A new species of solitary Meteorus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reared from caterpillars of toxic butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Ecuador.
A new species of parasitoid wasp, Meteorus rugonasus Shaw and Jones (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), is described from the Yanayacu Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. The new species is diagnosed and compared to other species in the genus. It was reared from larvae of Pteronymia zerlina (Hewitson, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Ithomiinae) found feeding on leaves of Solanum (Solanaceae). The parasitoid is solitary. This is the first record of a Meteorus species attacking ithomiine Nymphalidae. A new species of parasitoid wasp, Meteorus rugonasus Shaw and Jones (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), is described from the Yanayacu Biological Station, Napo Province, Ecuador. The new species is diagnosed and compared to other species in the genus. It was reared from larvae of Pteronymia zerlina (Hewitson, 1855) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae, Ithomiinae) found feeding on leaves of Solanum (Solanaceae). The parasitoid is solitary. This is the first record of a Meteorus species attacking ithomiine Nymphalidae.
Shaw
Scott R
SR
Insect Museum, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming 82071-3354, USA. braconid@uwyo.edu
Jones
Guinevere Z
GZ
D000818:Animals; D002080:Butterflies / Q000469:parasitology*; D004484:Ecuador; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D013045:Species Specificity; D014863:Wasps / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*