Research Article |
Corresponding author: Amelie Höcherl ( amelie.hoecherl@gmail.com ) Academic editor: Erinn Fagan-Jeffries
© 2024 Amelie Höcherl, Mark R. Shaw, Caroline Boudreault, Dominik Rabl, Gerhard Haszprunar, Michael J. Raupach, Stefan Schmidt, Viktor Baranov, José Fernández-Triana.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication.
Citation:
Höcherl A, Shaw MR, Boudreault C, Rabl D, Haszprunar G, Raupach MJ, Schmidt S, Baranov V, Fernández-Triana J (2024) Scratching the tip of the iceberg: integrative taxonomy reveals 30 new species records of Microgastrinae (Braconidae) parasitoid wasps for Germany, including new Holarctic distributions. ZooKeys 1188: 305-386. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1188.112516
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Substantial parts of the European and German insect fauna still remain largely unexplored, the so-called “dark taxa”. In particular, midges (Diptera) and parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) are abundant and species-rich throughout Europe, yet are often neglected in biodiversity research. One such dark taxon is Microgastrinae wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a group of parasitoids of lepidopteran caterpillars with 252 species reported in Germany so far. As part of the German Barcode of Life Project GBOL III: Dark Taxa, reverse DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomic approaches were used to shed some light on the German Fauna of Microgastrinae wasps. In our workflow, DNA barcoding was used for molecular clustering of our specimens in a first step, morphological examination of the voucher specimens in a second step, and host data compared in a third step. Here, 30 species are reported for the first time in Germany, adding more than 10% to the known German fauna. Information for four species is provided in a new Holarctic context, reporting them for the Nearctic or, respectively, Palaearctic region, and 26 additional country records are added from sequenced material available in the collections accessible to us. Molecular clusters that show signs of discrepancies are discussed. Results show that we are just scratching the tip of the iceberg of the unexplored Microgastrinae diversity in Germany.
Dark taxa, DNA barcoding, faunistics, host-parasitoid associations, morphology, parasitoid biology
With approximately 105,000 insect species documented (
However, substantial parts of the German insect fauna remain largely unexplored: the so-called “dark taxa” (
As part of the German Barcode of Life Initiative, GBOL III: Dark Taxa project, we aim to change this situation by applying a reverse DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomic approach. In contrast to traditional DNA barcoding workflows, we first performed molecular analyses, tested these results via morphological comparison in a second step, and compared available host data in a third step. Our molecular work relies on DNA barcoding (
In the last two decades, DNA barcoding and integrative taxonomy have revolutionised the study of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasps (e.g.,
Specimens were collected in southern Germany (Fig.
We manually size-fractioned Malaise trap bulk samples by sieving and then sorted into first-glance morphotypes, of which subsamples were chosen for sequencing. We used legs as tissue samples, depending on size of the specimen one to three legs. COI-sequencing was done at the CCDB (Canadian Centre for DNA Barcoding) using their at-the-time standard sequencing protocols and primers, which can be reviewed for each sequence in the BOLD database (www.boldsystems.org). Sequences were analysed and clustered using the BOLD workbench and database (
We chemically dried our voucher specimens from Germany using a modified Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) protocol (
We checked original descriptions for collecting any host information related to type material. The supposed host data compiled by literature abstraction, such as in the database Taxapad 2016 (
New information is marked by an asterisk (*). All original descriptions of the species we report here are cited in the References section. Specimens were photographed using a Keyence VHX-6000 digital microscope and panorama stacks were computed using the built-in software of the microscope. Subsequent processing and construction of image plates and figures was done using Photoshop and Inkscape. Maps were done using QGIS and Inkscape. Voucher codes that are referred to in the notes and material examined sections refer to the “SampleID” in BOLD, more information about these specimens can be retrieved from the supplementary material or from BOLD. We have, however, added MS, MRS, or MRS_JFT voucher codes for barcoded specimens housed in
Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 27.ix.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
AFR, AUS, NEA, NEO, OTL, PAL.
AFR- Mauritius, Réunion; AUS- Hawaiian Islands, New Zealand; NEA- Canada (BC), United States (GA, NC, OH, SC); NEO- Argentina, Brazil (SP); OTL- China (FJ, GD, GX, GZ, HI, HN, JX, TW, ZJ), India, Pakistan; PAL- Armenia, Bulgaria, France, Greece, Germany*, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Japan, Malta, Romania, Russia (PRI), Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:AAG1400.
Pyralidae: type reared from Galleria mellonella (Linnaeus, 1758) (
Specimens in BIN BOLD:AAG1400 morphologically identified as Apanteles galleriae were reared from both Galleria mellonella (CNCHYM45392=MRS_JFT 0107 ex. beehive with that species) and Achroia grisella (MRS_JFT0380). Additional host species recorded for non-type specimens are based on literature (e.g.,
Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 16.viii.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Azerbaijan, Germany*, Hungary, Iran, Korea, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia (NC, S), Turkey, Ukraine*.
BIN: BOLD:AAH1340.
Host of type unknown (
The German specimens were compared with a specimen from Ukraine (CNCHYM 00136=CNC280641) which had been identified by Kotenko in 1981 and donated to the
Czech Republic: South Moravia, Obora Soutok, Lanzhot, 48.69, 16.945, 165 m, ex. Sterrhopterix fusca, 09.v.2014, leg. P. Drozd, BC-
PAL.
