Advances in Taxonomy and Systematics of Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera) Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Charuwat Taekul, M.S. Graduate Program in Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology ***** The Ohio State University 2012 Dissertation Committee: Dr. Norman F. Johnson, Advisor Dr. Johannes S. H. Klompen Dr. John V. Freudenstein Dr. Marymegan Daly Copyright by Charuwat Taekul 2012 ABSTRACT Wasps, Ants, Bees, and Sawflies one of the most familiar and important insects, are scientifically categorized in the order Hymenoptera. Parasitoid Hymenoptera display some of the most advanced biology of the order. Platygastroidea, one of the significant groups of parasitoid wasps, attacks host eggs more than 7 insect orders. Despite its success and importance, an understanding of this group is still unclear. I present here the world systematic revisions of two genera in Platygastroidea: Platyscelio Kieffer and Oxyteleia Kieffer, as well as introduce the first comprehensive molecular study of the most important subfamily in platygastroids as biological control benefit, Telenominae. For the systematic study of two Old World genera, I address the taxonomic history of the genus, identification key to species, as well as review the existing concepts and propose descriptive new species. Four new species of Platyscelio are discovered from South Africa, Western Australia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. Four species are considered to be junior synonyms of P. pulchricornis. Fron nine valid species of Oxyteleia, the new species are discovered throughout Indo-Malayan and Australasian regions in total of twenty-seven species. The genus Merriwa Dodd, 1920 is considered to be a new synonym. To better understanding of the relationships of subfamily Telenominae, I reconstruct the phylogeny based on approximately 3.7 kb of DNA sequence from 4 ii molecular markers (18S, 28S, COI and EF1-α) expanding 80 terminals: 6 genera (11 species groups), 5 broad-ranged out group genera. Results are drawn from both parsimony and statistical analyses (Bayesian and Maximum likelihood), and from 6 character coding and partitioning schemes. The molecular evidence showed that the subfamily is not monophyletic: one clade, the Psix group of genera, forms a monophyletic group with species of the tribe Gryonini, subfamily Scelioninae. Monophyletic clades were recovered with strong support including (Psix+Paratelenomus) and Gryon; Telenominae, s.str. (without Gryon and Psix group of genera); Phanuromyia and Telenomus crassiclava species group; Telenomus laricis species group; and Telenomus longicornis species group. The genera Eumicrosoma and Platytelenomus are nested within Telenomus californicus species complex. Pentatomoidea (Hemiptera) is the plesiomorphic host. The species in the clade Phanuromyia + Telenomus crassiclava species group all shared the same host group, Auchenorrhyncha (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae and Flatidae). The monophyly of the major genera Telenomus and Trissolcus is not supported; the interrelationships of their component species are largely unresolved. iii Dedication This work is dedicated to all of those in the United States and Thailand who gave me the opportunity and inspiration to work hard, overcome every kind of scientific and cultural obstacle, and see this project through to a successful conclusion. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I have been passionate for detail, organizing, illustration, and nature since I was young. I am very lucky that my characters are related to my professional career. The dream of becoming systematist, however, would not have come true without the involvement of several people and I am most deeply indebted to my mentors, colleagues, friends, and family. First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Norman F. Johnson, for the intellectual support, encouragement, and the hours of his dedicated works making me a better scientist. I am thankful for his patience with my insanity, as well as for the logic and intellect that he impressed upon me. He truly is the role model. I would also like to express my gratitude to the members of my committee, Dr. Johannes S. H. Klompen, Dr. John V. Freudenstein, and Dr. Marymegan Daly, for providing guidance and support throughout my graduate education. I am grateful to Dr.Hans to put up with a whining student in the molecular lab. Thanks to John V.F. giving me many unforgettable memories, the discussion at MBD lunch table in particular. I thanks to Dr. Meg’s enthusiasm, giving me more energy. I also thank to Dr. John Wenzel, my former committee member, for advice and encouragement. v One chapter of this research, the molecular phylogeny of Telenominae, could not have succeeded with the primary help from two people: Dr. Alejandro A. Valerio (molecular technique and discussion) and Joseph R. Cora (statistical analyses). I am indebted to their support. This research would not be complete without the help of other taxonomists, from whom the specimens of my study have been borrowed, allowing me to examine approximately more than 1500 loaned specimens. Thanks also must be given to the curators of the museums indicated in the publications. I am grateful to the officemate I have made during my stay, Elijah J. Talamas, for giving me stimulating discussions, moral support and encouragement in both life and study. I would finally like to thank the following members of the Ohio State University Insect Collection, who made my life here more enjoyable: Dr. Luciana Musetti, Dr. Roger A. Burks, Joseph R. Cora, and Sara E. Hemly. My intellectual and philosophical knowledge could not be improved without surrounding by several scholars at MBD. I thanks to these people: Mike Broe, Ryan Folk, Ryan Caesar, Glene Mynhardt, Jeff Rose, Brandon Sinn, Mesfin Tadesse, Ryan Kitko, Paul Larson, Erin Morris, Elijah Talamas, Alejandro Valerio, and Matt Yoder. My graduate study was supported by the Agricultural Research Development Agency, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand, and by the National Science Foundation, USA. vi On a personal note, I thank to Carey K. S., Havely M., Khunying Prapaisri Pitakprivan, and Dr. Manita Kongchuensin for moral support and always believing in me. I am pleased to thank my parents, Dumrong and Jarunee Taekul, and both my elder brother and sister, Natthakarn and Tanate Taekul, for moral support. The last six years in my graduate program have meant more to me than the study of systematics, describing species, molecular systematics, and mastering the English language. I now have a better understanding of the importance of passions, sciences, nature, and thus have grown to love the flora and fauna of the world more than ever before. vii VITA December 18, 1975 ....................................................Born – Krabi, Thailand March 1998 ................................................................B.S. Entomology (Honors) Kasetsart University, Thailand 1999 – Present ............................................................Official Government, Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand. 2008............................................................................M.S. Entomology, The Ohio State University, USA 2010 – 2011................................................................Research Aide, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University PUBLICATIONS 1. Taekul, C., Johnson, N.F., Masner, L., Polaszek, A. & Rajmohana, K. (2010) World species of the genus Platyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Zookeys, 50:97 – 126. 2. Taekul, C., Johnson, N.F., Masner,L., Rajmohana K., & Shu–Pei, C. (2008) Revision of the world species of the genus Fusicornia Risbec (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae, Scelioninae). Zootaxa, 1966:1–52 viii FIELD OF STUDY Major Field: Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology Areas of Emphasis: Entomology, Taxonomy, Systematics, and Molecular Phylogeny ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Abstract .......................................................................................................................... ii Dedication ...................................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgments........................................................................................................... v Vita .............................................................................................................................. viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................ xv List of Figures ............................................................................................................ xvii Chapters: 1. General Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 Hymenoptera ....................................................................................................... 1 Parasitoid Hymenoptera ...................................................................................... 2 Superfamily Platygastroidea ............................................................................... 3 Taxonoic history ................................................................................................. 3 Diversity and geographic distribution ................................................................