Integrative taxonomy of root aphid parasitoids from the genus Paralipsis (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae) with description of new species

By

Mitrović, Milana
Starý, Petr
Jakovljević, Miljana
Petrović, Andjeljko
Žikić, Vladimir
Pérez-Hidalgo, Nicolás
Tomanović, Željko

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

831

Pages

49-69

Subjects

Cryptic speciation , molecular phylogeny , Paralipsis , Paralipsis brachycaudi sp. n , Paralipsis rugosa sp. n

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.831.31808

 

Abstract

Species from the genusParalipsisare obligatory endoparasitoids of root aphids in the Palaearctic. It is known that these species are broadly distributed, parasitizing various aphid hosts and showing great biological and ecological diversity. On the other hand, this group of endoparasitoids is understudied and was thought to be represented by a single species in Europe, viz.,Paralipsisenervis(Nees). However, recent description of two new species indicated the possibility of cryptic speciation and recognition of additionalParalipsisspecies in Europe. In this research,Paralipsisspecimens collected during the last 60 years from eight European countries, as well as one sample from Morocco, were subjected to molecular and morphological characterization. Newly designed genus-specific degenerative primers successfully targeted short overlapping fragments of COI of the mitochondrial DNA. Molecular analyses showed clear separation of four independent lineages, two of which are the known speciesP.enervisandP.tibiator, while two new species are described here, viz.,P.brachycaudiTomanović & Starý,sp. n.andP.rugosaTomanović & Starý,sp. n.No clear specialization of the taxa to a strict root aphid host has been determined. The recognized mitochondrial lineages were distinct one from another, but with a substantial within-lineage divergence rate, clearly indicating the complexity of this group of parasitoids, on which further research is required in order to clarify the factors triggering their genetic differentiation. We reviewed literature data and new records ofParalipsisenervisaphid host associations and distributions. A key for the identification of all knownParalipsisspecies is provided and illustrated.