PAL- Czech Republic*, Germany*, Lithuania, Russia (AD, PRI).
BIN: BOLD:ACU3996.
Host of type unknown; also Psychidae*: Sterrhopterix fusca* (Haworth, 1809).
This species is morphologically very distinct from all other Palaearctic species of Choeras and can be identified by the combination of the following characters: T1 strongly narrowing; ovipositor sheaths short, ~ ½ length of metatibia; propodeum smooth and shiny; T1 and T2 smooth, with only slight wrinkles on the posterior half of T1. Our German specimens keyed out as Choeras ciscaucasicus in all keys that we used (
Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Gaggenau, Michelbach, 48.821, 8.388, 340 m, Malaise trap, 9.vii.2011, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Belarus, Germany*, Moldova*, Russia (NC, C), Sweden*, Ukraine.
BIN: BOLD:AAU6216.
Unknown.
The German specimens were compared with a specimen from Moldova (CNCHYM 00280) which had been identified by Kotenko in 1986 and donated to the
Austria: Hinterreit, Gemeinde Großgmain, 47.75, 12.946, 493 m, ex. Hemaris fuciformis, 22.vi.2021, leg. W. Langer,
PAL.
PAL: Austria*, Germany*, Netherlands*, United Kingdom.
BIN: partially BOLD:AAA7143.
Sphingidae: type reared from Hemaris fuciformis (Linnaeus, 1758); also Hemaris tityus* (Linnaeus, 1758).
The German specimens were identified using
Belgium: Luxembourg, Pisserotte, ex. Boloria eunomia, vi.2004, leg. J. Choutt, individuals from separate gregarious broods, MS 106; MS 107; MS 108; Finland: Janakkala, ex. Boloria eunomia, 14.vi.1992, leg. M. R. Shaw, MRS-JFT 0655; MRS-JFT 0656; France: Pyrénées-Orientales, Porte, ex. Boloria eunomia, 30.v.2001, leg. T. Lafranchis, MRS_JFT 0118; Germany: Bavaria: Rhön, Hausen, Kleines Moor, 50.487, 10.039, 890 m, Malaise trap, 11.vii.2018, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Belgium, Finland*, France*, Germany*.
BIN: BOLD:AAV9098.
Nymphalidae: type reared from Boloria eunomia (Esper, 1800).
Our specimen from Germany matches the original description and clusters very closely (max. p-dist 0.34%) with six specimens (MRS-JFT 0655, MRS-JFT 0656, MS 106, MS 107, MS 108, MRS_JFT0118) reared from Boloria eunomia, the host of the holotype (
Germany: Bavaria: Oberstdorf, Oytal, rubble cone east of Gleitweg, 47.389, 10.348, 1200 m, Malaise trap, 16.vi.2014, leg. D. Doczkal, S. Schmidt, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Bulgaria, Germany*, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Korea, Moldova, Russia (KDA, PRI), Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.
BIN: BOLD:AAV9096.
Host of type unknown; also Lycaenidae: Callophrys avis Chapman, 1909, Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus, 1758), Glaucopsyche melanops (Boisduval, 1828), Leptotes pirithous* (Linnaeus, 1767), Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782), Tomares ballus (Fabricius, 1787).
German specimens were compared with the description and keys in
Austria: Lower Austria, Raglitz, ex. Phragmatobia fuliginosa, 06.viii.2006, leg. J. Connell, MS 055; Germany: Bavaria: Balderschwang, Leiterberg, 47.489, 10.088, 1600 m, Malaise trap, 21.ix.2017, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL: Austria*, Germany*, Kazakhstan, Russia (VOR).
BIN: partially BOLD:AAA7143.
Host of (para-)type Diaphora mendica (Clerck, 1759); also Erebidae: Phragmatobia fuliginosa* (Linnaeus, 1758).
Specimens were compared with the information provided in
Finland: Uusimaa: Helsinki, Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden, 60.175700, 24.944700, Malaise trap, 29.viii-5.ix.2018, leg. J. Paukkunen, CNC1182785; France: Var, Callas, ex. Satyrium w-album, 5.v.2015, leg. P. Kan, B. Kan, MRS-JFT 0604; Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Luderbusch, 48.913, 8.332, 117 m, Malaise trap, 26.vii.2020, leg. D. Doczkal, K. Grabow,
PAL.
PAL- Finland*, France, Germany*, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Italy, Mongolia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Kingdom.
BIN: partially BOLD:AAA6099.
Pieridae: type reared from Gonepteryx rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758); also Lycaenidae: Satyrium w-album (Knoch, 1782).
Barcoding cluster BIN BOLD:AAA6099 currently includes 155 sequences which have been assigned seven species names: Cotesia risilis, C. saltatoria (+ C. cf. saltatoria), C. amesis, C. ancilla, C. cyaniridis, C. kazak, and C. flaviconchae. The barcoding cluster also includes a large number of specimens from the Nearctic currently labelled as “Cotesia jft09”. Many of these species names are represented by reared material and, based on morphology and biology, clearly represent different species. They are all parasitoids of Pieridae and Lycaenidae with the exception of C. kazak (which might have been a misidentification) and possibly C. flaviconchae.
