The parasitoids of Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae): with descriptions of two new species of Aphytis (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from China, and a note on Aphytis species with black-tipped mid tibiae in the male
Jingtao Xi, Junqing Ge, Jian Huang, Andrew Polaszek, Zhuhong Wang
TL;DR
This paper describes two new parasitoid species in China that attack a harmful citrus pest, Parlatoria ziziphi, and provides a guide to identify similar species.
Contribution
The study introduces two new Aphytis species from China and provides a phylogenetic analysis and identification key for black-tipped mid tibia Aphytis species.
Findings
Two new Aphytis species were identified and described from China.
A phylogenetic tree based on 28SrDNA sequences was generated for four Aphytis species.
An identification key was provided for five Aphytis species with black-tipped mid tibia in males.
Abstract
The black parlatoria scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a destructive pest attacking citrus plants worldwide. Parasitoids are important natural enemies used for the biological control of P. ziziphi. In Egypt from 2005 to 2007, the parasitoid, Aphytis melinus DeBach, was mass reared and released in large numbers to control P. ziziphi. Currently, 10 parasitoids associated with P. ziziphi have been recorded worldwide, including 8 species of Aphelinidae (including 1 hyperparasitoid) and 2 species of Encyrtidae. In China, 3 parasitoids are recorded, 2 Aphelinidae and 1 Encyrtidae. This study investigates and identifies 5 parasitoids in Fujian and Hunan Provinces of China, including 2 new species of Aphytis. Information on the 5 Aphytis species having the mid-tibia tipped with black in the male is summarized, and an identification key to these species is provided.…
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Figure 15- —National Natural Science Foundation of China
- —National Key R&D Program of China
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Taxonomy
TopicsPlant and animal studies · Research on scale insects · Fossil Insects in Amber
1. Introduction
The black parlatoria scale, Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) (Hemiptera: Diaspididae), is a common pest in tropical and subtropical regions, occurring mainly in citrus growing areas of East and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and the Mediterranean coast [1,2,3]. In Tunisia, P. ziziphi was one of the four major economic pests, posing a severe threat to the local citrus industry [4]. In Egypt, P. ziziphi has been the most serious pest on citrus since the 1990s [5]. According to reports, P. ziziphi caused heavy economic losses in some citrus growing countries such as Algeria, Morocco and France [6,7], and was also listed as a key quarantine target in the international citrus trade by some countries and regional organizations [1]. In China, P. ziziphi damages citrus plants, developing 3–4 generations per year and overlapping generations, seriously impacting citrus yields [8,9].
Parasitoids are important natural enemies for biological control of Parlatoria ziziphi. Currently, a total of 10 species of parasitoids are known associated with P. ziziphi all over the world, including 8 species of Aphelinidae (including 1 hyperparasitoid) and 2 species of Encyrtidae (Table 1). In Egypt, Encarsia citrina (Craw) was considered to be a biocontrol agent with high potential [10], and Aphytis melinus DeBach was mass reared and released in many regions of Egypt from 2005 to 2007, successfully colonizing and controlling P. ziziphi [11].
Three parasitoids of Parlatoria ziziphi are currently recorded from China, 2 Aphelinidae and 1 Encyrtidae (Table 1). The parasitoid behaviour and annual occurrence dynamics of Encarsia citrina were studied by Lei et al. (1988) [15] and Ren et al. (1988) [16]. In this paper, 5 parasitoids of P. ziziphi are investigated and identified from citrus plants in Fujian and Hunan Provinces. Two new species, Aphytis jinshanensis Wang & Huang, sp.n. and Aphytis nigromaculata Wang & Huang, sp.n. are described and illustrated. A phylogenetic tree based on 28SrDNA sequences is constructed to analyze the relationships of the 4 Aphytis parasitoids treated in this work. Moreover, the 5 Aphytis species (including 1 new species described here) having the mid-tibia tipped with black in the male are summarized with their scale hosts and distribution (Table 2), and an identification key to species is provided.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Collection of Parasitoids
Parlatoria ziziphi specimens were collected on citrus plants in Fujian and Hunan Provinces, and observed in the laboratory for parasitoid emergence. The parasitoids reared from these scales were preserved in 100% ethanol after emergence. For Aphytis parasitoids, the full-grown larvae or pupae were removed from the parasitized scale hosts before emergence, and placed each in an individually numbered plastic box (3 cm in diameter, 1.5 cm high), in which a filter paper was placed and a drop of water added daily to maintain humidity. The pigmentation of mature pupae, with green eyes, was then observed and photographed, and later used as an important supplementary diagnostic character for identification of Aphytis species.
