A new species of Iconella (Mason, 1981) (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae), a parasitoid of Melitara subumbrella (Dyar, 1925) cactus moth larvae from New Mexico with biological notes and an updated key to the American Iconella species

By

Morrison, Colin `
Armstrong, Wyatt
Plowes, Robert
Gilbert, Lawrence E.
Fernandez-Triana, Jose

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

98

Pages

483--498

Subjects

CO1 , gregarious , maximum likelihood tree , Nearctic , Opuntia , Phycitinae , species description , wasp

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.98.151036

 

Abstract

We describe the wasp Iconella melitaraevorasp. nov. (Braconidae, Microgastrinae), a parasitoid of Melitara subumbrella caterpillars (Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, Phycitinae). Multiple wasp cohorts were reared from hosts collected in a montane dryland habitat of New Mexico, USA. This is the first case of gregariousness in Iconella. An updated key to American Iconella species is provided. We present a maximum likelihood tree using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) locus of this species relative to other described Iconella species from the Americas. We also describe the biology and environmental conditions where Iconella melitaraevorasp. nov. was discovered in the context of its prickly pear cactus (Opuntia Mill.) herbivore host. The potential biological control capacity of microgastrine wasps which attack prickly pear specialist herbivores is discussed.