We performed a Haplotype Network analysis including most sequences in this BIN (excluding specimens CNCHYM00406 (C. cyaniridis) and DQ538819 (C. flaviconchae) due to the sequences being significantly shorter than the other available sequences and with incomplete collection data). Our German material clusters in eight different haplotypes (Fig.
TCS haplotype network of BIN BOLD:AAA6099, sequence length for analysis: 504 bp. The haplotypes morphologically identified as Cotesia risilis as part of this project are marked by a box. Each hatch mark in the network represents a single mutational change; small black dots at nodes indicate missing haplotypes. The diameter of the circles is proportional to the number of haplotypes sampled and the countries are colour-coded. The aligned sequences and traits can be reviewed in Suppl. materials
Belgium: Luxembourg: Libin, ex. Boloria selene, 01.vi.2008, leg. J. Choutt, MRS-Cot-cal [paratype]; Germany: Bavaria: Lkr. Kelheim, Siegenburg, Bombodrom, 48.755, 11.791, 411 m, Malaise trap, 8.ix.2017, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Belgium, Finland, Germany*, Sweden.
BIN: partially BOLD:AAA7143.
Nymphalidae: type reared from Boloria selene (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).
Our sequences of this species were formerly part of BIN BOLD:AAA9381 and merged into BOLD:AAA7143 in February 2023. This BIN includes many clearly different species of Cotesia; see discussion below about this “megaBIN”. ASAP clustering resolves this species as a single cluster, including a specimen reared from Boloria selene (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) and part of the type series (MRS-Cot-cal=MS 075). Our German specimen matches the barcode of the paratype 100% and also matches the species morphologically, based on
Germany: Bavaria: Plattling, Isarmündung, renat. gravel bar, 48.781, 12.906, 317 m, Malaise trap, 30.vi.2021, leg. GBOL3, R. Albrecht,
PAL.
PAL: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Germany*, Netherlands, Poland*, Russia (NC), United Kingdom.
BIN: partially BOLD:ACO3220.
Host of type unknown; also Erebidae: Rivula sericealis (Scopoli, 1763).
German specimens were identified using the keys of
Georgia: Kakheti: Lagodekhi reserve, Mt Kudigora, 41.855850, 46.292733, 847 m, Malaise trap, 25.viii-4.ix.2014, leg. G. Japoshvili, CNC506818; Germany: Bavaria: Bad Windsheim, Rappenau, 49.482, 10.468, 382 m, canopy fogging, 9.vii.2020, leg. B. Leroy,
PAL.
PAL- Georgia*, Germany*, Hungary, Moldova, Netherlands*, Russia (S), Ukraine, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:AEJ7518.
Bucculatricidae: type reared from Bucculatrix ulmella Zeller, 1848.
German specimens were identified using the keys and information provided in
Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 13.ix.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Bulgaria, Germany*, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Russia (S), Spain, Ukraine*.
BIN: BOLD:AAZ9570.
Host of type unknown.
The sequences of our German specimens match that of a specimen from Ukraine, identified by Kotenko and stored in the
Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 19.vii.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Finland, Germany*, Hungary, Poland, Russia (NW), Sweden, Turkey.
BIN: BOLD:ACQ9527.
Host of type unknown. Other host associations in need of verification.
German specimens were compared with the original description (
Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador: 2 miles west of Gambo, 48.789478, -54.261043, 19.vi.1975, leg. A. G. Raske, J. D. Rowe, ex. Coleophora serratella, CNCHYM 01020; Gambo, 48.786481, -54.215467, 27.vii.1985, CNCHYM 01019; Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Luderbusch, 48.912, 8.332, 112 m, Malaise trap, 24.v.2020, leg. D. Doczkal, K. Grabow,
NEA, PAL.
NEA: Canada (NL); PAL: Azerbaijan, Finland, Germany*, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Russia (KHA, VOR, YAR), Slovakia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkey, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan.
Coleophoridae: type reared from Coleophora serratella (Linnaeus, 1761); also possibly Coleophora ? ibipennella Zeller, 1849; Coleophora ? lusciniaepennella (Treitschke, 1833); Coleophora ? obducta (Meyrick, 1931); Coleophora ? tadzhikiella Danilevsky, 1955.
Several Canadian (CNCHYM 01019, CNCHYM 01020) and European specimens at the
Czech Republic: South Moravia: Obora Soutok, Lanžhot, 48.69, 16.945, 165 m, 14.v.2013, leg. P. Drozd, BC-
NEA, OTL, PAL.
NEA: USA (PA), OTL: India, PAL: Czech Republic*, Germany*, Japan*.
Erebidae: type reared from Lymantria obfuscata (Marsh, 1979); also Lymantria dispar (Linnaeus, 1758); Geometridae*: Operophtera brumata* (Linnaeus, 1758).