2.2. Photographs and Slides of Parasitoids
Body colour of specimens, and the appearance of the propodeal crenulae and thoracic tergum of Aphytis specimens were described and photographed before slide-mounting. Specimens were slide-mounted for species identification following the method outlined by Noyes (1982) [23]. Specimens were photographed using a Nikon DS-Ri2 camera (Tokyo, Japan), with NIS-Elements Dv4.40 software, attached to a Nikon SMZ18 microscope. Slide-mounted specimens were photographed by a Nikon Ni microscope with the same camera and software. Type material and the other specimens examined in the study are deposited in the College of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China (FAFU).
2.3. DNA Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis
Genomic DNA was extracted using a non-destructive protocol following the method of Polaszek et al. (2013) [24]. Using a DNeasy^®^ blood and tissue kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), the extracted specimens were subsequently used for slide-mounting. The 28SrDNA-D2 expansion region was amplified with PCR using the D2-3551F/D2-4068R primer pair of Wang et al. (2024) [25]. Primer sequences and cycling conditions are given in Table 3. Reactions were performed in 25 µL volumes containing 12.5 µL 2× Taq PCR MasterMix II, 1 µL forward primer, 1 µL reverse primer, 2 µL genomic DNA extract and 8.5 µL ddH_2_O. All amplifications were confirmed by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA was sequenced at Sangon Biotech (Shanghai, China) using the same primers as for the PCR. Sequences were edited and verified using DNAMAN version 9.0 comparing forward and reverse sequences. All sequences were submitted to GenBank (Table 4).
Relevant reference sequences were downloaded from Genbank/NCBI, and all sequences used for analysis are shown in Table 4. The corresponding sequences were compared using MAFFT v7.505 [26], the aligned sequences were used to construct Bayesian phylogenetic tree with the MrBayes v3.2.7a [27]. Analyses were run using a GTR + F + I + G4 model of nucleotide substitution as this was determined as the most appropriate model with ModelFinder v2.2.0 [28]. All phylogenetic analyses of sequences were conducted on Phylosiuit v1.2.3 software [29].
2.4. Terminology and Abbreviations
Terminology follows Rosen and DeBach (1979) [22] with some modification, and the following abbreviations are used: F1, F2, etc. = funicle antennomeres 1, 2, etc.; T1, T2, etc. = gastral tergites 1, 2, etc.
Abbreviations for depositories of specimens are as follows: FAFUCollege of Plant Protection, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian, ChinaMNCNInstituto Espanol de Entomologia, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, SpainUSNMUnited States National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, USA
3. Results
3.1. Parlatoria ziziphi and Pupae or Mature Larvae of Parasitoids (Figure 1 and Figure 2)
Parlatoria ziziphi causes damage to citrus and pomelo plants by densely assembling on the leaves (Figure 1), leading to leaf drop and dead branch in severe cases. Female scales cover the hard shells, while male mostly soft. So the parasitoids primarily parasitize the male scales, although Encarsia citrina can be observed emerging from the male and female scales. The pupae or mature larvae of the 5 parasitoids on P. ziziphi are shown in Figure 2. The 4 species of Aphytis are ectoparasitoids, and E. citrina is an endoparasitoid.
3.2. Species Accounts
3.2.1. Aphytis nigromaculata Wang & Huang, sp.n. (Figure 3, Figure 4, Figure 5 and Figure 6)
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Diagnosis. Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n. belongs to the chrysomphali group and resembles A. mazalae DeBach & Rosen in having the tip of middle tibia black in the male, but can be distinguished from it mainly by male characters and pupal pigmentation: A. nigromaculata, sp.n.: antenna with F3 in the male obliquely truncate from both the dorsal and ventral to the central, forming a point (A. mazalae: F3 obliquely truncate from the dorsal to the ventral, ventral aspect considerably longer than the dorsal); A. nigromaculata, sp.n.: pupa characterized by brown to dark brown on the head and thorax, the male pupa darker (A. mazalae: pupa entirely yellow).
