Marcelo Teixeira Tavares

Parasitoid wasps play a fundamental role in the biological control of pests. However, their morphological identification may be limited due to their small size and the high morphological similarity between species. Our objective was to identify specific genomic variants of the target species Palmistichus elaeisis Delvare & LaSalle, 1993, Tetrastichus howardi (Olliff, 1893), Trichospilus diatraeae Cherian & Margabandhu, 1942, and Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, 1879, (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) by whole-genomic sequencing. Parasitoids were collected from their hosts and established in the laboratory after adult emergence. A sample of each parasitoid was sent to the Departamento de Ciências Biológicas at Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (UFES) and “Oscar Monte” Entomophagous Insect Collection for morphological identification. Subsequently, samples composed of 20 individuals were preserved in absolute ethanol for DNA extraction. The DNA was extracted, quantified and sequenced on the Illumina Novaseq 6000 platform. Bioinformatic tools were used for quality control, detection of specific genomic variants, principal component analysis (PCA), and support vector machine (SVM). Genomic sequencing generated high-quality data for the analyzed parasitoids, allowing the identification of four specific variants for P. elaeisis, two for Te. howardi, four for Ts. diatraeae and five for Tg. pretiosum. These results provide a precise molecular tool for distinguishing parasitoids used in biological control programs.

Hyperparasitoidism can reduce the biological control of Cinara spp. (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in Pinus (Gymnospermae: Pinaceae) plantations in Brazil. Cinara atlantica (Wilson, 1919) and Cinara pinivora (Wilson, 1919), introduced into Brazil in the 1990s, damage young Pinus plants. The primary parasitoid Xenostigmus bifasciatus (Ashmead, 1891) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was introduced and released between 2002 and 2004 in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and São Paulo, Brazil. The dispersion of this biological control agent was extensive, with parasitoidism near 100%, stabilizing Cinara spp. populations for years, however, the population increase of these aphids in Pinus taeda (Linnaeus, 1753) plantations up to 2.5 years old between 2022 and 2025 suggests a reduction in the efficiency of biological control. Eight hundred and eighty-four mummies of Cinara spp. were collected from commercial plantations in Santa Catarina and reared in laboratory, from which 203 Hymenoptera specimens emerged, including 24 (11.82% of the total mummies collected) of X. bifasciatus and 179 (88.18%) of the hyperparasitoids Asaphes californicus Girault, 1917 (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: incertae sedis) (55.17%); Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis, 1829) (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae) (10.80%); D. ramicornis (Boheman, 1832) (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae) (9.90%); and Euneura sopolis (Walker, 1844) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) (12.31%). This is the first record of D. ramicornis and the four species associated with Cinara spp. in P. taeda in Brazil. The high incidence of hyperparasitoidism may be the main cause of the reduced efficiency of Cinara spp. biological control in Pinus plantations in southern Brazil by X. bifasciatus.

Molecular entomology was expected to progress rapidly from basic genetic mapping to comprehensive genome projects. However, for most insect groups, such as parasitic wasps of the family Chalcididae, genetic information remains scarce. There is still an urgent need for identification tools for both taxonomists and applied entomologists to expand the use of biological control agents. This systematic review recovered only 38 papers containing Chalcididae genetic information since 1986, covering 108 species. Most data were published in the last 10 years. Genetic repositories include data for 85 species; in total, information is available for 49 out of 87 genera and 178 out of 1,439 named species. Notably, 141 species have only a single gene sequence available, predominantly the COI gene. Chalcis sispes (Linnaeus, 1761) is the only species with a whole genome sequence available. Available data include nine genes-three mitochondrial (16S, COI, CytB) and six nuclear (18S, 28S, EF-1α, ITS2, RpL27A, mago nashi)-alongside UCEs, exons, karyotypes, mitochondrial genomes, and transcriptomes. Academic journal indexing platforms remain essential for assessing genetic information, as data from older papers may not be available on GenBank or BOLD. Conversely, NCBI is vital for disclosing data when the target group is not mentioned in the main text. Both literature and repositories may contain spurious data, including taxonomic errors, misidentifications, DNA contamination, mixed data, and typos. Taxonomic errors are a universal problem; thus, all downloaded sequences should undergo a “phylogenetic check” alongside known sequences. Such errors may also affect BLAST searches, necessitating caution when evaluating contamination. Authors must carefully verify data quality before publication to ensure this vast global database is populated with trustworthy information.

