Taxonomic position and ecological traits of Sigmophora tricolor (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), a parasitoid of Asphondylia yushimai (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), and description of a new species of Sigmophora

• Published in: Applied entomology and zoology 2013-08, Vol.48 (3), p.355-363
• Main Authors: Matsuo, Kazunori, Uechi, Nami, Tokuda, Makoto, Yukawa, Junichi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agriculture; Applied Ecology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Entomology; Environmental Management; Life Sciences; Original Research Paper; Plant Pathology; Zoology
• ISSN: 0003-6862; 1347-605X
• DOI: 10.1007/s13355-013-0195-1

Sigmophora tricolor (Ashmead) and Sigmophora sayatamabae (Ishii) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) were resurrected from Sigmophora brevicornis (Panzer), on the basis of morphological differences between the first two and the last, although Ikeda (Ins Matsum 55:37–74 1999 ) had synonymized Tetrastichus tricolor and Tetrastichus sayatamabae with S. brevicornis . We then synonymized S . sayatamabae with S. tricolor . Japanese Sigmophora specimens that were reared from Pseudasphondylia neolitseae Yukawa (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Neolitsea sericea (Blume) Koidzumi (Lauraceae), and Asphondylia yushimai Yukawa and Uechi (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on Lespedeza bicolor Turczaninow (Fabaceae) were newly identified as S. tricolor . We redescribe S. tricolor because its original description was insufficient for identification. In addition, we describe a new species of Sigmophora that parasitizes Asphondylia morivollera (Naito) on Morus alba Linnaeus (Moraceae) and an unidentified gall midge on Hydrangea serrata (Thunberg) Seringe (Hydrangeaceae) in Japan. Parasitic strategies and annual life history of S. tricolor are discussed.