Key to the New World genera and subgenera of Cenocoeliinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) and synopses of the genera and subgenera
Michael Sharkey1*
,
Kevin Pitz2
,
Kees van Achterberg3
1Hymenoptera Institute, 1339 La Loma Dr., Redlands, CA, 92373, USA.
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238, USA.
3Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
Key to the New World genera and subgenera of Cenocoeliinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) and synopses of the genera and subgenera
Key to the New World genera and subgenera of Cenocoeliinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea: Braconidae) and synopses of the genera and subgenera
Michael Sharkey1*
,
Kevin Pitz2
,
Kees van Achterberg3
1Hymenoptera Institute, 1339 La Loma Dr., Redlands, CA, 92373, USA.
2Department of Biological Sciences, University of Tennessee at Martin, Martin, TN 38238, USA.
3Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Postbus 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
* Corresponding author: [email protected]
Abstract
This is an updated overview of the New World (Western Hemisphere) members of Cenocoeliinae. It is a revision of the key by van Achterberg (1997) found in the manual of the New World genera and subgenera of Braconidae. It includes a key to the New World genera and a synopsis of each genus and subgenus. The synopses include the following sections: diagnosis, biology, diversity, distribution, publications, and notes. There are two genera in the New World and five worldwide. Capitonius Brullé and Foenomorpha Szépligeti are treated as junior synonyms of Cenocoelius and retained as subgenera.
van Achterberg. 1997. Subfamily Cenocoeliinae, pp.184-191. In: Wharton, R.A., Marsh, P.M. and Sharkey, M.J. (eds). Manual of the New World genera of Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Special Publication of the International Society of Hymenopterists, 439 pp.
Introduction
This treatment of the New World genera of Cenocoeliinae is part of a comprehensive effort to treat all New World genera of Braconidae. To confirm a subfamily identification the key by Sharkey et al. (2023) may be used. Readers using that key will be automatically directed here if they obtain an identification of Cenocoeliinae. The present work includes a key to the New World genera and a synopsis of each genus. The synopses include the following sections: diagnosis, biology, diversity, distribution, publications, and notes. Cenocoeliinae is a small and rather uniform group, with species 3-11 mm long. There are five recognized genera worldwide, but the subfamily is in dire need of a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis. There are two genera (Table 1) and 72 described species in the New World and approximately 91 worldwide (Yu et al., 2016). Species diversity is highest in the Neotropics with hundreds of undescribed species.
Overview of subfamily
Phylogeny
As part of a doctoral dissertation, Pitz (2006) conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily, but it remains unpublished. We set the generic limits used here based on his analysis.
Undoubtedly, there are morphologically definable monophyletic lineages within New World Cenocoeliinae, but evidence is lacking presently. Due to intermediates, about 7% of the New World species are difficult to place in either of the subgenera Cenocoelius Westwood or Capitonius Brullé, as there is not a known combination of character states that distinguish the two universally. Here we employ a conservative approach and treat Capitonius as a junior synonym of Cenocoelius and recognize Capitonius and Foenomorpha Szépligeti as subgenera. Aulacodes Cresson was found by Pitz (2006) to be a derived member of Capitonius. Van Achterberg (1994) revised the world genera, but this is now in need of updating.
Biology
The limited information on the biology of Cenocoeliinae is summarized by Shaw and Huddleston (1991). As far as known, all species are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of coleopteran larvae with an endophytic way of life. Most of the host records for Nearctic species are from Cerambycidae. Less commonly Buprestidae are reported as hosts and some Neotropical species have been reared from seed-eating Curculionidae (Saffer, 1977, 1982).
Common genera
Capitonius is common in the Neotropics, and often collected due to the abundance of large colourful species.
Distribution
Worldwide but especially diverse in the Neotropics.
Distinguishing features
The metasoma is attached high above the hind coxae, a rare character within the Braconidae. Several other braconids also have this character; the few that occur in the New World can be separated by having cyclostome mouthparts (a few Doryctinae), or lacking a second submarginal cell in the forewing (a few Urosigalphus Ashmead species).
Notes
Van Achterberg (1994) recognized two tribes; however, Ussurohelconini (Oriental, Southeast Palaearctic) is now placed in Helconini (Sharanowski et al. 2011). The Canadian, Mexican, and USA species of Cenocoelius are keyed in Saffer (1982). All images are by Sharkey and deposited in the Canadian National Collection (Ottawa, Canada) unless noted otherwise.
