The hymenopterous parasitoids of eucalypt longicorn beetles,Phoracanthaspp. (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) in Australia

Abstract

The systematics of the hymenopterous parasitoids associated with Phoracantha spp. in Australia are reviewed. An illustrated key to species is presented to facilitate their identification as part of ongoing attempts for the biological control of P. semipunctata (Fabricius), an exotic pest on eucalypt trees. Information on the taxonomy, distribution and biology of 18 species of primary and hyperparasitoids associated with Phoracantha spp. are presented. A new braconid genus, Jarra, is described to accommodate three new species, /. phoracantha, }. maculipennis and /. bicolor, and Doryctes diadoxi Nixon (Doryctinae), the latter associated with a buprestid host. Two other new species, Heterospilus nukunu (Doryctinae) and Callibracon moorei (Braconinae) are also described; Iphiaulax morleyi Froggatt is synonymized with Atanycolus tomentosus Szepligeti and I. rubriceps Froggatt is synonymized with Syngaster lepidus Brulle; lectotypes are designated for /. morleyi, I. rubriceps and /. phoracanthae Froggatt; and Ipobracon flaviceps flaviceps (Cameron) and I. flaviceps mackayensis Turner are transferred to Callibracon. The encyrtid genus Aventianella is recorded from Australia for the first time and the egg parasitoid of P. semipunctata, A. longoi Siscaro described from Italy, is postulated to be endemic to Australia.

Natural Enemies of Cerambycidae and Buprestidae Infesting Living Trees

“…southern Africa, North Africa, North America, and southern Europe. In its region of origin, P. semipunctata is attacked by a large range of natural enemies, especially parasitoids (Austin et al 1994). In Europe and North Africa, few natural enemies were observed.…”

A New Species of Jarra Marsh and Austin (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with Comments on Other Parasitoids Associated with the Eucalypt Longicorn Phoracantha semipunctata (F.) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

“…(UQBA) is different to the species reared from P. semipunctata at Mt Crawford, S.A. and Black Mt., A.C.T. (ANIC, WARI) and discussed by Austin et al (1994). It is smaller in size, has a dark hind femur, and the annellus is a slightly different shape (I. D. Naumann pers.…”

First record from Costa Rica of the genus Caenophanes Foerster and description of a new species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Doryctinae)

“…This species does not easily run to any species in the key presented by Belokobylskij and Maeto (2009). It is similar to nukunu (Marsh and Austin) (Austin et al 1994) because of the expanded epicnemial carina but differs in color and by having the ovipositor shorter than the metasoma.…”