Revision of the European species ofCopidosomaRatzeburg (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera)

Abstract

Abstract. The genus Copidosoma includes species that have the potential to be used as biocontrol agents of lepidopteran pests. Regardless of their importance and the high number of species described from Europe, this is the first time that a complete revision at European level has been conducted. Fifty‐six European species of Copidosoma are revised. Seven species are described as new, i.e. athepi (France), charon (France), firli (Czech Republic), ortyx (Portugal), shawi (Netherlands), zolta (Spain), zdeneki (Spain). Thirty‐nine new specific synonymies are proposed, i.e. alexandri (of sosares), batorligetensis (of varicorne), bohemicum (of terebrator), brevicaudae (of peticus), buyssoni (of peticus), clavellatus (of varicorne), claviger (of thebe), crassicorne (of radnense), cultriformis (of boucheanum), flavomaculatus (of peticus), fulvipes (of thebe), geniculatus (of filicorne), giganteum (of terebrator), glandiferellae (of filicorne), hartmanni (of sosares), hilare (of boucheanum), hydramon (of aithyia), incertum (of peticus), innocuellae (of albipes), intermedius (of floridanum), jamansaiense (of peticus), kisilkumense (of peticus), kriechbaumeri (of aithyia), lembolovicum (of aretas), machaeras (of babas), matritense (of dius), moldavicus (of cervius), montanum (of filicorne), montanum minor (of herbaceum), nanellae (of ancharus), nanus (of primulum), obscurus (of primulum), phalaenarum (of aithyia), phithra (of chalconotum), prasinum (of arenarium), salicinus (of aithyia), savsdargi (of iracundum), triangularis (of peticus), woronieckae (of peticus), and one new combination (heliothis (Liao) from Litomastix). Lectotypes are designated for eight species (buyssoni, didius, kriechbaumeri, machaeras, mitreus, nanellae, telesto, tibiale). A dichotomous key is provided to facilitate the identification of females and males. Each species is further characterized by a description, and figures and notes are provided on their known distribution and hosts. An overview of the biology of the genus is given in addition to a host–parasitoid index for all known European species.

Fauna of Encyrtidae, parasitoids of coccids in Golcuk Natural Park

“…Encyrtidae material was card-mounted and slide-mounted according to the methodology given by Noyes (2010) and sorted to genus and species. Identifications were done by the first author using various keys (Trjapitzin 1989, Noyes and Hayat 1994, Guerrieri and Noyes 2000, 2005, Hayat 2006). …”

Lepidopterans and their parasitoids on okra plants in Riberão Preto (SP, Brazil)

“…includes around 190 species and those whose biology has been described scientifically act as endoparasitoids of eggs and larvae of lepidopterans (GUERRIERI & NOYES, 2005). C. floridanum is known to attack 45 species in five lepidopteran families (NOYES, 2010), two of which are Noctuidae and Tortricidae, both collected in this study.…”

“…Euplectrus (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) was identified with a key provided by SCHAUFF et al (1997) and Copidosoma floridanum (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) with GUERRIERI & NOYES (2005). The lepidopterans were identified by Dr. Manoel Martins Dias Filho of the Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCar).…”

Copidosoma boucheanum Ratzeburg (Hym.: Encyrtidae): new record from Iran

“…Copidosoma boucheanum is a parasitoid of different microlepidopterous families (Gelechiidae, Lymantriidae, Tortricidae, and Yponomeutidae) (Guerrieri and Noyes, 2005). Copidosoma pistacinellae Hoffer, 1970Iran* Hoffer (1970, Trjapitzin (1989) Copidosoma varicorne (Nees 1834) Azerbaijan, Markazi, and Tehran provinces Chodjai (1968), Sabzevari (1968) *: This species was originally described from Iran without exact type locality.…”

“…Preparation of specimens was conducted following Noyes (1982). Specific identification of specimens was done according to reliable keys and descriptions (Guerrieri and Noyes, 2005;Japoshvili et al, 2013).…”