DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia

Mollie-Rosae Slater-Baker; Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries; Katherine J. Oestmann; Olivia G. Portmann; Tiahni M. Bament; Andy G. Howe; Michelle T. Guzik; Tessa M. Bradford; Alana R. McClelland; Alice Woodward; Sylvia Clarke; Nathan Ducker; José Fernández-Triana

doi:10.3897/zookeys.1227.130467

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DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia

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DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia

Mollie-Rosae Slater-Baker, Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries, Katherine J. Oestmann, Olivia G. Portmann, Tiahni M. Bament, Andy G. Howe, Michelle T. Guzik, Tessa M. Bradford, Alana R. McClelland, Alice Woodward, …

ZooKeys, Vol.1227(1227), pp.1-128

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1227.130467

PMCID: PMC11836623

PMID: 39981057

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Abstract

insect investigators

microgastrines

parasitoid wasps

Microgastrinae is a megadiverse subfamily of wasps in the family Braconidae. As parasitoids of caterpillars, members of the subfamily play important roles in regulating native caterpillar populations, and several species are used commercially as biological control agents. The genus Apanteles comprises a large portion of total microgastrine diversity, however it has not been studied in Australia for more than 30 years, with only nine described species previously known from the continent. We explore the diversity and systematics of Apanteles in Australia, using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and Wingless (wg) DNA barcodes from more than 400 Australian Apanteles specimens. Using molecular species delimitation in combination with reduced morphological diagnoses, at least 48 distinct molecular lineages of Apanteles are confirmed in Australia, and 34 new species are formally described, all authored by Slater-Baker, Fagan-Jeffries, Fernández-Triana, Portmann & Oestmann: A. adustus, A. aeternus, A. alatomicans, A. allapsus, A. amicalis, A. apollo, A. apricus, A. artemis, A. aurantius, A. auroralis, A. banrock, A. breviflagellarius, A. brockhedgesi, A. cuprum, A. darthvaderi, A. doreenwatlerae, A. ethanbeaveri, A. fenestrinus, A. ferripulvis, A. focusalis, A. hades, A. insulanus, A. kelpiellus, A. lamingtonensis, A. ligdus, A. magicus, A. margaritarius, A. pellucidus, A. phantasmatus, A. pharusalis, A. ramsaris, A. rufiterra, A. sinusulus, and A. translucentis.

Details

Title: DNA barcoding, integrative taxonomy, citizen science, and Bush Blitz surveys combine to reveal 34 new species of Apanteles (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) in Australia
Authors: Mollie-Rosae Slater-Baker - The University of Adelaide
Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries (Corresponding Author) - The University of Adelaide
Katherine J. Oestmann - The University of Adelaide
Olivia G. Portmann - The University of Adelaide
Tiahni M. Bament - The University of Adelaide
Andy G. Howe - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Forest Industries Research Centre
Michelle T. Guzik - The University of Adelaide
Tessa M. Bradford - The University of Adelaide
Alana R. McClelland - The University of Adelaide
Alice Woodward - Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board (Australia)
Sylvia Clarke - Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board (Australia)
Nathan Ducker - Western Australian Gould League (Australia)
José Fernández-Triana - Canadian National Collection of Insects (Canada)
Publication details: ZooKeys, Vol.1227(1227), pp.1-128
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1227.130467
ISSN: 1313-2970
PMID: 39981057; PMC11836623
Copyright note: © 2025 Mollie-Rosae Slater-Baker, Erinn P. Fagan-Jeffries, Katherine J. Oestmann, Olivia G. Portmann, Tiahni M. Bament, Andy G. Howe, Michelle T. Guzik, Tessa M. Bradford, Alana R. McClelland, Alice Woodward, Sylvia Clarke, Nathan Ducker, José Fernández-Triana. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Data Availability: All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.
Grant note: This work was supported by several grants: 2021 Biology Society of South Australia & Nature Conservation Society of SA Inc. Conservation Biology Grant awarded to MRSB; Bush Blitz Tactical Taxonomy Grant awarded to MRSB and EPFJ (DNP-BCK-2122-021); and an ABRS NTGRP to EFJ (NTRGI000021).
Organisation Unit: Forest Industries Research Centre; Forest Research Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991103735502621
Output Type: Journal article

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