Description of four new species of Eadya (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), parasitoids of the Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis charybdis) and other Eucalyptus defoliating leaf beetles

Abstract

EucalyptusL’Héritier, 1789 (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations are a global economic resource with a wide array of uses. As this forestry crop grows in popularity around the world, the exotic introduction of pests such as the leaf beetles belonging to the generaParopsisOliver, 1807 andParopsisternaMotschulsky, 1860 increases in frequency. These pest introductions have spurred a need to understand the natural enemies of these pests for use in classical biological control programs. One such enemy,EadyaparopsidisHuddleston & Short, 1978 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), has shown potential as a biological control agent againstParopsischarybdis, an exotic pest of New ZealandEucalyptusplantations. However, observations made by biocontrol researchers have raised concerns thatE.paropsidisis a complex of cryptic species. A comprehensive large-scale phylogenetic study utilizing both host and molecular data (Peixoto et al. 2018), as well as a morphological multivariate ratio analysis, was utilized to ensure accurate delimitation of the species ofEadya. Here we formally describe the three new species (EadyaannleckieaeRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.,EadyadaenerysRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.,EadyaspitzerRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.), and one additional new species discovered in the Australian National Insect Collection (EadyaduncanRidenbaugh, 2018,sp. n.). All distributions and host associations forEadyaare listed as well as a redescription of the originally describedE.paropsidisandE.falcata. An illustrated key to all known species is included to assist biological control researchers. The value of citizen science observations is discussed, along with the need for a further understanding of mainlandEadyapopulations given the recent spread of paropsine pests. Finally, we discuss the subfamilial placement ofEadya, and suggest it belongs within Euphorinae based on morphological characters.

Expansion of the geographic range of the eucalypt pest Paropsisterna cloelia (Stål) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) through synonymy and invasion

“…cloelia in eastern Australia and WA, respectively (Selman 1994; Colless 2012; Ridenbaugh et al . 2018).…”

When taxonomy and biological control researchers unite: Species delimitation of Eadya parasitoids (Braconidae) and consequences for classical biological control of invasive paropsine pests of Eucalyptus

“…3 (mostly brown) and Eadya paropsidis (mostly white) and was not therefore a reliable aid to species identification. Descriptions of all new species and a key to all species of Eadya can be found in Ridenbaugh et al [ 43 ].…”

“…Eadya sp. 3 (formally called Eadya daenerys Ridenbaugh 2018) [ 43 ] is the most suitable candidate for release in New Zealand to control the eucalyptus tortoise beetle, P . charybdis .…”

“…Eadya sp. 1 (formally called Eadya annleckiae Ridenbaugh 2018) [ 43 ] should be examined in future research for potential to control Pst . variicollis* in New Zealand and Pst .…”

“…Although Eadya has been moved to Helconinae based on its placement in a one gene dataset [ 40 ], its biology and morphology and biology are consistent with its original placement in Euphorinae [ 41 – 43 ], including: attacking exposed chrysomelid beetles; forewing vein 2cu-a absent; forewing vein 3RS curved creating a small marginal cell; and metasomal tergum 1 petiolate [ 43 ]. In addition to these characters, species of Eadya can be identified by the presence of an inter-antennal carina and a closed second submarginal cell [ 43 ]. Rearing Eadya from field collections from a number of locations in Tasmania revealed two color morphs of the silk used to spin the wasp cocoon (Allen, unpublished data), suggesting the possibility of cryptic species of Eadya .…”