Mesopolobus incultus auct. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) contains two distinct species: Mesopolobus incultus (Walker, 1834) and Mesopolobus amyntor (Walker, 1845)

Abstract

Mesopolobus incultus auct. is hypothesized to consist of twodifferent species, M. amyntor (Walker) and M. incultus (Walker). This hypothesis is supported bymolecular(cytochromec oxidase subunit I, i.e. COI), morphological and biologicaldata.Mesopolobus amyntor is a primary parasitoid of Mecinus pascuorum (Gyllenhal) and M. labilis (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on Plantago lanceolata. Mesopolobus incultus is a primary parasitoid of Protapion fulvipes (Geoffroy) (Coleoptera: Apionidae) on Trifolium repens and T. pratense, and hasalso been inferred to act as a secondary parasitoid (hyperparasitoid) of Spintherus dubius (Nees) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) or Bruchophagus gibbus (Boheman) (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae). The results of this study lead to following nomenclatural changes: M. amyntor is removed from synonymy under M. incultus, and Pteromalus urgo, P. belesis and P. berecynthos, all described by Walker, are synonymized under M. amyntor. The species are diagnosed with characters illustrated.

A molecular‐based identification resource for the arthropods of Finland

“…Despite initial skepticism from national funding agencies, FinBOL has delivered primary research results of the very type traditionally supported by them. Deliverables to date include insights into the protein structure of the barcode region (Pentinsaari et al, 2016), species interactions (Kaartinen et al, 2010; Mutanen, Ovaskainen, et al, 2020; Nyman et al, 2015; Rytkönen et al, 2019; Vesterinen et al, 2013, 2016), taxonomy (Boonstra et al, 2018; Haarto & Ståhls, 2014; Hausmann et al, 2013; Huemer et al, 2020; Huemer & Mutanen, 2015; Ivanov et al, 2018; Kirichenko et al, 2016; Kozlov et al, 2017; Landry et al, 2013; Landvik et al, 2013; Lee et al, 2020; Liston et al, 2019; Mutanen, Aarvik, Huemer, et al, 2012; Mutanen et al, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2020; Nieminen et al, 2018; Pentinsaari et al, 2014; Pentinsaari et al, 2014; Pilipenko et al, 2012; Pohjoismäki & Haarto, 2015; Pohjoismäki et al, 2016; Prous et al, 2016, 2020; Pykälä & Myllys, 2016; Salmela et al, 2014; Sihvonen et al, 2020; Ståhls et al, 2015; Tabell et al, 2019; van Nieukerken et al, 2012; Wikström et al, 2020; Wilson et al, 2011), phylogenetics (Heikkilä et al, 2014; Kaila et al, 2020; Karsholt et al, 2013), faunistics (Korpelainen & Pietiläinen, 2017; Paukkunen & Kozlov, 2015), biogeography (Huemer et al, 2014, 2018; Mutanen, Hausmann, et al, 2012; Salmela, 2012), methodology (Kekkonen et al, 2015; Korpelainen & Pietiläinen, 2...…”