Morphological and molecular systematic investigations have confirmed the existence in Australia of three species of Eretmocerus Haldeman that parasitise either the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), or the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood). Two of the species Eretmocerus warrae sp. n. and Eretmocerus queenslandensis sp. n. are described. A third species is very similar to Eretmocerus mundus Mercet at both the morphological and molecular levels. However, Australian populations of E. mundus are distinct from those found elsewhere in being thelytokous, suggesting that the Australian populations are a distinct biotype; we refer to these Australian populations as E. mundus (Australian parthenogenetic form; APF) to reflect this distinction. The four gene regions investigated, mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase II, the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and the domain 2 and 3 expansion segments of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene gave separation of the species consistent with our morphological data. Studies of COII, ITS1, ITS2 and D3 indicate that these three species do not vary geographically within Australia. Field collections and laboratory studies confirm that E. queenslandensis and E. mundus (APF) parasitise only B. tabaci, while E. warrae parasitises only T. vaporariorum. Eretmocerus warrae was found across the southern half of Australia, E. mundus (APF) from northern New South Wales to northern Queensland, and E. queenslandensis in northern Queensland. The molecular data indicate that E. queenslandensis is conspecific with an undescribed Eretmocerus species from Hong Kong.
A new family Peradeniidae is proposed for Peradenia, gen. nov., comprising P, clavipes, sp. nov. and P. micranepsia, sp. nov. from south-eastern Australia. Peradeniidae is assigned to the proctotrupoid complex of parasitic wasps, as the sister group of the Heloridae. Extant proctotrupoid families of the world are compared with respect to 43 morphological and biological characters, and an illustrated key to families is provided.
The new family Maamingidae is proposed for Maaminga,
gen. nov., comprising two species, M. rangi, sp. nov.
and M. marrisi, sp. nov., from New Zealand. The delicate
and slender M. rangi, sp. nov. is common in forest,
particularly kauri forests of the northern part of the North Island. The more
robust and stocky M. marrisi, sp. nov., which is
polymorphic for wing size (brachyterous and fully winged), appears to be
associated with coastal scrub and forest, particularly on offshore islands,
but is also found in alpine snow tussock. Maamingidae is nominally placed
within the Proctotrupoidea, and is probably related to the Diapriidae and
Monomachidae. However, its relationships are unclear, at least in part due to
the lack of phylogenetic resolution among the proctotrupoid families and other
Proctotrupomorpha sensu Rasnitsyn. The relationships of
Maamingidae are briefly discussed in the light of current morphological and
molecular phylogenetic hypotheses.
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