We record G. indiensis for the first time in the Palaearctic region, based on specimens from Germany, Japan and Czech Republic. This species is morphologically similar, especially in habitus, to several Glyptapanteles species. Our identification was therefore based on a careful study (detailed below) which included a combination of morphology (see Figs
Neighbour-joining topology of the COI barcoding region of Glyptapanteles indiensis, G. popovi and morphologically similar species, based on Kimura 2-parameter distances. Numbers next to nodes represent non-parametric bootstrap values > 90% (1,000 replicates). The aligned sequences and N-J topology can be reviewed in Suppl. materials
Other species of Glyptapanteles parasitising Lymantria dispar are Glyptapanteles liparidis (BOLD:AAV2164, including several reared specimens from this host such as WAM 0445=MRS_JFT 0028, BC-
The known hosts of G. mygdonia include Operophtera brumata and the multiple hosts recorded for G. vitripennis in the literature (many of them likely incorrect) include both O. brumata and L. dispar. The many available sequences of G. mygdonia (BOLD:AAU5027) and G. vitripennis (BOLD:AAA7148) are also very distinctive and far apart from those of indiensis [The sequences of G. vitripennis and G. liparidis are relatively very close (2.13% p-distance); furthermore, G. vitripennis seems to include a complex of species that remains unresolved, but that is beyond the scope of the present paper]. There are also morphological differences between these species and G. indiensis (
The last species we compared to G. indiensis was G. popovi, which is much less understood. Until now, G. popovi was only known from Turkey and Turkmenistan (
Armenia: [translated and transcribed from Russian] Khosrov Forest State Reserve, Vediiskii reservoir sector (of reserve), montane forest, 30.vi.1981, CNCHYM 01335; Germany: Bavaria: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Zugspitze, Platt, 47.406, 11.009, 1965 m, Malaise trap, 11.ix.2018, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Armenia*, Germany*, Turkey, Turkmenistan.
BIN: BOLD:AEJ4298.
Host unknown.
Our specimens were identified morphologically using keys and information in
Germany: Bavaria: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Zugspitze, Platt, 47.407, 11.008, 2005 m, Malaise trap, 2.viii.2018, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Austria, Germany*, Hungary, Korea, Russia (E, NC), Slovakia, Switzerland, Tajikistan, former Yugoslavia.
BIN: BOLD:AEO8223.
Host unknown.
The German specimen was identified by comparison with the keys and details from the works of
Germany: Bavaria: Lkr. Kelheim Siegenburg, Bombodrom, 48.755, 11.791, 411 m, Malaise trap, 26.v.2017, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Germany*, Hungary, Russia (C).
BIN: BOLD:AEJ7519.
Host unknown.
The German specimen was identified by comparison with the keys of
Germany: Bavaria: Bad Tölz, forest close to Isarstausee, 47.77, 11.547, 652 m, Malaise trap, 16.vii.2019, leg. J. Müller,
PAL.
PAL- Germany*, Sweden*, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:AAH1039.
Tortricidae: type reared from Argyroploce arbutella (Linnaeus, 1758); also Epinotia nemorivaga (Tengström, 1848), Stictea mygindiana (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775).
German specimens were identified by comparison with the original description and specimens from that paper (
Germany: Bavaria: Allgäu, Oberstdorf, Oytal Magerweide östlich Oytalhaus, 47.388, 10.344, 1056 m, 1.vi.2014, leg. D. Doczkal, S. Schmidt, J. Voith, BC-
PAL.
PAL- Austria, China (JL), Czech Republic, Germany*, Hungary, Russia (C, PR), Slovakia, Switzerland.
BIN: BOLD:ACN6851.
Host of type unknown. Other host associations in need of verification.
The German specimens were identified by comparison with the original description (
Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Luderbusch, 48.912, 8.332, 114 m, Malaise trap, 12.iv.2020, leg. D. Doczkal, K. Grabow,
PAL.
PAL- Germany*, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:ACR4142.
Depressariidae: type reared from Agonopterix nervosa (Haworth, 1811); also Agonopterix umbellana (Fabricius, 1794).
This species was very recently described from Britain (
Austria: Lower Austria: Opponitz, ex. Patania ruralis, vi.2007, leg. J. Connell, MRS_JFT0934; Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 13.ix.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL- Austria*, Belgium, France, Germany*, Greece, Serbia*, Spain*, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:ABY6385.
Choerutidae: type reared from Anthophila fabriciana (Linnaeus, 1767); also Prochoreutis myllerana (Fabricius, 1794); Nymphalidae: Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758), Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758); Vanessa cardui* (Linnaeus, 1758); Pyralidae: Patania ruralis (Scopoli, 1763).
German specimens were identified by comparing with the information in the original description (
TCS haplotype network of BIN BOLD:ABY6385, sequence length for analysis: 392 bp to accommodate MRS_JFT0342=MARKB109-21 ex. Anthophila fabriciana from the United Kingdom. The haplotypes morphologically identified as Microgaster nixalebion as part of this project are marked by a grey background. Each hatch mark in the network represents a single mutational change; small black dots at nodes indicate missing haplotypes. The diameter of the circles is proportional to the number of haplotypes sampled (see legend). The aligned sequences and traits can be reviewed in Suppl. materials
Germany: Bavaria: Rhön Hausen, Eisgraben, basalt block heap at forest edge, 50.503, 10.09, 735 m, Malaise trap, 23.vii.2018, leg. D. Doczkal,
NEA, PAL.
NEA: Canada (MB); PAL: Germany*, United Kingdom.
Momphidae: type reared from Mompha raschkiella (Zeller, 1839).
