Molecular identification of hymenopteran parasitoids and their endosymbionts from agromyzids

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research Vol. 113; no. 4; pp. 1 - 496
• Main Authors: Xu, Xuefen, Hoffmann, Ary A, Umina, Paul A, Ward, Samantha E, Coquilleau, Marianne P, Malipatil, Mallik B, Ridland, Peter M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.08.2023
• Subjects: parasitoid wasps; Wolbachia; morphological identification; DNA barcoding; Agromyzidae; biological control; Rickettsia
• ISSN: 0007-4853; 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485323000160

Three polyphagous pest spp. (Diptera: Agromyzidae) have recently invaded Australia and are damaging horticultural crops. Parasitic wasps are recognized as effective natural enemies of leafmining species globally and are expected to become important biocontrol agents in Australia. However, the hymenopteran parasitoid complex of agromyzids in Australia is poorly known and its use hindered due to taxonomic challenges when based on morphological characters. Here, we identified 14 parasitoid species of leafminers based on molecular and morphological data. We linked DNA barcodes (5' end (COI) sequences) to five adventive eulophid wasp species ( (Zetterstedt), (Walker), (Girault), (Westwood), and Kamijo) and two braconid species ( (Nees) and Fischer). We also provide the first DNA barcodes (5' end COI sequences) with linked morphological characters for seven wasp species, with three identified to species level ( Edwards & La Salle, (Girault), and Ubaidillah) and four identified to genus ( sp., sp., sp. 1, and sp. 2). Phylogenetic analyses suggest , , and are likely cryptic species complexes. and sp. specimens were infected with . Five other species ( , sp. 1, and sp. 2) were infected with , while two endosymbionts ( and ) co-infected These findings provide background information about the parasitoid fauna expected to help control the leafminers.