Richard Robinson Askew

Field surveys conducted between 2020 and 2023 yielded samples of cynipid galls (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Cynipidae), which were subsequently reared under controlled laboratory conditions. Parasitoid wasps emerging from these galls were identified, and eight chalcidoid wasp species (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) are reported here for the first time from Türkiye. For each new record, data on collection localities, associated cynipid galls, host plants, global distribution, and relevant taxonomic remarks are provided.

We report the results of investigations 2010 through 2023 of hymenopteran parasitoids associated with gall midges in Europe. A total of 242 collections of gall midges were made, from each of which one to several parasitoid species emerged, resulting in ca. 200 recorded parasitoid species and 267 host-parasitoid interaction records. The parasitoid families involved were Eulophidae (63 species), Platygastridae (56 species), Torymidae (34 species), Pteromalidae (31 species), Ceraphronidae (5 species), Eupelmidae (4 species), Eurytomidae (2 species) and Encyrtidae (1 species). As many as 159 interactions are reported for the first time, significantly enlarging our knowledge of gall midge – parasitoid interactions on the species level. Even more interesting, 51 host records are for parasitoid species for which no host was previously known. Similarly, 28 species of gall midge are reported as host to named parasitoids for the first time. Additionally, 91 parasitoid records were the first for the country in question. Differences between the rearing methods applied and their suitability for recording species with contrasting life histories, are discussed.

Known by many names, the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa L.) is a monoecious plant species originating from south-eastern Asia which has been introduced as an ornamental in numerous areas outside its native range, including the Mediterranean. Like every species of Ficus, it is associated with a series of chalcid wasp species, known as fig wasps. These species are distributed in the families Agaonidae, Epichrysomallidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae and Pteromalidae. In this publication, we describe a new species of Ormyrus Westwood, 1832 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Ormyridae), O. microcarpae Askew & Koutsoukos sp. nov., reared from figs of F. microcarpa collected from Greece and Cyprus. The new species is compared with O. lini and O. watshami. This species is likely to be a parasitoid of Meselatus bicolor Chen, 1999 (Hymenoptera, Epichrysomallidae). In addition, the previously unknown female of O. lini is also described and illustrated. This publication constitutes the first report of species of Ormyrus associated with figs in Europe.

The introduction of the biological control agent Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Torymidae) to control the populations of the chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) is considered one of the successful programs in biological control. The species was involved in interspecific hybridisation in Japan and the specimens imported into Europe were derived from this hybrid lineage, showing signs of introgression. The discovery of mitochondrial haplotypes or possible Enolase haplotypes from T. beneficus or of specimens with shorter ovipositor does not necessarily imply that T. beneficus is present in Europe, only that the European specimens are of hybrid origin. Of the native European Torymus species associated with D. kuriphilus, the molecular and morphometric results indicate Torymus notatus (Walker) as the closest species to T. sinensis. The two are part of the same species-group (cyaneus group), are nested together in the multivariate ratio analysis and are the closest genetically based on all three nuclear markers: Enolase (1.5% divergence), Wingless (2%) and ITS2 (13%). However, on the mitochondrial marker COI the closest species is Torymus rubi (Schrank) at 9.9% divergence. As such, T. notatus is the most likely candidate for accidental interspecific hybridisation if this is to happen in Europe. We provide an illustrated identification key for the European species of Torymus associated with D. kuriphilus, an important but lacking tool for biological control programs.

El gorgojo Sibinia subelliptica (Desbrochers, 1873) y un rico complejo de parasitoides calcidoides asociados se criaron a partir de inflorescencias de Dianthus giganteus d’Urv. (Caryophyllaceae) en Bulgaria. Se identificaron los siguientes taxones: Aprostocetus venustus (Gahan) y Baryscapus sp. cercana a garganus (Domenichini, 1958) (Eulophidae); Eupelmus barai Fusu y E. microzonus Förster (Eupelmidae); Aximopsis augasmae (Zerova), A. collina (Zerova), Eurytoma coleophorae Zerova y E. coleopterae Zerova (Eurytomidae); Catolaccus crassiceps (Masi) y Pteromalus ochrocerus (Thomson) (Pteromalidae); y Exopristus trigonomerus (Masi) (Torymidae). Dos de éstos, E. coleophorae y E. coleopterae, son registrados como nuevos para Bulgaria. Todas las mencionadas relaciones parasitoide-hospedador se documentan por primera vez, así como se registra por primera vez la asociación de la planta D. giganteus con todos los parasitoides obtenidos, excepto en los casos de E. barai y E. microzonus. Se establece la nueva asociación trófica de S. subelliptica con D. giganteus.

Se presenta la revision y una lista anotada de ocho de las doce especies paleárticas de Eupelmus (Macroneura) que se conocen de la Península Ibérica, Islas Baleares y Macaronesia (Canarias, Madeira y Azores). Se aportan para cada especie las citas en cada ámbito geográfico, incluyendo nuevos datos biológicos, como los de sus insectos y plantas hospedadoras. Eupelmus (Macroneura) seculatus es nueva cita para las Islas Canarias y Eupelmus (Macroneura) vesicularis se cita por primera vez de Portugal. Como complemento a esta revisión, se presentan los resultados de las capturas de especies de Macroneura efectuadas con una trampa Malaise que se mantuvo operativa en primavera y verano de 2013 en una zona árida del sureste español (Mojácar, Almería). Se capturaron 358 ejemplares de seis especies, siendo Eupelmus (Macroneura) muellneri (43,5% del total) la especie más abundante en las muestras, seguida de E. (M.) barai (25,4%).

Se presenta un listado taxonómico comentado de las ochenta y cuatro especies de Eupelmidae que se conocen de la Península Ibérica e Islas Baleares, incluyendo nuevos datos de distribución y de especies hospedadoras. Se describe una nueva especie de Calosota, C. carmenae Askew & Nieves-Aldrey sp. n. Se describen también los machos, hasta ahora no reconocidos, de cuatro especies: Calosota bolivari Askew, 2006, C. nitens Askew, 2006, Anastatus oscari (Ruthe, 1859) and A. uromeni Ferrière, 1968. Neanastatus africanus Ferrière, 1938, Eupelmus confusus Al khatib, 2015, E. gemellus Al khatib, 2015, E. kiefferi De Stefani, 1898, E. martellii Masi, 1941 y E. stramineipes Nikol’skaya, 1951 se incorporan al listado de Eupelmidae de España, mientras que E. fulvipes Förster, 1860 se elimina de dicha lista. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:A0A4215E-6718-4185-9C08-CFD22F51A2BD

Background A revised checklist of the British and Irish Chalcidoidea and Mymarommatoidea substantially updates the previous comprehensive checklist, dating from 1978. Country level data (i.e. occurrence in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Isle of Man) is reported where known. New information A total of 1754 British and Irish Chalcidoidea species represents a 22% increase on the number of British species known in 1978.

Numerous species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) have been recorded from saltbush (Chenopodiaceae: Atriplex) around the world but only 11 of them belong to the large cecidomyiid genus Asphondylia. Of these, two species were described in the late 19^th century from complex bud galls on Atriplex halimus in the Mediterranean Basin. In the present study Asphondylia punica is redescribed, A. conglomerata is synonymized with it, and Asphondylia scopuli is described from Atriplex lanfrancoi, an endemic plant to the Maltese Islands. Descriptions are accompanied by information about the galls and life history of the gall midges, and a review of the parasitic Hymenoptera associated with A. scopuli is provided. Four species of parasitoids were found and attributed to the families Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Eupelmidae and Eulophidae, of which the pteromalid Mesopolobus melitensis is described as new.