CLASSIFICATION AND BIOLOGY OF THE SUBFAMILY EUCHARITINAE (CHALCIDOIDEA: EUCHARITIDAE) FROM ARGENTINA

J. TORRÉNS; E. MURRAY; J. HERATY

Cusco

Congreso; 8th International Congress of Hymenopterists; 2014

The International Society of Himenopterists

Eucharitidae parasitize the immature stages of Formicidae and are among the most speciose family/group of hymenopteran parasitoids of eusocial insects. Females lay their eggs inside or on plant tissues, either individually or in masses. They oviposit away from the host, with the active first instar larva (planidium) responsible for getting into the ant nest through various associations with foraging adult ants. Two of the four subfamilies of Eucharitidae are represented in Argentina: Oraseminae and Eucharitinae. The Argentinian Eucharitinae are comprised of 13 genera of Eucharitini. Eucharitini from Argentina are divided into the Stilbula clade, represented by Lophyrocera Cameron, Obeza Heraty and Pseudochalcura Ashmead; and Kapala clade, with the remaining 10 genera. We will present a molecular phylogeny of the Eucharitini, with a focus on the Argentinian genera. Life history traits will be mapped and interpreted in a phylogenetic context. We have accumulated new behavioral information to discuss and can present a comprehensive overview of the New World Eucharitini. A comprehensive study of biology helps to understand issues such as biogeographic distribution and behavioral ecology; and potentially, when analyzed in a phylogenetic context, the patterns in collected data can help predict the biology of those members in which information is not available.