A maximalist approach to the systematics of a biological control agent: Gryon aetherium Talamas, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae)

By

Talamas, Elijah J.
Bremer, Jonathan S.
Moore, Matthew R.
Bon, Marie-Claude
Lahey, Zachary
Roberts, Cheryl G.
Combee, Lynn A.
McGathey, Natalie
Van Noort, Simon
Timokhov, Alexander V.
Hougardy, Evelyne
Hogg, Brian

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021-12-23

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

87

Pages

323--480

Subjects

bagrada bug , Gryon , taxonomy

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.87.72842

 

Abstract

A morphological and molecular analysis ofGryonHaliday (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) was conducted to provide a taxonomic and phylogenetic context for a species under evaluation as a biological control agent ofBagrada hilaris(Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae). Our analysis revealed thatGryonis polyphyletic and that the biological control agent is notG. gonikopalense, a name that was tentatively applied to this species in 2019. We here describe this species as new,Gryon aetheriumTalamassp. nov., and resurrect the generic nameHadronotusFörster. Morphological characters that delimit our concepts ofGryonandHadronotusare presented. Based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenies, we determined that five presently valid scelionid genera belong withinGryon. In total, 15 species are transferred intoGryonfrom these genera, 215 species are transferred fromGryontoHadronotus, and 6 species are transferred fromGryontoDyscritobaeusPerkins. Specimens collected during field studies in California and reevaluation of specimens determined asG. myrmecophilumin Mexico reveal thatG. aetheriumis adventive in North America.