Checklist
Table 1. List of New World genera and subgenera of Cenocoeliinae
Cenocoelius Haliday, 1840
Cenocoelius (Capitonius) Brullé, 1846
Cenocoelius (Cenocoelius) Haliday, 1840
Identification key
Taxonomic treatments
Cenocoelius (Capitonius) Brullé, 1846 n. stat.
Diagnosis. Some species cannot be distinguished from members of subgenus Cenocoelius; however, the key above works in more than 90% of the cases.
Biology. There are no definitive host records for members of the genus; however, rearings by van der Ent and Shaw (1999) suggest a species of Buprestidae may be a host for one species.
Diversity. Only a few species are found in the Nearctic. The genus is very species-rich in the Neotropics but with few described species.
Distribution. Restricted to the Neotropics and southern Nearctic.
Publications. Pitz and Sharkey (2007) described three aberrant species and speculated on their biology. Members of Nuessleinia Kittel were found by Pitz (2006) (as Aulacodes) to be derived members of Capitonius. Nuessleinia is a replacement name for Aulacodes which was preoccupied by Aulacodes Guenée (Kittel, 2016).
Cenocoelius (Cenocoelius) Haliday, 1840 n. subg.
Diagnosis. Some species cannot be distinguished from members of the subgenus Capitonius; however, the key above works in more than 90% of the cases.
Biology. Most commonly reared from Cerambycidae, but other families include Buprestidae, and wood-boring members of the Curculionidae, including scolytines.
Diversity. There are 27 species described from Mexico and the Neotropics, and 10 from the USA and Canada. There are many more undescribed Neotropical species but the subgenus in not as species-rich as the subgenus Capitonius.
Distribution. Worldwide.
Publications. Saffer (1982) revised the Nearctic and Mexican species. The few described Neotropical species south of Mexico are in scattered old literature.
Cenocoelius (Foenomorpha) Szépligeti, 1840
Diagnosis. Anterodorsal portion of pronotum produced as a curl of cuticle that projects dorsally and posteriorly (Couplet 1A; Fig 3A).
Biology. Unknown.
Diversity. There are 20 species described from Mexico and the Neotropics, and 10 from the USA and Canada. There are many more undescribed Neotropical species but the genus is not as species-rich as the subgenus Capitonius.
Distribution. Neotropical, Mexico through much of South America.
Publications. Pitz (2010) revised the subgenus and included 20 species and a key.
Evaniomorpha Szépligeti, 1901
Diagnosis. Metasomal tergum three with acute lateral edges and roughly sculptured (Fig. 4 H, K). Second submarginal cell of forewing 5-sided (Fig. 4A).
Biology. Unknown.
Diversity. There is only one described species, E. munda, and no undescribed species are known.
Distribution. Brazil.
Publications. Van Achterberg (1994) treated the genus in his revision of the subfamily and illustrated the type specimen (Fig. 4).
Acknowledgements
Thank you to Sergey Belokobylskij for his thorough review and to the editors at CJAI for their input.
References
Kittel, R.N., 2016. Eighty-nine replacement names for Braconidae and Ichneumonidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology, 22(2): 161-174.
Pitz, K.M. 2006. Systematic and taxonomic revision of the subfamily Cenocoeliinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kentucky. Available from the Young Library, University of Kentucky.
Pitz, K.M. 2010. New taxonomic status of Foenomorpha Szépligeti as a subgenus of Capitonius Brullé (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cenocoeliinae) including a revision of species. Zootaxa, 2607:1-54. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.2607.1.1
Pitz, K.M. and Sharkey, M.J. 2007. Three new species of Cenocoeliinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with novel morphological characteristics and habitat records. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 16: 167-177.
Saffer, B. 1977. A new species of Cenocoelius from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 79: 593-596.
Saffer, B. 1982. A systematic revision of the genus Cenocoelius (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) in North America, including Mexico. Polskie Pismo Entomologiczne, 52: 73-167.
Sharanowski, B.J., Dowling, A.P. and, Sharkey, M.J. 2011. Molecular phylogenetics of Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea), based on multiple nuclear genes, and implications for classification. Systematic Entomology, 36: 549-572. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.2011.00580.x
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Shaw, M.R. and Huddleston, T. 1991. Classification and biology of braconid wasps. Handbooks for the dentification of British Insects, 7: 1-126. Available online : https://www.royensoc.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Vol07_Part11.pdf
Van der Ent, L.J. and Shaw, S.R. 1999. A new species of Capitonius (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Costa Rica with rearing records. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 75(2): 112-120.
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