Integrating Molecular, Ecological and Morphological Data to Explore the Biodiversity of Microgastrine Parasitoid Wasps

Species diversity and ecology of the Microgastrinae (Braconidae) was explored in the context of the caterpillar and parasitoid inventory of the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste (ACG) in Costa Rica. To understand species relationships and patterns in host utilization, a phylogeny was reconstructed for Apanteles, the largest genus. A five-gene phylogeny recovered a strong repeating pattern of clades restricted to and diversifying on distinct host taxonomic groups. Integrating CO1 DNA sequences (barcodes) revealed the presence of at least 36 provisional species in the Apanteles leucostigmus cryptic species complex from ACG, each attacking one or a very few closely related species of pyrgine hesperiid. Mean interspecific CO1% sequence divergence was 4.869 (ranged from 0.511 to 9.977). For a more comprehensive view of species diversity, this dissertation expands the scope of the microgastrine inventory by using Malaise traps (MTs) to collect. MTs increased the known diversity of ACG Microgastrinae from 491 to approximately 773 provisional species. This dissertation also investigated correlations between the morphology of the male genitalia and ecology of female microgastrine wasps. The morphology of the insect ovipositor apparatus is often functionally constrained for females and strongly correlated with and convergent on feeding behavior of its host caterpillars. Discriminant analysis found that male genitalia shape was also correlated with the convergent nature of female ovipositor morphology.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Entomology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2014

Author dc:creator

• Rodriguez, Josephine Jose

Contributors dc:contributor

• Whitfield, James B.

• Biology, Entomology

Identifier

(UMI)AAI3392456

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/72503