ZOOSYSTEMATICA ROSSICA, 25(2): 248–254 27 DECEMBER 2016 A solitary endoparasitoid (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) of the severe Buxus pest Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in the North Caucasus of Russia Одиночный эндопаразитоид (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Microgastrinae) опасного вредителя самшита Cydalima perspectalis (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) на Северном Кавказе России S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ* & YU.I. GNINENKO С.А. БЕЛОКОБЫЛЬСКИЙ, Ю.И. ГНИНЕНКО S.A. Belokobylskij, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, 1 Universitetskaya Emb., St Petersburg 199034, Russia; Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw 00-679, Poland. E-mail: [email protected] Yu.I. Gninenko, Russian Research Institute for Silviculture and Mechanization of Forestry, Institutskaya Street 15, Pushkino 141200, Moscow Province, Russia. E-mail: [email protected] A braconid endoparasitoid, Protapanteles mygdonia (Nixon, 1973), of the severe pest of box trees, the moth Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is re-de- scribed and illustrated from the North Caucasus of Russia. This is the first discovery of a na- tive parasitoid of box tree moth in the Western Palaearctic. С Северного Кавказа России переописывается и иллюстрируется наездник Protapanteles mygdonia (Nixon, 1973), являющийся эндопаразитоидом опасного вредителя самшита Cydalima perspectalis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Это первая достоверная находка природного паразитоида самшитовой огневки в Западной Палеарктике. Key words: endoparasitoid wasps, invasive pest, Krasnodar Territory, Protapanteles mygdonia, new hosts, re-description Ключевые слова: паразитоиды, инвазивный вредитель, Краснодарский край, Protapan- teles, новые хозяева, переописание INTRODUCTION namental Buxus material originating from Italy without deep quarantine control. As The box tree moth, Cydalima perspec- result, after penetration on the territory of talis (Walker, 1859) (Lepidoptera: Crambi- Sochi, C. perspectalis spreads rapidly and dae), a native pest of box trees (Buxus spp., now it already occupies almost all localities Buxaceae) in Asia, has very rapidly spread with box trees of the Black Sea coast and throughout several European countries and has appeared inside Krasnodar City (Schu- now it is the most severe pest of ornamen- rov, 2014; Gninenko et al., 2014; Gninenko, tal and native box trees in this continent 2015). (Kenis et al., 2013; Nacambo et al., 2013). The study of the natural parasitoids of This moth was introduced to the North this pest with potential for its biological Caucasus of Russia through planting or- control was started immediately after the appearance of the pest in Europe. All po- *Corresponding author. tential enemies of C. perspectalis discovered © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS 249 in the native area of this moth in Asia were lars with parasitoid cocoons were addition- already selected (Wan et al., 2012). This ally checked after rearing. list of parasitoids includes three species of The terminology employed for mor- each of Tachinidae and Braconidae, and two phological features and measurements species of each of Ichneumonidae and Chal- follow Belokobylskij & Maetô (2009). cidoidea. In Braconidae, the most hope- The wing venation nomenclature follows ful species for biocontrol may be the East Belokobylskij & Maetô (2009), with van Palaearctic-Oriental solitary polyphagous Achterberg’s (1993) terminology shown Microchelonus tabonus Sonan, 1932 with in parentheses. Braconid species was de- parasitism level in some areas of China up to termined with using of the keys by Nixon 50%, and the Oriental gregarious oligopha- (1973) and Tobias & Kotenko (1986). We gous Dolichogenidea stantoni (Ashmead, follow Achterberg opinion (Achterberg, 1904) with average parasitism level in In- 2002; Yu et al., 2012) considering Glypta- dia 37.3% (Wan et al., 2014). Several na- panteles Ashmead, 1905 as a junior syno- tive parasitoids were suggested as potential nym of Protapanteles Ashmead, 1898. enemies of C. perspectalis in Europe, among Photographs were taken with a Leica which are ichneumonid Apechtis compunc- IC 3D digital camera that was mounted on tor (Linnaeus, 1758), the braconid Bracon a Leica® MZ16 microscope and using the hebetor Say, 1836 (B. brevicornis Wesmael, Leica Application Suite® imaging system 1838) and species of Trichogramma (Tricho- (Museum and Institute of Zoology PAN, grammatidae) (Wan et al., 2014). Warsaw, Poland). In this context, the discovery of a soli- The material is preserved in the