Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.29, No.3, 2013 FIRST RECORD OF GENUS APHAERETA FOERSTER (ALYSIINAE: BRACONIDAE: HYMENOPTERA) FROM PAKISTAN WITH TAXONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL NOTES ON APHAERETA PALLIPES (SAY) MIAN INAYATULLAH*, QURRATUL AIN TAHIRA and MIAN SABAHATULLAH Department of Entomology, The University of Agriculture, Peshawar – Pakistan *Correspondence author: [email protected] ABSTRACT Genus Aphaereta Foerster is recorded for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. Aphaereta pallipes (Say) an important house fly parasitoid is recorded and (re)described. New distributional records, improved description of both male and female, notes on its Biology and Illustrations of important diagnostic characters are provided in this work. Variations within species are given. Keywords: Braconidae, Alysiinae, Alysiini, Aphaereta, Aphaereta pallipes Citation: Inayayullah. M., Q. A. Tahira and Sabahatullah. 2013. First record of genus aphaereta foerster (alysiinae: braconidae: hymenoptera) from pakistan with taxonomic and biological notes on aphaereta pallipes (say). Sarhad J. Agric. 29(3): 401-405 INTRODUCTION Genus Aphaereta Foerster is a moderately speciose genus in the tribe Alysiini with 39 species occurring world wide (Shenefelt, 1974; Wharton, 2002; Samiuddin et al 2008). The genus can be easily recognized by the: forewing vein (RS+M)a absent; F2 longer than F1; hairy mandibles, long and hairy ovipositor and the open subdiscal cell in the forewing. According to Wharton (2002) the genus is more closely related to Asobara. It can be separated by the absence of vein (RS+M)a on forewing while it is present Asobara. Aphaereta species are primary endoparasitoids of Anthomyiidae, Chloropida, Muscidae, Otitidae, Sarcophgidae and Tephritidae. Species of this genus are therefore of value in the natural and biological control of pest species in these families (Wharton, 1984). Wharton (1980) reviewed the Nearctic Alysiinae. Tobias (1995) provided key to 10 known species in Palearctic. Berry (2007) reviewed the Alysiinae of New Zealand and recorded two species including A. pallipes and A. aotae from the continent. Samiuddin et al., (2008) were the first to record the genus and three new species: viz: A. breviterebrata sp. nov., A. indica sp. nov. and A. minys sp. nov from India. In the present study Aphaereta pallipes (Say) is recorded for the first time from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan with new distributional records. This is also the first record for Pakistan. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is part of a braconids survey in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province that started from 2001 to 2011. Different ecological zones were sampled ranging from 200 to 3000 meters above sea level. Collection of specimens was done using hand net, malaise traps and rearing of Dipterus larvae and pupae. Aphaereta specimens were sorted out and put in 50 % alcohol for twenty four hours. Specimens were then transferred to 95 % alcohol for two hours and then mounted on card points. Specimens were observed under a stereomicroscope with up to 300X magnification. Measurements were recorded using an ocular micrometer fitted in one eyepiece of microscope. Line drawings of forewing and ovipositor were drawn. The Comstock Needham system of wing vein nomenclature is followed. Terminology of wing vein nomenclature is that of Wharton (1997). Harris (1979) is followed for surface sculpturing. The following abbreviations are used: F1= first flageller segment. F2= second flageller segment. T1= petiole (first metasomal segment); IMAUP= Insect Museum, Agricultural University, Peshawar. Mian Inayatullah, et al. First record of genus aphaereta foerster (alysiinae: braconidae: hymenoptera)… 402 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Aphaereta pallipes (Say) Alysia pallipes Say. Contribution of the Maclurian Lyceum to the Arts and Science, 1(1828):67-83. Diagnosis Predominantly dark reddish brown. T1 yellow, contrasting with dark brown metasoma, rugose and carinate, dorsope distinct. Remaining metasoma smooth and shining. Female antenna with 18-21 flagellomeres, male with 19-23 flagellomeres, flagellomeres gradually shortening distally. Notauli present on anterior 1/4th portion of mesoscutum, crenulate. Ovipositor sheath equals metasoma in length, with moderately long and sparse setae. Description of Female Berry (2007) has provided a detailed description and illustrations of the species. A (re)description based on available material is provided here. Specimens collected here have some variations from other descriptions, which are mentioned here along with similarities. Measurements Body Length 1.7-2.5 mm, Antenna 2-2.4 mm, Fore Wing Length 2.0 mm Colour Flagellum, head, meso- and metathorax dorsally and