We report the first record of the parasitoid Brachymeria pandora (Crawford, 1914) (Hymenoptera, Chalcididae) emerging from a cocoon of Rothschildia erycina (Shaw, 1796) (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae). This interaction was observed on Eriotheca candolleana (K. Schum.) A. Robyns (Malvaceae), which also constitutes the first record of this plant as a host for R. erycina. These findings are from Alter do Chão, Santarém, state of Pará, Brazil. Additionally, a female of Conura aff. flavicans Spinola, 1837 (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) was observed exhibiting oviposition behavior on the same cocoon, from which the pupa responded with a trembling defensive reaction, but no individuals of this species were obtained. However, no individuals of C. aff. flavicans emerged, and its role as a primary parasitoid of the moth or a hyperparasitoid of B. pandora is discussed.

Chalcididae are parasitoid wasps with potential for use in biological control due to their association with arthropod hosts of economic and medical importance. Few studies have assessed their effectiveness or natural parasitoidism rates. This study aimed to expand knowledge on Chalcididae by evaluating their parasitoidism on two Lepidoptera species in urban areas of Vitória, ES, Brazil. In 2019 and 2024, we sampled 24 and 39 pupae of Dione vanillae (Linnaeus) (Nymphalidae) on Passiflora edulis Sims (Passifloraceae), respectively. In 2023, we collected 74 pupae of Melete lycimnia flippantha (Fabricius) (Pieridae) that were feeding on Tripodanthus aff. acutifolius (Loranthaceae), which was parasitizing Samanea inopinata (Harms) Barneby and J.W. Grimes (Fabaceae). High parasitoidism rates were recorded for both hosts. From Do. vanillae, an undescribed gregarious Conura (pygmaea group) (Chalcididae) was responsible for 70.8% (2019) and 100% (2024) parasitoidism rate, and Brachymeria annulata (Fabricius) (Chalcididae) emerged from 16.6% of pupae — representing the first record for this host. Brachymeria mnestor (Walker) was responsible for a 45.9% parasitoidism rate on M. lycimnia flippantha, also a first record for this host association. These findings reinforce the potential of Chalcididae as effective natural enemies of crop pests, with average parasitoidism rates often above 40%. Gregarious and host-specific species may be especially effective in biological control strategies.

Monarch butterflies have a close relationship with plants of the Apocynaceae family, especially with the genus Asclepias Linnaeus, 1753, using their toxic cardenolides as a defense against predators. Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton, 1811, native from Africa and Asia and introduced in Brazil as an ornamental plant, is a food alternative for monarchs but contains fewer cardenolides than Asclepias, which may make the butterflies more vulnerable to parasitoids. The interaction between wasps of the genus Brachymeria Westwood, 1829 and butterflies of the genus Danaus Kluk, 1802 is seldom reported. This study reports the first case of parasitism by Brachymeria pandora (Crawford, 1914) in pupae of Danaus erippus (Cramer, 1775) in Brazil, collected in the city of Cuiabá, Mato Grosso. Five butterfly pupae were collected on C. procera; three were parasitized, with 34 emergences of parasitoids. We suggest that the relationship between D. erippus and B. pandora may be facilitated by the lower toxicity of C. procera compared to Asclepias, possibly increasing susceptibility to parasitoidism. The high rate of parasitoidism observed suggests that this possible new interaction could be detrimental to the conservation of D. erippus. Further studies are needed to confirm whether this parasitoid-host interaction also occurs with native Asclepias plants and to investigate the impacts of exotic plants on these types of interactions and on butterfly conservation.