Description. Female. Body length 0.70–0.76 mm. Colour. Body yellow, mandibles black-brown; posterior margin of scutellum narrowly lined with black; thoracic sterna yellow. Leg and antenna concolorous with body, antennal pedicel, funicle and club faintly dusky, club dusky at apex, the tarsi of legs faintly dusky. Fore wing hyaline. Head. Eyes finely setose. Mandible with three sharp denticles. Antennal formula 1,1,3,1; scape slender, 4.75–6.00× as long as wide, 1.15× as long as club; pedicel 1.79–1.86× as long as wide, longer than F3; F1 and F2 small; F3 rectangular, 0.93–1.12× as long as wide, bearing 1 longitudinal sensillum; club 1.97–2.52× as long as wide, 2.28–2.50× as long as F3, bearing 4 longitudinal sensilla. Mesosoma. Mid lobe of mesoscutum with 10 setae; each side lobe of mesoscutum with 2 setae; each axilla with 1 seta; scutellum with 4 setae, the placoid sensilla usually closer to the anterior pair setae, scutellum 0.76–0.83× as long as the mid lobe of mesoscutum; Propodeum long, 0.79–0.89× as long as the scutellum, reticulate broadly on the central area, posterior margin slightly protruding, crenulae small and round, 4 + 4 to 7 + 5 forming 2 sets, nonoverlapping. Fore wing. 2.50–2.79× as long as wide; marginal fringe not exceeding 0.33× width of disk; delta area with 35 setae in 5 rows; submarginal vein bearing 2 setae; marginal vein bearing 8–10 setae along anterior margin. Leg. Mid-tibial spur nearly as long as the corresponding basitarsus; tarsal formula 5-5-5. Metasoma. Petiole and T1–T5 reticulate laterally, with transverse striation centrally. T1–T6 bearing 2 setae on each side, T5 and T6 with 2 setae centrally, T6 mostly reticulate, T7 triangular, indistinctly reticulate-striated, bearing 7 or 8 setae in 1 row. Ovipositor located basally at T3, 1.60–1.67× as long as mid tibia, third valvula short, 0.45–0.53× as long as mid-tibia.
Male. Body length 0.66–0.69 mm. Essentially similar to the female in structure, chaetotaxy, sculpture and colour, differing mainly in the colour of the middle tibia and the structure of the antenna. Antennal pedicel 1.55× as long as wide; F1 and F2 small; F3 obliquely truncate from both the dorsal and ventral to the central, forming a point, 1.65× as long as wide, bearing 1 longitudinal sensillum; club 2.19× as long as wide, 1.39× as long as F3, bearing 2 longitudinal sensilla. Mide lobe of mesoscutum with 10 setae, each side lobe with 2 setae; each axilla with 1 seta; scutellum with 4 setae, the placoid sensilla close to the posterior pair of setae. Propodeum 0.67× as long as the scutellum, crenulae as in the female. Fore wing 2.95× as long as wide, marginal fringe not exceeding 0.31× width of disk; delta area with 35 setae in 5 rows; submarginal vein bearing 2 setae; marginal vein bearing 10 setae along anterior margin. Male genitalia 0.67× as long as mid-tibia.
Pupa. The pupa of A. nigromaculata, sp.n. is characterized by brown to dark brown head and thorax; the gaster mostly yellow. The colour of the male pupa is darker, with the black tip of the middle tibia.
Host. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus.
Distribution. China (Fujian).
Etymology. The species name is derived from the Latin, nigro = black, maculata = patched, referring to a black patch on the tip of the middle tibia in the male.
Material. Holotype ♀, China: Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, FAFU, 9.iii.2018, ex. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus. coll. Yu Si and Junhui Zhou (FAFU); Paratypes 4♀2♂, same data as holotype (FAFU).
Note. A. nigromaculata, sp.n. parasitizes the male of P. ziziphi.
Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n., female. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n., female. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n., male. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n., male. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
3.2.2. Aphytis jinshanensis Wang & Huang, sp.n. (Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9 and Figure 10)
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Diagnosis. Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n. is considered to be related to, but not an actual member of, the chrysomphali group. This new species is closely related to A. chrysomphali (Mercet), but can be distinguished from it by: propodeum long, with a rather prominent median projection; crenulae clearly posteriorly elongate, 3 + 3 to 4 + 4 forming 1 set on the projection (A. chrysomphali: propodeum long, without a prominent median projection; crenulae not elongating backward, forming 2 sets). Thoracic sterna faintly dusky with a small black spot on each side of prothoracic sternum (A. chrysomphali: prothoracic sternum not marked a small black spot on each side).
Description. Female. Length 0.64–0.70 mm. Colour. Body yellow, mandibles black-brown; anterior margin of mid lobe of mesoscutum faintly dusky, two faintly dusky longitudinal stripe on the middle of scutellum, posterior margin of scutellum narrowly lined with black; thoracic sterna faintly dusky with a small black spot on each side of prothoracic sternum and a conspicuous longitudinal median black line on the stem of the mesosternal furca (“Y”). Legs and antennal scape concolorous with body; the base of pedicel, F2 and F3, the apex of club faintly dusky; Fore wing hyaline, faintly dusky at base and delta area. Head. Eyes finely setose. Mandible developed, with three sharp denticles. Antennal formula 1,1,3,1; scape slender, 4.69–5.80× as long as wide, longer than club; pedicel 1.40–1.63× as long as wide, longer than F3; F1 and F2 small; F3 0.92–1.09× as long as wide, somewhat rectangular, bearing 1 longitudinal sensillum; club 2.22–2.88× as long as wide, about 3× as long as F3, bearing 4–5 longitudinal sensilla. Mesosoma. Mid lobe of mesoscutum with 9–10 setae; each side lobe of mesoscutum with 2 setae; each axilla with 1 seta; scutellum with 4 setae, the placoid sensilla usually closer to the posterior than to the anterior pair of setae. Propodeum long, nearly as long as the scutellum, with a rather prominent median projection, reticulate broadly on the central area and weak on the sides; crenulae clearly posteriorly elongate, 3 + 3 to 4 + 4 forming 1 set on the projection, nonoverlapping. Fore wing. 2.87–3.00× as long as wide, marginal fringe not exceeding 0.33× width of disk; delta area with 33–38 setae in 4 or 5 rows; submarginal vein bearing 2 setae; marginal vein bearing 8 or 9 setae along anterior margin. Leg. Mid-tibial spur nearly as long as the corresponding basitarsus; tarsal formula 5-5-5. Metasoma. Petiole reticulate laterally, with weak transverse striations centrally. T1–T5 reticulate laterally, bearing 2 setae in each reticulate area, transverse striation across center. T5 and T6 with 2 setae centrally. T6 mostly reticulate. T7 triangular, bearing 6 setae in 1 row. Ovipositor located basally at T3, 1.35–1.43× as long as mid-tibia, third valvula short, 0.37× as long as mid-tibia.
Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n., female. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n., female. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
Male. Length 0.64–0.70 mm. Essentially similar to the female in structure, chaetotaxy, sculpture and colour, differing mainly in the antennal proportions. Antenna shorter than that of the female, scape about 3.50× as long as wide, 1.10× as long as club; pedicel 1.39× as long as wide, 1.33× as long as F3; F1 and F2 small; F3 0.92× as long as wide, bearing 1 longitudinal sensillum; club 2.06× as long as wide, 2.92× as long as F3, bearing 2 longitudinal sensilla. Propodeum 0.90× as long as the scutellum, crenulae 2 + 2 to 2 + 3, as in the female. Male genitalia 0.76× as long as mid-tibia.
Pupa. The pupa of A. jinshanensis, sp.n. is yellow, with the wing pads and appendages slightly tinted with brown; thoracic sterna faintly dusky, with a small black spot on each side of prothoracic sternum and a longitudinal black line on the mesosternum.
Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n., male. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n., male. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
Host. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus.
Distribution. China (Fujian).
Etymology. The new species was named after the collection locality, Jinshan.
Material. Holotype ♀, China: Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, FAFU, 22.xi.2023, ex. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus. coll. Jingtao Xi (FAFU); Paratypes 3♀2♂, same data as holotype (FAFU).
