0000000000122215
AUTHOR
George Melika
Phylogeny of the parasitic wasp subfamily Charipinae (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae)
The Charipinae are a major group of hyperparasitoids of Hemiptera. Here, we present the first cladistic analysis of this subfamily's internal relationships, based on 96 morphological characters of adults. The data matrix was analysed using uniformly weighted parsimony. The effects of using alternative weighting schemes were explored by performing additional searches employing implied weights criteria. One of the caveats of implied weights analysis is that it lacks an objective criterion for selecting the value of the concavity function. In the present study, differential weighting was used to explore the sensitivity of our results to the alternative assumptions made in the analysis and to s…
Description of the sexual generation of Dryocosmus destefanii (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) and disclosure of its life cycle
The sexual generation of Dryocosmus destefanii Cerasa & Melika, 2018 that emerges from galls on Q. suber L. in Italy is described for the first time, establishing its heterogonic life cycle. We provide observations on its distribution, illustration of adults and galls and information on its biology as supported by morphological and molecular data. An illustrated identification key to Western Palaearctic Dryocosmus species is also given.
Description of Dryocosmus destefanii new species (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) from Quercus suber L. in Italy
A new species, Dryocosmus destefanii Cerasa & Melika n. sp. associated with a Cerris section oak, Quercus suber L., is described from Italy. Description, diagnosis, host associations and biology for the new species and an illustrated identification key to the Western Palaearctic Dryocosmus species are given. The description is supported by morphological and molecular data.
Revision of the Holarctic species of Dilyta Förster (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Charipinae) with descriptions of four new species from the eastern Palaearctic
The genus Dilyta, and the known species of this genus present in the Holarctic, D. subclavata Forster from Europe and D. rathmanae Menke and Evenhuis from USA, are redescribed. Four new species of Dilyta are described from the eastern Palaearctic region: D. aleevae sp. n. from Kazakhstan, D. japonica sp. n. from Japan, and D. longinqua sp. n. and D. sinica sp. n. from China. All six species have an ∩ -shaped carina on the apex of the scutellum; this character differentiates these species from the Afrotropical species, which instead have two small symmetrical and parallel carinae. A key to the species of Dilyta in the Holarctic is provided. Apocharips talitzkii (Belizin) is synonymyzed with …
Phaenoglyphis villosa(Hartig 1841) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Charipinae): a complex of species or a single but very variable species?
The status of Phaenoglyphis villosa (Hartig 1841), the only species in this genus with the radial cell partially open along the wing margin, is discussed. A complete synonymy list, redescription, morphological variability and some biological peculiarities of P. villosa are given. After studying numerous specimens from different countries from all continents, we concluded that this species is either very variable or might be a complex of sibling species. Auloxysta tarsata Belizin 1973, is a new synonym of P. villosa and P. dolichocera (Cameron 1889) was re-established as a valid species. Resume. Phaenoglyphis villosa (Hartig 1841) (Hymenoptera : Figitidae : Charipinae) : un complexe d'espece…