Life-history and systematic position of the European Alomya species (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract

Alomya is a genus of uncertain systematic position. Rearing out of Alomya semiflava Stephens from caterpillars of Hepiallls lupulinus L. is described, and the host-parasite associations of all European species of Alomya are discussed. The final larval instar of A. semiflava is described and on the basis of this the systematic position of Alomya is discussed.

Direct optimization and multiple alignment of 28S D2–D3 rDNA sequences: problems with indels on the way to a molecular phylogeny of the cryptine ichneumon waSPS (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

“…This might be a synapomorphy (albeit imperfect) for Alomyinae + Ichneumoninae or it might be convergent, it is certainly a labile character as many Phaeogenini, Platylabini and Listrodromini have only two or three sensilla on these palps. Hinz and Short (1983) also note a similarity between Alomya and the phaeogenines Phaeogenes Wesmael, Centeterus Wesmael and “similar genera”. These phaeogenines have lightly sclerotized bars on the clypeolabrum but while having “folds in the cuticle enclosing small setae in that position”, Alomya does not possess the same bars.…”

“…This strongly suggests that the morphological features indicating a relationship with the Phaeogenini, and with Colpognathus in particular, that led Wahl and Mason (1995) to synonymize them, are the result of strong convergent evolution. Some of this similarity may result from the similar, and unusual, biology of mummifying their hosts (Hinz and Short, 1983; Shaw and Bennett, 2001). However, the hosts attacked by Alomya and Colpognathus (belonging to Hepialidae and Crambidae, respectively) are very distant phylogenetically and Alomya lacks some of the usual morphological synapomorphies of the Ichneumoninae that led Perkins (1959, 1960) to retain Alomya in a separate subfamily.…”

“…The biology of Pseudalomya , which is a phaeogenine, is unknown, but the similarity in its head shape to that of Alomya could well indicate that this will be found to mummify their hosts too. Features of the final larval instar head capsule provide some evidence that Alomya might belong in the same clade as the Ichneumoninae (Hinz and Short, 1983), but it should be noted that larval characters are likely to show adaptations to endoparasitism and so should be considered carefully. In this case, Alomya has similar final instar larval labial and maxillary palp morphology to those of most Ichneumoninae and some Cryptinae (e.g., some Mastrus Förster), flat with four or more sensilla.…”

Phylogeny of the subfamilies of Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera)

“…125 The following description is based on a re-examination of two larval slides prepared by J.R.T. Short (Hinz and Short 1983). Our figure of the last instar larva is depicted as it appears on the slide (i.e., not reconstructed as bilaterally symmetrical, as per usual practice) because the larva on the slide is distorted.…”

“…These decisions were based solely upon adult morphology in a non-phylogenetic framework. Hinz and Short (1983) reared and described the last instar larva commenting that "larval characters generally indicate an affinity with Ichneumoninae, particularly in the disc-shaped maxillary and labial palps each bearing five sensilla of about equal size" (our Character 123, state 2) (Figs 109, 125). They did; however, conclude that bearing in mind the unusual biology (mummification of the host), it should be placed in its own tribe (Alomyini) within Ichneumoninae.…”