Note. A. jinshanensis, sp.n. parasitizes the male of P. ziziphi.
3.2.3. Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet) [30,31] (Figure 11 and Figure 12)
Aphelinus chrysomphali Mercet, 1912, Boletin de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Naturale, 12: 135–140. SPAIN (MNCN).
Aphytis chrysomphali (Mercet): New combination for Aphelinus chrysomphali Mercet by Timberlake, 1926, Proceeding of the Hawaiian Entomological Society, 6: 315; Rosen and DeBach, 1979, Species of Aphytis of the World, 593–598; Huang, 1994, Systematic Studies on Aphelinidae of China, 85–88.
Aphytis chrysomphali, female. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis chrysomphali, female. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
Host. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), A. citrina (Coquillett), Chrysomphalus dictyospermi (Morgan), Pseudaonidia trilobitiformis (Green), Melanaspis inopinata (Leonardi), and this parasitoid is also recorded associated with some additional diaspidid scales [17,22].
Distribution. China, Japan, India, Europe, North America, South America, Pacific islands, Oceania, North Africa.
Material. 5♀, China: Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, FAFU, 10.xi.2023, ex. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus. coll. Jingtao Xi; 2♀, China: Hunan, Yongzhou, 10.xii.2024, ex. P. ziziphi on citrus. coll. Jingtao Xi (FAFU).
Note. A. chrysomphali parasitizes the male and early stage female of P. ziziphi. This Aphytis parasitoid is an uniparental species [17,22], and only females were collected during the study.
3.2.4. Aphytis nr. melinus DeBach (Figure 13 and Figure 14)
Host. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus.
Distribution. China (Fujian).
Material. 1♂, China: Fujian, Fuzhou, Jinshan, FAFU, 25.xi.2023, ex. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus. coll. Jingtao Xi (FAFU).
Aphytis nr. melinus, male. (A) pupa in ventral view; (B) adult in dorsal view; (C) adult in ventral view; (D) metanotum and propodeum.
Aphytis nr. melinus, male. (A) antenna; (B) mesonotum and propodeum; (C) fore wing; (D) mesosoma and metasoma in ventral view.
Note. A. nr. melinus parasitizes the male of P. ziziphi. The pupa of A. nr. melinus is predominantly yellow, with the wing-pads and appendages slightly tinted with brown, and appears to be closely related to A. melinus DeBach [22] characterized by dark brown, well-defined pigmentation on the thoracic sterna, but differing from A. melinus mainly in a conspicuous longitudinal median black line on the stem of the mesosternal furca (“Y”).
3.2.5. Encarsia citrina (Craw) [32,33] (Figure 15)
Coccophagus citrinus Craw, 1891, Bulletin of the California State Board of Horticulture, 57: 4. Syntypes 2♀, USA: Califonia, San Gabriel Valley, 1889, ex. Aspidiotus citrinus, (lost); Neotype ♀, designated by DeBach and Rose, 1981, Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 83: 671, same data as syntypes (USNM).
Encarsia citrina (Craw): New combination for Coccophagus citrinus Craw by Riley and Howard, 1891, Insect Life, 4: 167–168; Huang, 1994, Systematic Studies on Aphelinidae of China, 196–199; Huang and Polaszek, 1998, Journal of Natural History, 32: 1858–1860.
Encarsia citrina, female. (A) adult in dorsal view; (B) antenna; (C) fore wing and submarginal vein.
Host. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus, P. pergandii Comstock, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), A. citrina (Coquillett), Chrysomphalus aonidum (Linnaeus), Unaspis yanonensis (Kuwana), Hemiberlesia pitysophila Takagi. This parasitoid is also recorded associated with a lot of diaspidid scales [17,34].
Distribution. China, Former USSR, Japan, India, Europe, North America, South America, Pacific islands, Australia.
Material. 4♀, China: Hunan, Yongzhou, 10.xii.2024, ex. Parlatoria ziziphi (Lucas) on citrus. coll. Jingtao Xi (FAFU).
Note. Encarsia citrina parasitizes the male and female of Parlatoria ziziphi.
