Morphological and molecular characterization and new distributional record of Tetrastichus miser (Nees, 1834) (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) from Kashmir

Abstract

Tetrastichus miser (Nees, 1834) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) is a parasitoid of Curculioninae and Scolytinae infesting various trees of economic importance. In the present study, it was collected from dried Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don (Pinaceae) infested with Scolytus beetles using sweep net and aspirator. The species is reported first time from Kashmir valley. Identification of a parasitoid is of paramount significance for studying its behavior, ecology, life cycle and usage in various biological control programmes. In addition to morphological description, molecular analysis using Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I was carried out to complement morphotaxonomy and to facilitate its easier identification for future studies. Phylogenetic analysis by Bayesian inference (BI) and Maximum Likelihood (ML) method showed Isolates of Tetrastichusmiser species clustering in same clade and separated from its closest match Tetrastichinae sp.Inter-specific divergence between Tetrastichusmiser and Tetrastichinae sp. was evident and ranged from 0.09 to 0.10 % (0.05 % mean). No overlap was observed between maximum distance within species and minimum distance between species.

Keywords

• Tetrastichus miser
• Cedrus deodara
• beetle
• Cytochrome C Oxidase Subunit I
• Clade
• morphotaxonomy