The names of two genera and eleven species belonging to Hymenoptera are unavailable. They were published by Francisco Dias da Rocha in 1908 for species from the state of Ceará (Brazil) and attributed to William H. Ashmead. The genus names proposed here as nomina nuda are: Mesopteromalus (Pteromalidae) and Rochai (Ichneumonidae). The species names proposed as nomina nuda are Trichoporus abdominalis, Tetrastichus balteativentris (Eulophidae), Eupelmus myrtaceae (Eupelmidae), Eurytoma cearae (Eurytomidae), Mesopteromalus abdominalis (Pteromalidae), Syntomaspis loranthaceae (Torymidae), Urogaster brasiliensis (Braconidae), Rochai achiaemorpha (Ichneumonidae), Leptacis myrtaceae, Polygnotus brasiliensis, and Synopeas rochai (Platygastridae). The probable relationship between Mesopteromalus abdominalis with Jaliscoa nudipennis Bouček, and between Eurytoma cearae and Rileya cearae Crawford are discussed.

This study is focused on the parasitic wasps Bephrata Cameron, 1884 (Hymenoptera, Eurytomidae), a small and poorly represented genus in entomological collections. Herein we report new geographical records to Bephrata bahiae (Ashmead, 1904), B. bouceki Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. cultriformis (Ashmead, 1894), B. leptogaster Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. lorraineae Gates & Hanson, 2009, B. ruficollis Cameron 1884 and B. ticos Gates & Hanson, 2009. Except for B. bahiae, B. chica Gates & Hanson, 2009 and B. christeri Gates & Hanson, 2009, all other studied species were recorded for the first time to Brazil. Additionally, we provide maps with the geographical distribution of the studied species based on the new records and literature data, and an identification key for the species recorded in Brazil. With these new records there are currently nine species of Bephrata known in Brazil.

Strawberry is one of the most socially and economically important small fruits in Brazil, with strong demand by the food industry driving high levels of production. However, phytosanitary problems, especially insect damage, can hamper strawberry cultivation. A pest of great concern is the strawberry sap beetle, Lobiopa insularis (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae), which damages the fruits. Chemical control has not been effective against L. insularis, as it makes harvesting and marketing the product unfeasible. Parasitoids have been effectively utilized to control various strawberry pests and support sustainable production. We report the occurrence of the wasp Cerchysiella insularis (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) as a parasite of L. insularis on strawberries in São José dos Pinhais, Paraná, Brazil. Samples of strawberries (San Andreas cultivar) attacked by L. insularis were collected from February to March, 2019. Lobiopa insularis larvae were individually placed in rearing pots, fed on San Andreas strawberries, and checked weekly for symptoms of parasitism or parasitoid emergence. Parasitism rates were 33.85% in March and 45.90% in February. The sex ratio varied between 0.88 and 0.86. All parasitized larvae were infested by C. insularis. The natural parasitism rate above 33% and high sex ratio of C. insularis in strawberry crops indicated that it may have the potential in the control of L. insularis.

A andirobeira, Carapa guianensis Aublet, é uma árvore de expressiva importância socioeconômica, especialmente para as comunidades extrativistas na região Norte do Brasil, as quais exploram a madeira e, principalmente, o óleo extraído das sementes. Em janeiro de 2016, foi observado um intenso desfolhamento em andirobeiras localizadas no município de Rio Branco, Acre, causado por lagartas de lepidópteros. Vinte espécimes em fase de pupa foram coletados e acondicionados em gaiola telada, visando a obtenção de adultos. Emergiram cinco mariposas fêmeas, as quais foram identificadas como Acharia sp. (Lepidoptera: Limacodidae). Ademais, também foram capturadas duas espécies de parasitoides, identificadas como Baryceros sibine (Cameron) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) e Conura sibinecola (Blanchard) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae). Assim, se faz o primeiro registro de Acharia sp. em andirobeira no estado do Acre, bem como os primeiros registros das duas espécies de parasitoides associados a Acharia no estado do Acre, bem como no Brasil.