Zoologi- tary braconid parasitoid of this severe pest cal Institute of the Russian Academy of Sci- in the south-western part of North Cau- ences (St Petersburg, Russia; ZISP), except casus is very interesting and important. for two specimens in the National Museums The Microgastrinae species, Protapanteles of Scotland (Edinburgh, UK; NMS). mygdonia (Nixon, 1973), was reared by TAXONOMIC PART the second author in 2015 from caterpillars of C. perspectalis collected on Buxus trees Order HYMENOPTERA in the environmental area of Lazarevskoe (Large Sochi). This reared species may be Family BRACONIDAE potentially important for the biological Subfamily MICROGASTRINAE control of C. perspectalis, and it is re-de- scribed in this paper. Genus Protapanteles Ashmead, 1898 Protapanteles (Glyptapanteles) MATERIAL AND METHODS mygdonia (Nixon, 1973) (Figs 1–15) Caterpillars of C. perspectalis were col- lected in the vicinity of Lazarevskoe (Large Nixon, 1973: 181; Tobias & Kotenko, 1986: 383; Sochi) in June 2015 and transported in the Kotenko, 2007: 192; Yu et al., 2012. laboratory of the Russian Research Insti- Material examined. Russia: Krasnodar Terri- tute for Silviculture and Mechanization of tory, Sochi, Lazarevskoe, from caterpillar of Cy- Forestry in Pushkino, Moscow Province. dalima perspectalis (Walker), collected VI.2015, reared VI.2015, Yu.I. Gninenko coll., 6 females, 7 Each host’s larva developed in isolated box males (ZISP, NMS); Yaroslavl’ Province, “Gede- in the laboratory after special control of the nowo, Jarossl g. Dan., 16.VII.[1]916, A. Schesta- bouquet of Buxus foliage. Thirteen solitary kow”, 1 female (ZISP); Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, parasitoids were reared later in June 2015, from caterpillar of Simaethis griseana Kozhant- all certainly only from the caterpillars of shikov (= Anthophilla filipjevi Danilevsky), C. perspectalis. The remains of host caterpil- 26.VIII.1959, Kolshakova leg., 1 female (ZISP). © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254 250 S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS Description. Female. Body length 3.5– Wings. Fore wing (Fig. 8) 2.65–2.75 3.7 mm; fore wing length (from tegula) times longer than maximum width. Meta- 4.0–4.1 mm. carpus (1-R1) 1.0–1.1 times as long as Head. In dorsal view (Fig. 3) 1.7–1.8 pterostigma, 4.4–6.0 times longer than dis- times wider than median length, same tance from apex of metacarpus to apex of width across eyes and across temple, almost radial (marginal) cell. Pterostigma 2.6–3.0 as wide as mesoscutum. Temple in dorsal times longer than maximum width. Radius view 0.8–0.9 times as long as eye (measure- (r) arising beyond middle of pterostigma, ment on straight line), behind eyes almost from its 0.6. First radial abscissa (r) 0.95– par allel-sided in anterior half, then distinct- 1.10 times as long as width of pterostigma, ly roundly narrowed. Ocelli in low triangle, 1.1–1.2 times longer than first radiome- its base 1.4–1.5 times sides; POL 1.60–1.75 dial vein (2-SR) and moderately strongly times Od, 0.8–1.0 times OOL; OOL 1.8– angled with it. Discoidal (first discal) cell 2.0 times Od. Eye 1.60–1.65 times higher 1.35–1.40 times wider than height. Distance than wide. Minimum width of face (Fig. 2) (1-CU1) between basal (1-M) vein and ner- 1.0–1.2 times median height (from toruli vulus (cu-a) 0.7– 0.8 times as long as distance to middle of supraclypeal groove), width (2-CU1) between nervulus (cu-a) and re- just below toruli about 1.4 times its median current vein (m-cu). Setae on median (ba- height. Clypeus short, separated by shal- sal) and submedian (subbasal) cells fairly low and narrow groove, weakly concave evenly distributed, but a little sparse basally. ventrally, distinctly separated below from Hind wing 3.5–3.8 times longer than maxi- closed mandible forming rather wide open mum width. Plical (vannal) lobe with dense area. Malar space 0.60–0.75 times basal long setae beyond its widest part. width of mandible. Antenna (Figs 1, 5, 6) Legs. Fore leg with distinct curved sub- 18-segmented, about 1.2 times longer than apical spine on apical tarsal segment (Fig. 4). body. First flagellar segment 3.0–3.6 times Middle leg with inner (longest) tibial spur longer than maximum width, almost as long 1.10–1.15 times longer than middle basitar- as se cond segment; second segment 3.1–3.3 sus. Hind femur (Fig. 12) 4.1–4.3 times times longer than maximum width. Penul- longer than wide. Hind tibial inner spur 1.3 timate segment 2.0–2.1 times longer than times longer than outer spur, inner spur 0.6– wide, 0.75–0.80 times as long as apical seg- 0.7 times as long as hind basitarsus. Outer ment. side of hind tibia with long distinct spines Mesosoma. In lateral view (Fig. 7) 1.25– rather evenly and densely distributed. 