Here we tested Aphidius urticae s. str. host-associated lineages from Microlophium carnosum (Buckton), Amphorophora rubi (Kaltenbach), Macrosiphum funestum (Macchiati) and Aulacorthum vaccinii Hille Ris Lambers with the barcoding region of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene used to analyse population differences and elucidate phylogenetic relationships between the separated taxa. This molecular marker has been shown to be the most informative molecular marker in resolving species complexes in aphidiine parasitoids. Analyses of the mitochondrial sequences revealed the existence of three clearly separated mitochondrial lineages of A. urticae s. str. group associated with: i) Macrosiphum funestum and Aulacorthum vaccinii aphid hosts, ii) Microlophium carnosum and iii) Amphorophora rubi. This corresponds to the initial descriptions of A. rubi, A. silvaticus and A. urticae and their aphid host associations prior to synonymization of A. rubi and A. silvaticus with A. urticae. On the other hand, significant evolutionary distances ranging from 2.3 to 9.2% between the three mitochondrial lineages were not accompanied by clear morphological differences. Therefore, re-descriptions of A. rubi and A. silvaticus are presented, together with their morphological differentiation in a key, as well as their phylogenetic relationships and genetical differentiation.
Aphidius ericaphidis, an aphid parasitoid originally described from North America, is recorded in Europe for the first time, based on morphological and molecular analyses. The species is recorded in Serbia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom. It was formerly recorded as Aphidius sp./Ericaphis latifrons/Vaccinium uliginosum from the Alps (France). The possible origin of A. ericaphidis, as well as its likely distribution, is discussed in relation to its host. As it is a specific parasitoid of Ericaphis aphids, especially the invasive aphid Ericaphis scammelli on blueberries, its potential as a biocontrol agent is also discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.