German specimens were identified by comparing to the original description (
TCS haplotype network of BIN BOLD:AAC9130, the haplotypes morphologically identified as Microgaster raschkiellae as part of this project are in cluster A and marked by a grey background. Each hatch mark in the network represents a single mutational change; small black dots at nodes indicate missing haplotypes. The diameter of the circles is proportional to the number of haplotypes sampled (see legend). The aligned sequences and traits can be reviewed in Suppl. materials
Canada: Newfoundland and Labrador: Saglek, Torngat Mountains NP, Base Camp south of park, 58.451, -62.798, 5 m, 01.viii.2014, leg. D. Whitaker, BIOUG18647-F03; Nunavut: Ellesmere Island, Hazen Camp, 81.816667, -71.300000, [date unknown, leg. unknown], CNC497575; Germany: Bavaria: Atzmannsberg, Hessenreuther and Atzmannsberger Forst, 49.825, 11.963, 550 m, Malaise trap, 11.vii.2019, leg. J. Müller,
NEA, PAL.
NEA- Canada (NL*, NU), Greenland; PAL- Germany*, Iceland.
BIN: BOLD:ACA4555.
Host of type unknown; also Noctuidae.
German specimens were identified by comparison with many specimens at the
Germany: Bavaria: Ammergebirge Halblech, Im Laich, gravel bar, 47.606, 10.841, 904 m, Malaise trap, 16.ix.2016, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
NEA, PAL.
NEA- Canada (AB, MB, NB, NL, NS, ON, PE, QC), United States (CA, DC, IA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, WI); PAL*- Germany*.
BIN: BOLD:AAB8493.
Noctuidae: type reared from Euxoa sp.; also Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel, 1766), Euxoa ochrogaster (Guenée, 1852), ?Pseudohermonassa bicarnea (Guenée, 1852).
German specimens were identified by comparison with many specimens in the
Czech Republic: South Moravia: Obora Soutok, Lanžhot, 48.69, 16.945, 165 m, ex. Orthosia cruda, 14.v.2013, leg. P. Drozd, BC-
PAL.
PAL- Czech Republic*, Germany*, Hungary, Russia (C, NW), Slovakia, Turkey, United Kingdom.
BINs: BOLD:ABV9098, BOLD:AEK2564.
Host of type unknown; also Noctuidae: Cosmia trapezina (Linnaeus, 1758), Conistra vaccinii (Linnaeus, 1761), Eupsilia transversa (Hufnagel, 1766), Orthosia cruda (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775), Orthosia cerasi (Fabricius, 1775), Rileyiana fovea (Treitschke, 1825).
The morphology of our material (see Fig.
Canada: New Brunswick: Fredericton, 45.963487, -66.6442, 9.vii.1970, leg. C. M. Yoshimoto, CNCHYM 03145 [paratype]; Germany: Bavaria: Bayreuth, Gemein, Trebgast, 49.989, 11.603, 348 m, Malaise trap, 11.vii.2019, leg. J. Müller,
AUS, NEA, NEO, PAL.
AUS: Hawaiian Islands; NEA: Canada (AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, QC, SK), USA (AK, AZ, AR, CA, CT, DC, FL, IL, IA, KA, LA, MO, NJ, NY, OR, VA); NEO: Bermuda, Peru; PAL: Finland, Germany*.
BIN: BOLD:AAA9172.
Types reared from Bedellia sp. At least 21 host species within seven families of Lepidoptera have been recorded as hosts of this wasp species (
We compared our specimens to a paratype and many other Nearctic specimens stored at the
France: Jura, Ounans, ex. Thyatira batis, 25.vii.2013, leg. M. R. Shaw, MRS_JFT0355; Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 30.viii.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
PAL.
PAL: France, Germany*, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Poland*, Russia (ZAB, SPE), Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:AEI1558.
Geometridae: Type reared from Abraxas grossulariata (Linnaeus, 1758); also Drepanidae*: Thyatira batis* (Linnaeus, 1758).
The German specimens were identified based on information from the original description (
Germany: Bavaria: Bayernwald National Park, Schöberg, ex. ?Eilema depressa, 16.vi.2015, leg. M. R. Shaw, MRS-JFT 0582; Berchtesgaden National Park, Königssee, Rinnkendlsteig, 47.555, 12.965, 750 m, Malaise trap, 21.viii.2017, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
PAL.
PAL- Germany*, Sweden*, Switzerland.
BIN: BOLD:ADE2589.
Host of type unknown. Other host associations in need of verification.
The non-reared German specimen was identified as Rasivalva desueta by comparing it with the detailed original description (
Canada: British Columbia: Winfield, 50.061, -119.431, [450m,] ex. Operophtera bruceata, 17.v.2001, leg. K. Deglow, CNCHYM 00330; CNCHYM 00331; Prince Edward Island: Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island National Park, 46.431111, -63.216111, ex. Rheumaptera hastata, 10.viii.1940, leg. G.S. Walley, CNC1447813; Yukon: Top of the World Highway km 82, 64.09, -140.951, 19.vii.2006, leg. H. Goulet, C. Boudreault, HYM00001784; Finland: Lapland: Utsjoki, Kevo, ex. Operophtera brumata, 28.vi.2010, leg. K. Ruohomaki, MRS 0049; MRS_JFT0049; Utsjoki, Vetsikko, ex. Operophtera brumata, 28.vi.2010, leg. K. Ruohomaki, MRS 0050; Germany: Bavaria; St. Oswald, National Park Bayerischer Wald, 48.951, 13.422, 842 m, Malaise trap, 25.vii.2012, leg. G. Sellmayer, BIOUG07768-G08; Norway: Rogaland, Hana, ex. Operophtera brumata, 28.vi.2010, leg. K. Ruohomaki, MRS 0048; United Kingdom: Scotland: Argyll, Scotnish Farm, ex. Rheumaptera hastata, 25.iv.1990, leg. K. P. Bland, CNCHYM49288.
