DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia
2025
Mollie-Rosae Slater-Baker | Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries | Katherine J. Oestmann | Olivia G. Portmann | Tiahni M. Bament | Andy G. Howe | Michelle T. Guzik | Tessa M. Bradford | Alana R. McClelland | Alice Woodward | Sylvia Clarke | Nathan Ducker | José Fernández-Triana
Microgastrinae is a megadiverse subfamily of wasps in the family Braconidae. As parasitoids of caterpillars, members of the subfamily play important roles in regulating native caterpillar populations, and several species are used commercially as biological control agents. The genus Apanteles comprises a large portion of total microgastrine diversity, however it has not been studied in Australia for more than 30 years, with only nine described species previously known from the continent. We explore the diversity and systematics of Apanteles in Australia, using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and Wingless (wg) DNA barcodes from more than 400 Australian Apanteles specimens. Using molecular species delimitation in combination with reduced morphological diagnoses, at least 48 distinct molecular lineages of Apanteles are confirmed in Australia, and 34 new species are formally described, all authored by Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann: A. adustus, A. aeternus, A. alatomicans, A. allapsus, A. amicalis, A. apollo, A. apricus, A. artemis, A. aurantius, A. auroralis, A. banrock, A. breviflagellarius, A. brockhedgesi, A. cuprum, A. darthvaderi, A. doreenwatlerae, A. ethanbeaveri, A. fenestrinus, A. ferripulvis, A. focusalis, A. hades, A. insulanus, A. kelpiellus, A. lamingtonensis, A. ligdus, A. magicus, A. margaritarius, A. pellucidus, A. phantasmatus, A. pharusalis, A. ramsaris, A. rufiterra, A. sinusulus, and A. translucentis.
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