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Resolving the taxonomic status of biocontrol agents belonging to the Aphidius eadyi species group (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): an integrative approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2018

A. Petrović ,
M. Mitrović ,
M.E. Ghaliow ,
A. Ivanović ,
N.G. Kavallieratos ,
P. Starý  and
Ž. Tomanović
A. Petrović*
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
M. Mitrović
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Pests, Institute for Plant Protection and Environment, Banatska 33, 11080 Zemun, Serbia
M.E. Ghaliow
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Department of Biology, Faculty of Education, Misrata University, Zliten, P.O. Box 215, Misrata, Libya
A. Ivanović
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
N.G. Kavallieratos
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Department of Crop Science, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos str., 11855, Athens, Attica, Greece
P. Starý
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Aphidology, Institute of Entomology, Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Ž. Tomanović
Affiliation:
Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade-Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
*
*Author for correspondence Phone: +381 11 2187 266 Fax: +381 11 2638 500 E-mail: andjeljko@bio.bg.ac.rs
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Abstract

Species that belong to the Aphidius eadyi group have been used as biocontrol agents against Acyrthosiphon pisum worldwide. However, despite their extensive use, there are still gaps in our knowledge about their taxonomy and distribution. In this study, we employed an integrative taxonomic approach by combining genetic analyses (mtDNA COI barcoding) with standard morphological analyses and geometric morphometrics of forewing shape. We identified three species within the A. eadyi species group, viz., A. smithi, A. eadyi and A. banksae. Genetic separation of all three species was confirmed, with mean genetic distances between species ranging from 5 to 7.4%. The following morphological characters were determined as the most important for separating species of the A. eadyi group: number and shape of costulae on the anterolateral part of the petiole, shape of the central areola on the propodeum, and shape and venation of the forewings. The differences in wing shape of all three species were statistically significant, but with some overlapping. We identified A. banksae as a widely distributed pea aphid parasitoid, whose known range covers most of the western Palaearctic (from the UK to Israel). Aphidius banksae is diagnosed and redescribed.

Keywords

aphid parasitoidsbiocontrol agentsmtCOI barcodinggeometric morphometrics

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Type
Research Papers
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 109 , Issue 3 , June 2019 , pp. 342 - 355
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Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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