NEA, PAL.
NEA*- Canada* (BC, PE, YT); PAL- Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway*, Sweden, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:ACZ1254.
Geometridae: type reared from Rheumaptera hastata (Linnaeus, 1758); also Operophtera bruceata* (Hulst, 1886), Operophtera brumata* (Linnaeus, 1758).
Barcoding cluster BOLD:ACZ1254 includes sequences of specimens from Finland, Germany, Norway, United Kingdom, and Canada. Specimens in this cluster from both sides of the Atlantic were reared from Rheumaptera hastata (the host of the holotype): from the United Kingdom (CNCHYM49288=MRS_JFT 0154) and from Canada (CNC1447813). Morphological examination resulted in some differences in leg colouration between Canadian and European specimens available to us (see Figs
Austria: Lower Austria, Raglitz, ex. Aphantopus hyperantus, 04.v.2011, leg. J. Connell, MRS 0054; Germany: Bavaria: Allgäu, Oberstdorf, Oytal, Schochen, alpine meadow, 47.392, 10.37, 1930 m, 6.viii.2014, leg. D. Doczkal, S. Schmidt, J. Voith, BC-
PAL.
PAL- Austria*, Germany, Montenegro, Serbia, United Kingdom.
BIN: BOLD:AAV9103.
Host of type unknown; also Nymphalidae: Satyrinae*: Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767), Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758); Aphantopus hyperantus* (Linnaeus, 1758).
This species was previously recorded from Germany (
Canada: Ontario: Ottawa, Central Experimental Farm, DBM Field Cage Trials, 45.389959, -75.711949, 23.vi.2010, leg. P. Mason, S. Girardoz, CNCHYM 01692; CNCHYM 01693; CNCHYM 01694; CYPRUS: Amathus, 21-iv-1966, leg. Mavromoustakis, CNCHYM 00892; FRANCE: Languedoc-Roussillon: Baillargues, Herault, 43.662, 4.014, 3-vi-1995, leg. P. Mason, CNCH1127; Bel Air; Herault, 43.639, 3.75, 5-vi-1995, leg. P. Mason, CNCH1126; Germany: Baden-Württemberg: Malsch, Hansjakobstr. 7, Urban Garden, 48.884, 8.32, 120 m, Malaise trap, 19.vii.2020, leg. D. Doczkal,
NEA, PAL.
NEA- Canada (AB, MB, ON); PAL- Afghanistan, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cyprus, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Russia (ZAB, KDA), Spain, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, former Yugoslavia.
BIN: BOLD:AAH1034, BOLD:AEV8838.
Host of type unknown; also Plutellidae: Plutella armoraciae Busck, 1912, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1758).
German specimens were identified based on the detailed species concept in
Canada: Prince Edward Island: Near Georgetown; Georgetown, 46.417, -62.667, 8 m, 31.vii.2005, leg. M. Sharkey, WMIC 0244; WMIC 0245; Germany: Bavaria: Berchtesgaden National Park, Königssee, Rinnkendlsteig, 47.553, 12.964, 775 m, Malaise trap, 30.vii.2017, leg. D. Doczkal, J. Voith,
NEA, PAL.
NEA*- Canada* (PE); PAL- Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Mongolia, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Russia (SPE), Spain, Ukraine.
BIN: BOLD:AAA9548.
Host of type unknown.
This is not a new record for Germany, but morphological examination of German material and assignment of the species name to a barcoding cluster allow us to record the species in the Nearctic for the first time. The Canadian specimens were compared to the European material and all sequences in this barcoding cluster have a maximum pairwise-distance of just 0.15%. The host information for this species must be considered as mostly unreliable; based on a recent discussion (
Processing 5364 specimens in this reversive DNA barcoding approach combined with integrative taxonomy enabled us to gather many new distributions as well as much biological data in a relatively short time frame. We were able to report 30 species for Germany for the first time, four species as occurring in the Holarctic for the first time and, by also taking into account material already determined in
We used the framework of the BOLD workbench and database as it already includes more than 65,000 sequences of Microgastrinae worldwide (www.boldsystems.org, accessed on 20 Aug 2023) and has been used as a main molecular analysis tool in Microgastrinae taxonomy in the past (
We investigated BINs that had high within-BIN maximum p-distances (> 2.2%) (Ratnasingham and Hebert 2013) and BINs with low p-distances to their Nearest Neighbour (< 2.2%) (
BOLD:AAA7143 is an even more extreme case of BIN-sharing, it includes four species of Cotesia treated in this paper: C. coryphe, C. mendicae, C. selenevora, and C. subordinaria. When starting our analyses in 2022, each of these species was part of a separate BIN but merged into this “megaBIN” in early 2023. In Table
P-distances and member counts of the BINs treated in this paper, retrieved on 8 Aug 2023. Single asterisks (*) mark each species name that was matched to a BIN for the first time, Double asterisks (**) mark each species that was sequenced for the first time. A BIN in parentheses shows that the BIN represents more than one species and cannot be used for molecular identification of the species. A BIN in brackets shows the previous BIN before February 2023. If the minimum NN p-distance is < 2.2% or within BIN maximum p-distance > 2.2%, then the within-BIN max. p-distance and minimum NN-p-distance are in bold font.
