de esta obra (altacima, alvaradoi, antennata, azteca, elcielica, florena, funiculata, fursovi, gaonae, guamuchil, juanae, kasparyani, lacuma, leucaenae, Ilera, Ilerica, macula, mahoniae, moctezumana, neoporteri, pineti, pitilla, ruizi, subelongata, superbum, tarsalis, tetraleurodis, trialeurodis, tuxpan, unisetae y woolleyi). Se describen los machos de E. guadeloupae Viggiani y de E. variegata Howard, y la hembra de E. titillata Girault. Se redescriben la hembra y el macho de E. perplexa Huang & Polaszek y la hembra de E. guadeloupae.
Se proponen dos nuevos grupos de especies: el grupo de Encarsia albiscutellum, el cual contiene a E. alvaradoi, E. funiculata, E. mexicana y E. pinella, y el grupo de Encarsia porteri, el cual incluye a E. neoporteri y E. porteri (Mercet). Los siguientes 10 nuevos registros de distribución para México fueron obtenidos en nuestras investigaciones: E. bimaculata Heraty & Polaszek, E. citrella (Howard), E. coquilletti Howard, E. costaricensis Evans & Angulo, E. cubensis Gahan, E. dominicana Evans, E. guadeloupae Viggiani, E. (Howard), E. coquilletti Howard, E. costaricensis Evans & Angulo, E. cubensis Gahan, E. dominicana Evans, E. guadeloupae Viggiani, E. inaron (Walker), E. pseudocitrella Evans & Polaszek y E. titillata Girault. Además, se incluyen los nuevos datos de distribución de afelínidos reportados previamente. Se elaboraron descripciones e ilustraciones de todas las nuevas especies así como las diagnosis de las especies ya conocidas. Se presenta información sobre las especies de Encarsia y sus norhbres científicos, de acuerdo al estado actual del conocimiento taxonómico. E. tabacivora Viggiani es removida de la sinonimia con E. pergandiella Howard. E. polaszeki (Myartseva & Coronado-Blanco), comb. n. es transferida de Encarsiella a Encarsia (por ser su sinónimo actualmente); el estatus de E. narroi Gómez & García es restablecido. Se elaboró una clave para las hembras de Encarsia que ocurren en México y se anotó toda la información disponible sobre los hospederos y la distribución de todas las especies. La literatura revisada contiene 183 referencias. Figs 420. Fotografias 48.