Published August 4, 2023 | Version v1
Journal article Open

Torymus sinensis and its close relatives in Europe: a multilocus phylogeny, detailed morphological analysis, and identification key

  • 1. Al. I. Cuza University of Iasi, Agigea, Romania
  • 2. Al. I. Cuza University of Iasi, Iaşi, Romania
  • 3. Le Bourg, St Marcel du Périgord, Ste Alvère, France
  • 4. UMR INRAE-CNRS-Université Côte d'Azur, Sophia Antipolis Cedex, France

Description

The introduction of the biological control agent Torymus sinensis Kamijo (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Torymidae) to control the populations of the chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae) is considered one of the successful programs in biological control. The species was involved in interspecific hybridisation in Japan and the specimens imported into Europe were derived from this hybrid lineage, showing signs of introgression. The discovery of mitochondrial haplotypes or possible Enolase haplotypes from T. beneficus or of specimens with shorter ovipositor does not necessarily imply that T. beneficus is present in Europe, only that the European specimens are of hybrid origin. Of the native European Torymus species associated with D. kuriphilus, the molecular and morphometric results indicate Torymus notatus (Walker) as the closest species to T. sinensis. The two are part of the same species-group (cyaneus group), are nested together in the multivariate ratio analysis and are the closest genetically based on all three nuclear markers: Enolase (1.5% divergence), Wingless (2%) and ITS2 (13%). However, on the mitochondrial marker COI the closest species is Torymus rubi (Schrank) at 9.9% divergence. As such, T. notatus is the most likely candidate for accidental interspecific hybridisation if this is to happen in Europe. We provide an illustrated identification key for the European species of Torymus associated with D. kuriphilus, an important but lacking tool for biological control programs.

Files

ASP_article_98141.pdf

Files (38.8 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:e72d10d45306c6c40cfff7e6826f7a9d
38.8 MB Preview Download

System files (354.0 kB)

Name Size Download all
md5:b1b62f37206c9e425c1695d418764841
354.0 kB Download

Linked records

Additional details