Species names | BIN(s) | Members (BIN) | BIN-compliant members | within- BIN average p-dist | within-BIN max. p-dist | min. NN p-dist |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apanteles galleriae | BOLD:AAG1400 | 25 | 13 | 0.38% | 1.17% | 2.36% |
Apanteles kubensis | BOLD:AAH1340 | 7 | 5 | 0.14% | 0.32% | 5.61% |
Choeras ciscaucasicus* | BOLD:ACU3996 | 5 | 1 | 0.22% | 0.48% | 6.78% |
Choeras gnarus* | BOLD:AAU6216 | 41 | 12 | 0.08% | 0.52% | 2.23% |
Cotesia coryphe | (BOLD:AAA7143) [BOLD:ABY6805] | 1772 [25] | 859 [5] | 3.85% [0.16%] | 7.61% [0.71%] | 2.21% [1.50%] |
Cotesia eulipis | BOLD:ACZ1254 | 16 | 4 | 0.29% | 0.59% | 1.18% |
Cotesia eunomiae | BOLD:AAV9098 | 6 | 0 | 0.18% | 0.34% | 7.68% |
Cotesia inducta | BOLD:AAV9096 | 4 | 1 | 0.22% | 0.34% | 2.48% |
Cotesia mendicae | (BOLD:AAA7143) [BOLD:ABY8119] | 1772 [N/A] | 859 [N/A] | 3.85% [N/A] | 7.61% [N/A] | 2.21% [N/A] |
Cotesia risilis | (BOLD:AAA6099) | 182 | 105 | 1.25% | 2.87% | 1.12% |
Cotesia selenevora | (BOLD:AAA7143) [BOLD:AAA9381] | 1772 [23] | 859 [6] | 3.85% [0.62%] | 7.61% [2.84%] | 2.21% [1.40%] |
Cotesia subordinaria | (BOLD:AAA7143) [BOLD:ACO3220] | 1772 [5] | 859 [0] | 3.85% [0.07%] | 7.61% [0.19%] | 2.21% [1.44%] |
Cotesia tetrica | BOLD:AAV9103 | 25 | 17 | 0.29% | 0.66% | 2.84% |
Deuterixys plugarui** | BOLD:AEJ7518 | 9 | 0 | 0.54% | 0.96% | 5.83% |
Diolcogaster claritibia | BOLD:AAH1034 | 95 | 73 | 0.34% | 2.28% | 2.14% |
BOLD:AEV8838 | 16 | 8 | 0.66% | 2.64% | 2.14% | |
Dolichogenidea cerialis | BOLD:AAZ9570 | 8 | 5 | 0.28% | 0.49% | 1.28% |
Dolichogenidea cheles* | BOLD:ACQ9527 | 10 | 5 | 0.57% | 1.42% | 3.33% |
Dolichogenidea coleophorae** | BOLD:AEO8197 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 2.72% |
Glyptapanteles indiensis | BOLD:ABY2372 | 16 | 8 | 0.31% | 0.81% | 3.52% |
Glyptapanteles popovi | BOLD:AEJ4298 | 7 | 0 | 0.23% | 0.64% | 3.25% |
Illidops cloelia** | BOLD:AEO8223 | 2 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 4.81% |
Illidops splendidus** | BOLD:AEJ7519 | 1 | 0 | N/A | N/A | 6.58% |
Microgaster arctostaphylica | BOLD:AAH1039 | 12 | 7 | 0.93% | 2.25% | 2.68% |
Microgaster caris | BOLD:ACN6851 | 66 | 4 | 0.17% | 0.72% | 1.60% |
Microgaster nervosae | BOLD:ACR4142 | 11 | 3 | 0.35% | 0.82% | 2.72% |
Microgaster nixalebion | BOLD:ABY6385 | 62 | 12 | 0.20% | 1.48% | 0.97% |
Microgaster procera* | BOLD:AAA9548 | 8 | 3 | 0.04% | 0.16% | 5.33% |
Microgaster raschkiellae | BOLD:AAC9130 | 36 | 25 | 0.91% | 2.26% | 1.93% |
Microplitis coactus | BOLD:ACA4555 | 6 | 4 | 0.58% | 0.96% | 3.57% |
Microplitis kewleyi | BOLD:AAB8493 | 127 | 53 | 0.03% | 0.80% | 5.77% |
Microplitis naenia | BOLD:ABV9098 | 18 | 17 | 0.35% | 1.28% | 1.70% |
BOLD:AEK2564 | 9 | 2 | 0.36% | 0.64% | 1.70% | |
Pholetesor bedelliae | BOLD:AAA9172 | 74 | 55 | 0.46% | 1.62% | 3.29% |
Protapanteles endemus* | BOLD:AEI1558 | 2 | 1 | 0.17% | 0.17% | 7.64% |
Rasivalva desueta* | BOLD:ADE2589 | 4 | 2 | 0.08% | 0.17% | 3.04% |
Overall, a more general observation from discussing integrative species concepts in our dataset is that the distances between barcoding clusters can vary substantially between genera. We were able to observe several cases of lumping (or BIN-sharing) in Cotesia with p-distances of ~ 1.0–1.5% between morphologically and biologically well-established species. We had to exclude some species from this paper because the situation turned out to be more complex than previously expected (e.g., Cotesia euchloevora Shaw, 2020 and Cotesia pilicornis (Thomson, 1895); see discussion of these two species in
So far, barcoding has worked well for the majority of Microgastrinae species and has been an essential tool in advancing the study of Microgastrinae diversity (
Fig.