3.3. Aphytis Species Having the Mid-Tibia Tipped with Black in the Male
The parasitoids of Parlatoria ziziphi are mainly Aphytis species (Table 1). A. nigromaculata, sp.n., described here, is characterized by a black spot on the tip of mid-tibia in the male. So far there are only 5 species, out of total of about 100 species of Aphytis, having the mid-tibia tipped with black in the male. This work summarizes these 5 Aphytis species (Table 2) and provides an identification key to species as follows.
- Propodeum 1.11–1.13x as long as scutellum………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..A. cornuaspis
--Propodeum 0.75–0.90x as long as scutellum………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
2.Fore wing with unequal setae along the marginal vein; antennal scape with specialized sensilla in the male………………………………..A. salvadorensis
--Without characteristics as above……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
3.Mandibles bidentate…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..A. erythraeus
--Mandibles tridentate or with 2 denticles and a dorsal truncation……………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
4.Mid-tibia faintly tipped with brownish in the female; mid-basitarsus black on basal half in the male; antennal F3 in the male obliquely truncate from the dorsal to the ventral, ventral aspect considerably longer than the dorsal; the pupa entirely yellow…………………………………………………..A. mazalae
--Mid-tibia yellow in the female; mid-basitarsus yellow in the male; antennal F3 in the male obliquely truncate from both the dorsal and ventral to the central, forming a point; the pupa with head and thoracic sterna blown to dark brown...……………………………………………….A. nigromaculata, sp.n.
3.4. Phylogenetic Analysis
In the Bayesian analysis (Figure 16), three Centrodora species (Aphelinidae) are the outgroup and the Aphytis species cluster on a large branch, in which the species of lingnanensis and proclia groups each cluster on a branch (1.00 posterior probability). The species of the chrysomphali group irregularly form 2 distinct branches. This group is probably polyphyletic in origin. Aphytis lepidosaphes and Aphytis cylindratus are distantly related to the other three species of the chrysomphali group. In morphology, Aphytis lepidosaphes and Aphytis cylindratus belong to the chrysomphali group, but their characteristics are closely related to the other groups. Aphytis nigromaculata, sp.n. is placed in a branch (0.77 posterior probability) with the species of proclia group, but it indeed belongs to the chrysomphali group. While Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n. is independent from the branch of the chrysomphali, lingnanensis and proclia groups, and clusters on the branch with Aphytis moldavicus*.*
4. Discussion
Aphytis species are the dominant parasitoids of Parlatoria ziziphi. However, it is difficult to identify the species, particularly those in the lingnanensis group, based on adult morphological characters. Wang et al. (2021) [35] presented four characteristic pigmentation patterns of Aphytis pupae: entirely yellow, partly dark brown, entirely or predominantly black, and partly black pupae, and pointed out that the pupal pigmentation characters are considered as an important supplementary diagnostic character for distinguishing species of Aphytis, especially closely-related species, as well as the adult morphological characters. In this work, A. nr. melinus belongs to the lingnanensis group, and appears to be closely related to A. melinus DeBach characterized by the pupa with dark brown, well-defined pigmentation on the thoracic sterna, but differing from A. melinus mainly by having a conspicuous longitudinal median black line on the stem of the mesosternal furca (“Y”). Also, A. nr. melinus has a significant genetic distance from A. melinus in the Bayesian analysis (Figure 16). As only one male individual of A. nr. melinus was collected, further identification of this species was not possible.
Molecular DNA analysis supports the status of Aphytis jinshanensis, sp.n. as an unassigned species, and it is closely related to A. moldavicus. In the Bayesian analysis (Figure 16), A. nigromaculata, sp.n. is placed in a branch with the proclia group, but they are significantly genetically separated. Actually, A. nigromaculata, sp.n. belongs to the chrysomphali group by characters and resembles A. mazalae DeBach & Rosen in the chrysomphali group.
In Table 1, the 2 species of Encyrtidae on P. ziziphi were recorded by Coll and Abd-Rabou (1998) [5], Yang (2004) [19] and Abd-Rabou and Badary (2012) [20], respectively. In our survey, however, all the parasitoids of P. ziziphi are Aphelinidae, with no Encytidae. So there is also a need for further and extensive investigation of parasitoids associated with P. ziziphi.
The reference list from the paper itself. Each links out to its DOI / PubMed record.
- 1EPPO Global Database Available online: https://gd.eppo.int(accessed on 13 April 2025)
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