A new European species of Mesocrina (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae, Alysiini) with notes on the biology and systematics of the genus

By

Godfray, H Charles
Achterberg, C. van

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

97

Pages

349--361

Subjects

DNA barcode , Europe , hosts , Mesocrina chandleri , Palaearctic key

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.124215

 

Abstract

Mesocrina chandleri Godfray & van Achterberg, sp. nov., is described in the small Holarctic genus Mesocrina Foerster, 1863, the second European species. The holotype was collected in England and further specimens are recorded from Finland, France and the Netherlands. A key is provided to the Palaearctic Mesocrina species. DNA sequence from the CO1 barcode locus was obtained and the new species is 10% divergent from M. indagatrix (the other European species) and 5% divergent from an undetermined North American species. We provide evidence that Mesocrina spp. parasitise cyclorrhaphan Diptera in fungi (and that previous host records from phytophagous insects are incorrect) and that the taxon is not part of the Dapsilarthra genus-group as often previously assumed.