Identity of wasp parasitoids (Hymenoptera) attacking Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in South Africa

Authors

  • Simon van Noort Research and Exhibitions Department, South African Museum, Iziko Museums of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa ; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6930-9741
  • Jose Fernandez-Triana Canadian National Collection of Insects, Ottawa, Canada https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0425-0309
  • Hannes Baur Department of Invertebrates, Natural History Museum Bern, Switzerland; Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Switzerland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1360-3487
  • Mark R Shaw National Museums of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2254-8854/2022/a11738

Keywords:

Alien species, biocontrol, Braconidae, Cotesia glomerata, invasive species, parasitoid wasps, Pteromalidae, Pteromalus puparum, taxonomy

Abstract

The alien invasive large cabbage white, Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pieridae), although introduced into South Africa more than 27 years ago, has not dramatically expanded its distribution, possibly because it is effectively attacked by two parasitoid wasp species. Even though there is a cohort of parasitoid species associated with P. brassicae in the Northern Hemisphere, these are the only two recorded parasitoids in South Africa. We determine these parasitoid wasps as Cotesia glomerata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) and Pteromalus puparum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pteromalidae), and provide high resolution images and DNA barcodes to facilitate their recognition. This is the first record of C. glomerata from the Afrotropical region.

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Published

2022-05-12

How to Cite

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van Noort S, Fernandez-Triana J, Baur H, Shaw MR. Identity of wasp parasitoids (Hymenoptera) attacking Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) in South Africa . Afr. Entomol. [Internet]. 2022 May 12 [cited 2024 Apr. 26];30. Available from: https://www.africanentomology.com/article/view/11738

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