title: Molecular and morphological variability within the Aphidius colemani group with redescription of Aphidius platensis Brethes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae).
abstract: We have identified the following three taxa related to the Aphidius colemani species group, which are important biological control agents: Aphidius colemani, Aphidius transcaspicus and Aphidius platensis. Using partial sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene and geometric morphometric analysis of the forewing shape, we have explored the genetic structure and morphological variability of the A. colemani group from different aphid host/plant associations covering a wide distribution area. The topology of the maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood trees were identical with 98-100% bootstrap support, clustering A. colemani, A. platensis and A. transcaspicus into separate species. The distances among the taxa ranged from 2.2 to 4.7%, which is a common rate for the between-species divergence within the subfamily Aphidiinae. Differences in the shape of the forewing investigated within the biotypes of A. colemani group are congruent with their genetic diversification. Both A. platensis and A. colemani share a common host range pattern, and it would be interesting to estimate and compare the role of these two species in future biological control strategies against aphids of economic importance. Our results indicate that 'genetic screening' is a reliable approach for identification within the A. colemani group. The high variation in the wing shape among species, including a significant divergence in the wing shape among specimens that emerged from different hosts, makes the forewing shape and wing venation less reliable for species determination. Aphidius platensis is diagnostified and redescribed, and the key for the A. colemani group is presented.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology,University of Belgrade,Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade,Serbia.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tomanović
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology,University of Belgrade,Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade,Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrović
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Pests,Institute for Plant Protection and Environment,Banatska 33, 11080 Zemun,Serbia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitrović
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agricultural Entomology, Department of Entomology and Agricultural Zoology,Benaki Phytopathological Institute,8 Stefanou Delta str., Kifissia, 14561, Attica,Greece.
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Kavallieratos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Aphidology,Institute of Entomology,Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice,Czech Republic.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Starý
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture,Zabol University,P.O.Box: 998615-538, Zabol,I.R. Iran.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rakhshani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Basic Science,University of Zabol,P.O.Box: 998615-538, Zabol,I.R.Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rakhshanipour
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology,University of Belgrade,Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade,Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Popović
authors.affiliation: Elmergib University Faculty of Arts and Sciences,Zliten,Libya.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Shukshuk
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biology, Institute of Zoology,University of Belgrade,Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade,Serbia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivanović
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D008297:Male; D010802:Phylogeny; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014863:Wasps / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D004247:DNA