First host record for Old World <em>Yelicones</em> (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) adds to evidence that they are strictly parasitoids of Pyralidae (Lepidoptera)

Donald L. J. Quicke; Wolf S. Kuslitzky; Buntika A. Butcher

Authors

Donald L. J. Quicke Integrative Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University & Center of Excellence in Entomology: Bee Biology, Diversity of Insects and Mites, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, BKK 10330, Thailand. E-mail: d.quicke@email.com https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4471-6775
Wolf S. Kuslitzky The Steinhardt Natural History Museum and Research Center, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel. E-mail: wkuslitzky@yahoo.com
Buntika A. Butcher Integrative Ecology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University & Center of Excellence in Entomology: Bee Biology, Diversity of Insects and Mites, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, BKK 10330, Thailand. E-mail: buntika.a@chula.ac.th https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0541-0709

Keywords:

Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae, parasitoid wasps, parasitoids, Lepidoptera, Pyralidae, moths, biology, Israel, Middle East, Palaearctic, Ricinus

Abstract

The highly distinctive parasitoid wasp genus Yelicones is cosmopolitan and not infrequently collected, but very little is known about its biology. Here we report that Y. iranus is a parasitoid of caterpillars of the pyralid moth Phycita diaphana in Israel, the first host record for the genus from outside of the Americas. We illustrate the wasp’s mummified host, emergence hole and the wasp’s own cocoon which is constructed within the tanned mummified host remains. We hypothesize that a physiological or behavioural association of Yelicones parasitoids with the Pyralidae commenced at least during the early Miocene (ca. 16 Mya).

Cite as: Quicke, D.L. J., Kuslitzky, W.S. & Butcher, B.A. 2018. First host record for Old World Yelicones (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae) adds to evidence that they are strictly parasitoids of Pyralidae (Lepidoptera). Israel Journal of Entomology 48 (1): 33–40.

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1244102

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:EDE7EEB0-7B36-4C68-A8E6-090A056C90BC