1.35 times longer than maximum height. Metasoma (Fig. 1) 0.75–0.90 times as Mesoscutum (Fig. 11) 1.3–1.4 times wider long as head and mesosoma combined. First than median length. Prescutellar sulcus (de- tergite (Figs 10, 13) distinctly and more or pression) rather deep, with 9–12 fovea of less evenly and linearly narrowed towards different sizes. Scutellum distinctly convex apex (dorsal view), distinctly humped sub- (lateral view). Metanotum medio-dorsally centrally (lateral view), without median with distinct lateral curved carinae forming longitudinal sulcus. Length of first tergite suboval area and fused with posterior small 1.6 times maximum basal width, 2.9–3.0 area. Lateral pronotal lobe with rather dis- times its minimum apical width, 1.4–1.6 tinct but fine and partly finely crenulate or times median length of propodeum, 1.9–2.0 smooth upper longitudinal sulcus, with dis- times length of second tergite. Second ter- tinct and at least partly weakly crenulate gite 2.0–2.3 times as wide apically as medi- median oblique sulcus. Propodeal spiracle an length, basal field coextensive with ter- (Fig. 9) rather large, situated before middle gite, but with distinctly crenulate shallow of propodeum; median longitudinal carina and narrow, weakly divergent posteriorly fine and incomplete anteriorly. lateral furrows. Third tergite 1.35 times © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254 S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS 251 Figs 1–10. Protapanteles mygdonia (Nixon, 1973), female. 1, body, lateral view; 2, head, front view; 3, head and anterior part of mesosoma, dorsal view; 4, fore tarsus; 5, basal segments of antenna; 6, apical segments of antenna; 7, head and mesosoma, lateral view; 8, fore and hind wings; 9, propodeum; 10, three basal segments of metasoma. © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254 252 S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS Figs 11–15. Protapanteles mygdonia (Nixon, 1973), female. 11, mesosoma, dorsal view; 12, metasoma and hind legs, lateral view; 13, metasoma, dorsal view; 14, cocoon on dry leaf of Buxus; 15, cocoon. longer than second tergite. Hypopygium weakly punctate, matt, but shiny below. (Fig. 12) robust, 0.45–0.50 times as long as Mesoscutum (Fig. 11) dull, with dense but hind tibia, truncate apically in lateral view, shallow small punctures and smooth in- angled about 70° at apex, not projecting be- terspaces; sculpture sparse, fine and more yond apex of metasoma. Ovipositor (Fig. shiny in wide medio-posterior area, trace 12) short, weakly projected behind top of of notauli not different in type of sculp- hypopygium, its sheath curvedly narrowed ture. Scutellum shiny, with a few scatter- towards apex and with very sparse setae. ing shallow punctures. Propodeum (Fig. Sculpture. Vertex (Fig. 3) matt, almost 9) distinctly rugose-striate, almost smooth smooth with only weak sculpture of seti- narrowly anteriorly; median longitudinal ferous punctures. Frons shiny smooth. Face carina fine or very fine and incomplete © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254 S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS 253 anteriorly, sometimes completely indis- wide, 0.9 times as long as apical segment. tinct. Mesopleuron (Fig. 7) mainly exten- Humeral plate sometimes brown. Hind coxa sively smooth and shiny, dull with rather sometimes almost entirely black, rarely hind weak and sparse punctation below and femur apically distinctly darkened. Length near middle coxa, precoxal area complete of first metasomal tergite 1.8–2.0 times smooth. Metapleuron widely smooth and maximum basal width, 2.8–3.1 times its shining. Hind coxa (Fig. 12) with outer face minimum apical width, 1.4–1.6 times me- distinctly and densely punctate (sculpture dian length of propodeum. Second tergite stronger than on lower part of mesopleu- 2.2–2.4 times as wide apically as median ron). Hind femur entirely weakly and very length, smooth medially on rather wide area, densely sculptured with a satiny appear- sometimes with almost smooth lateral fur- ance. First tergite (Figs 10, 13) finely and rows. Otherwise similar to female. Cocoon. Singular, elliptic shape, white, densely punctate-reticulate with several densely covered by white loose silk (Figs striae, smooth in wide and long mediobasal 14, 15). Length 4.5–5.2 mm. area. Second tergite (Figs 10, 13) distinctly Hosts. Anthophila filipjevi Danilevsky, crenulate with dense and fine reticulation 1969 (new record), Choreutis pariana between striae, more or less smooth medi- (Clerck, 1759), Choreutidae (Tobias & Ko- ally and