A new species of Braunsia (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae), a natural enemy of Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) from South Korea: species description and notes on its biology

By

Kim, Soohyun
Choi, Jong Bong
Hwang, Hwal-Su
Kenis, Marc
Seehausen, Martin Lukas
Park, Ikju
Choi, Jin-Kyung
Lee, Kyeong-Yeoll
Sharkey, Michael J.
Kang, Ilgoo

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2024

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

97

Pages

915--936

Subjects

Box tree moth , braconid taxonomy , classical biological control , hymenopteran parasitoid , invasive species

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.97.135728

 

Abstract

The invasion of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera, Crambidae) poses a significant threat to European ecosystems and North American ornamentals. In an effort to identify potential biological control agents from the native habitats of C. perspectalis, a field survey was conducted from 2022 to 2024 in South Korea. During the survey, a new braconid agathidine species of Braunsia Kriechbaumer, 1894 was discovered: Braunsia hodorii Kang, sp. nov. The new species is delimited and described based on morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic data. Additionally, information on the behavior of B. hodoriisp. nov. is presented regarding the larval external feeding phase. A key to species of Braunsia in Korea is included accompanied by detailed images. This research contributes to the evaluation of natural enemies as biological control agents against C. perspectalis in its invasive range.