laterally, propodeum, metasoma except T1 and tip dark reddish brown; apices of mandibles black; scape, pedicle, mouthparts, pronotum, prosternum, metasoma at tip and ventral side, legs and T1 yellow. Head Distinctly broader than mesosoma, transverse, polished, shining, face broader than long, smooth; with long setae; clypeus distinct, transverse, broader than long, setae on clypeus denser and longer than on face, distance between anterior tentorial pits more than twice the distance between eye and anterior tentorial pits; mandible with three teeth, with sparse scattered setae, tooth 1 and 2 blunt and shorter, middle tooth longer and pointed, eyes broader than long, convex in lateral view, with sparse setae; setae a little longer than ommatidium width; occiput wider than eye length, bare and polished; face smooth, wider than high, with sparse long setae; antennae longer than body (excluding the ovipositor) by 1.2-1.24X , with 19- 23 flagellomeres, F1 1.4X longer than F2, flagellomeres gradually becoming shorter distally, basal flagellomeres cylindrical, distal ones tapering at both ends, all flagellomeres longer than broad, with setae, setae longer than the width of flagellomeres. Terminal flagellomere pointed. Mesosoma Pronotum narrow dorsally, propleuron crenulate. Mesoscutum smooth, shining, without midpit, scutellar sulcus two pitted; notauli present on anterior 1/4th portion of mesoscutum, notauli crenulate, with patches of setae at anterior end; mesopleuron smooth shining; sternaulus distinct, crenulate. scutellum convex, smooth and shining, with a pair of long setae; propodeum with a median longitudinal carina on anterior 2/3rd portion, carina bifurcates posteriorly making a closed triangular areola A transverse carina above the bifurcation point also present. Propodeal spiracle small, enclosed by small areola. Wings hyaline, pterostigma and veins light brown; vein r equals vein r-m in length, second submarginal cell slightly narrowed distally; vein 3RSb reaching wing tip and slightly bends anteriorly while joining the wing tip. Vein 1-M not developed except a short stub distally (Fig. 1). Legs long, hind femur surpassing tip of metasoma, 5th tarsal segment with long setae; hind basitarsus equals next three segments in length; claw slender, long. F Fig.1. Forewing Sarhad J. Agric. Vol.29, No.3, 2013 403 Metasoma T1 humped, broadening distally, with two lateral carinae, rugose, rugosity more pronounced in center, rugose area on T1 narrowing posteriorly, yellow or orange; dorsope present and well developed, remaining metasoma reddish brown, smooth, polished and shining, all segments broader than long, with rows of sparse and short setae. Hypopygium short, not reaching tip of metasoma. Ovipositor well exerted, wider distally, length almost equals metasoma length, with moderately long and sparse setae. In most specimens studied basal half with shorter and proximal with longer setae (Fig. 2). Fig. 2. Tip of abdomen showing ovipositor sheath. Male Same as in female except lighter in colour than female, predominantly yellow to brownish yellow. Smaller in size than female. Length 1.7- 1.9. mm, antenna as in female except that segments are more cylindrical and delicate; with up to 25 flagellomeres. Notauli more prominent than of female. Pronotum longer dorsally than of female and with carinate rugosity. Metasoma yellow to light brown, depressed. In females T1 is yellow to orange, remaining metasomal segments with contrastingly dark brown. In males the colour of T1 is the same but remaining segments gradually becoming yellowish light brown. Distribution In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, this species is recorded from Swabi, Charsadda, Peshawar, Mingora and D. I. Khan. Outside Pakistan the species is recorded from USA, New Zealand, Australia, UK, Turkey and Mexico (Wharton, 1980; Berry, 2007; Hughes and Woolcock. 1976) Variations Recorded Majority of the specimens of Aphaereta pallipes (Say) found in the province tally with the descriptions provided by Berry (2007). However, the color of prothorax, and venter of metasoma are yellow in some specimens. Propodeum light reddish brown to dark brown. Flagellar segments 19-22 as against 19 to 23 in published descriptions. Rugosity of T1 also differs in some specimens. In the examined specimens densely rugose area is wider as compared published descriptions and illustrations. These variations however are minor and not consistent therefore the specimens cannot be described as new species Biology and Biological Control Potential In the present study this species was reared from Dipterous pupae. It was found that from a single pupa 0-5 parasitoids emerged. The overall parasitism was recorded to be 0-20 percent. In the present studies the parasitism was low as compared to 78 percent recorded by Houser and Wingo (1967) on Orthellia caesarion