Neighbour-joining topology of the barcoding region of our dataset of the analysed species based on Kimura 2-parameter distances. Triangles show the relative number of individuals sampled (height) and sequence divergence (width). Pale blue colouration indicates species associated with BINs that have a maximum within-BIN distance > 2.2%. Dark blue colouration indicates species associated with BINs that have a higher within-BIN p-distance compared to NN p-distance. Orange colouration indicates species maximum intraspecific distances > 2.2% (cases of “BIN-sharing”). Numbers next to nodes represent non-parametric bootstrap values > 90% (1,000 replicates). Sequences shorter than 400 bp were excluded from this analysis. The aligned sequences and N-J topology can be reviewed in Suppl. materials
The known distribution in Europe of some species is significantly expanded: Choeras ciscaucasicus was previously only known from Russia and Lithuania; in this case the new record from Germany expands this species’ range to the western part of Europe. Microgaster arctostaphylica and Microgaster nervosae, two recently described species (
A main result of this study is that four species were recorded for the first time for the Palaearctic (Glyptapanteles indiensis, Microplitis kewleyi) and Nearctic regions (Cotesia eulipis, Microgaster procera). According to the supplementary material of the world checklist published in 2020, only 5% (56) of the 1,178 Holarctic species of Microgastrinae are shared between the Nearctic and Palaearctic regions. Of these 56 species, 29 have an exclusively Holarctic distribution (
Distribution maps for the four newly recorded Holarctic species. Coloured countries/states show the known distribution as in
We would like to acknowledge Wolfgang Langer, Ingrid Langer, and Pavel Drozd for reared specimens, and Benjamin Leroy, Dieter Doczkal, Johannes Voith, Jörg Müller, and the Swedish Malaise Trap Project for numerous bulk samples. The GBOL3-Team at
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
No ethical statement was reported.
Funding was provided by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF) of Germany, through the project “German Barcode of Life III: Dark Taxa” (FKZ 16LI1901C).
Conceptualization: AH, JLFT. Data curation: AH, JLFT, MRS, CB, DR. Formal analysis: AH, JLFT, MRS. Funding acquisition: SS. Investigation: AH, JLFT, MRS. Project administration: AH. Resources: SS. Supervision: JLFT, GH, MJJR, SS. Visualization: AH, CB. Writing – original draft: AH, JLFT. Writing – review and editing: AH, JLFT, MRS, VAB, CB, MJJR, SS, GH.
Amelie Höcherl https://orcid.org/0009-0007-4211-7468
Mark R. Shaw https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6651-8801
Caroline Boudreault https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4511-2626
Dominik Rabl https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0613-7804
Michael J. Raupach https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8299-6697
Stefan Schmidt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5751-8706
Viktor Baranov https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1893-3215
José Fernández-Triana https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0425-0309
All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text or Supplementary Information.
Specimen Data Spreadsheet (BOLD) for DS-MCGNRECS
Data type: xlsx
Explanation note: This table includes all relevant data associated with specimens that are included in our BOLD dataset (341 specimens).
COI-Sequences for DS-MCGNRECS
Data type: fas
Explanation note: Includes all COI sequences used in our interative species concepts.
Alignment used for NJ-topology of DS-MCGNRECS
Data type: fasta
Explanation note: Includes the alignment and all sequences used for the NJ-topology in Fig.
NJ-topology of DS-MCGNRECS
Data type: nwk
Coordinates for Holarctic distribution maps
Data type: csv
Explanation note: Includes the coordinates used for the distribution maps in Fig.
Glyptapanteles indiensis and related species sequences
Data type: fasta
Explanation note: All sequences used for NJ-topology in Fig.
Glyptapanteles indiensis and related species NJ-topology
Data type: nwk
Explanation note: NJ-topology in Fig.
BOLD:AAA6099 sequences
Data type: nexus
Explanation note: Sequences in BIN BOLD:AAA6099 used for haplotype network in Fig.
BOLD:AAA6099 traits
Data type: txt
Explanation note: Amelie Höcherl Traits (countries) for BIN BOLD:AAA6099 used for haplotype network in Fig.
BOLD:ABY6385 sequences
Data type: nexus
Explanation note: Sequences in BOLD:ABY6385 used for haplotype network in Fig.
BOLD:ABY6385 traits
Data type: txt
Explanation note: Traits (hosts) for BIN BOLD:ABY6385 used for haplotype network in Fig.
BOLD:AAC9130 sequences
Data type: nexus
Explanation note: Sequences in BIN BOLD:AAC9130 used for haplotype network in Fig.
BOLD:AAC9130 traits
Data type: txt
Explanation note: Traits (hosts) for BIN BOLD:AAC9130 used for haplotype network in Fig.
ASAP partition 1 of BOLD:AAA7143
Data type: csv
Explanation note: Sequences downloaded 7th of august, 2023, ASAP score 3.99.
ASAP partition 2 of BOLD:AAA7143
Data type: csv
Explanation note: Sequences downloaded 7th of august, 2023, ASAP score 6.50.