on wide lateral areas. Third ter- tenko, 1986); Cydalima perspectalis (Walk- gite (Figs 10, 13) mainly smooth, with ru- er, 1859), Crambidae (new record); Opero- gulosity just near suture between second phtera brumata Linnaeus, 1758, Phigalia and third tergites, with evenly distributed, pilosaria (Denis et Schiffermüller, 1775), moderately long and rather dense setae. Pungeleria capreolaria (Denis et Schiffer- Colour. Body mainly black (Fig. 1), müller, 1775), Geometridae (Nixon, 1973; metasoma mainly black, laterally mainly Yu et al., 2012). light reddish brown to yellow (Fig. 1, 12). Distribution. Russia [Yaroslavl’ Provin- Mandible reddish brown, dark basally. ce, Krasnodar Territory, Buryatia, Primors- Palpi yellow or pale yellow. Tegula and hu- kiy Territory (Tobias & Kotenko, 1986; Ko- meral plate yellow or brownish yellow. Legs tenko, 2007; new record)]; Ireland, United brownish yellow, hind coxa in basal 0.5–0.6 Kingdom, France, Portugal (Madeira), and sometimes in ventral half brown to Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Fin- black, hind tibia in apical 0.3–0.4 and most land, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Turkey, part of hind tarsus dark brown to dark red- Iran, Korea (Yu et al., 2012). dish brown, partly black, rarely apex of Remarks. The lepidopteran hosts from hind femur darkened; spurs of hind tibia families Choreutidae and Crambidae are pale yellow (Fig. 12). Wings hyaline (Fig. not typical for P. mygdonia, in comparison 8), pterostigma dark brown to almost black, with members of family Geometridae, and venation medially brown to dark brown, were usually recorded for the related spe- pale basally. cies P. vitripennis (Curtis, 1830), P. lateralis Male. Body length 3.1–3.3 mm; fore wing (Haliday, 1834), P. fausta (Nixon, 1973), length 3.3–3.6 mm. Head in dorsal view and P. eugeni (Papp, 1972). Our specimens 1.8–1.9 times wider than median length, of P. mygdonia reared from the caterpillars less width across temple than across eye. of these families distinctly differ from P. vit- Face more distinctly but weakly punctate. ripennis by the entirely densely setose basal Antenna distinctly thickened. First flagellar and subbasal cells of the fore wing and the segment (lateral; view) 2.2–2.5 times longer hind coxa black only in its basal 0.5–0.7; than its maximum width, 0.90–0.95 times from P. lateralis, P. fausta and P. eugeni as long as second segment; second segment among other differences by the much short- 2.4–2.8 times longer than maximum width. er and distinctly apically narrowed oviposi- Penultimate segment 2.5 times longer than tor sheath (see for diagnoses Nixon, 1973). © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254 254 S.A. BELOKOBYLSKIJ & YU.I. GNINENKO. MICROGASTRINE ENDOPARASITOID IN NORTH CAUCASUS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, in Europe: horticultural pest or environmental disaster? The authors are sincerely grateful to Dr Aliens, 33: 38–41. Mark Shaw (Edinburgh, Scotland) for his Kotenko A.G. 2007. Microgastrinae. In: Le- valuable consultation about the status of lej A.S. (Ed.). Opredelitel’ nasekomykh Dal’- braconid species and deep review of manuscript, nego Vostoka Rossii, Setchatokryloobraznye, Dr Marc Kenis (Delémont, Switzerland) for skorpionnitsy, pereponchatokrylye. [Key to sending his important publications about the insects of Russia Far East. Neuropteroi- the discussed problem, and Dr Konstantin dea, Mecoptera, Hymenoptera], 4(5): 134– G. Samartsev and Dr Andrey I. Khalaim 192. Vladivostok: Dal’nauka. (In Russian). (St Petersburg, Russia) for variable helps. The Nacambo S., Leuthardt F.L.G., Wan H., Li H., present work was supported in parts for the Haye T., Baur B., Weiss R.M. & Kenis M. first author by the grant of the Russian Foun- 2013. Development characteristics of the dation for Basic Research (project No. 15-29- box-tree moth Cydalima perspectalis and its 02466) and the Russian State Research Project potential distribution in Europe. Journal of No. 01201351189. Applied Entomology, 137: 1–13. Nixon G.E.J. 1973. 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The box tree moth – a new in- Yu D.S., Achterberg C. van, Horstman, K. vasive pest in the Caucasian forests. Karantin 2012. Taxapad 2012, Ichneumonoidea 2011. Rasteniy. Nauka i Praktika, 1(7): 32–39. (In [database on flash-drive]. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Russian). Kenis M., Nacambo S., Leuthardt F.L.G., Received 22 Sep. 2016 / Accepted 21 Nov. 2016 Di Domenico F. & Haye T. 2013. The box Editorial responsibility: A.I. Khalaim © 2016 Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Scienсes, Zoosystematica Rossica 25(2): 248–254