The genus Calotelea Westwood, 1837 (Scelionidae) of the Indian region is revised. Fifteen new spe... more The genus Calotelea Westwood, 1837 (Scelionidae) of the Indian region is revised. Fifteen new species of Calotelea - C. andamanensis sp. n., C. aurea sp. n., C. brevinotaularis sp. n., C. hodgsoni sp. n., C. kannagiae sp. n., C. lambodara sp. n., C. longistriata sp. n., C. mandavyai sp. n., C. marykingsleyae sp. n., C. microtrichiana sp. n., C. nigriventris sp. n., C. oloftoreni sp. n., C. sibyllamerianae sp. n., C. sushrutai sp. n. and C. trikona sp. n. - are described and imaged. Images of previously described species, C. auriventria Sharma, 1978 and C. immaculata Sharma, 1982, are also provided. Calotelea cameroni (Masner, 1965) is revalidated and redescribed as Probaryconus cameroni Masner, 1965 status revalidated based on morphological characters. Keys to females and known males of Indian species of Calotelea are furnished. While sexual dimorphism with differently coloured males and females has been reported earlier in some species of Calotelea, intrasexual colour dimorphism among females of a species is reported here for the first time.
The superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupomorpha) is a diverse group of parasitoid... more The superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupomorpha) is a diverse group of parasitoid wasps that are parasitoids of nine orders of insects as well as spiders. They appear to show a clear pattern of host group specificity among genera. A robust phylogeny is essential for devising a stable and informative classification and understanding the pattern of the shifts to parasitize new host groups. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of Platygastroidea based on four molecular markers (18S, 28S, COI and wingless) and 119 morphological characters, and a phylogenomic analysis of a subset of taxa based on 4371 single‐copy, protein‐coding genes. The four‐gene analyses, both with and without morphological data, robustly recovered some well‐established groups, e.g., Platygastridae (in its traditional sense), Scelionini, Teleasinae and Telenominae, as well as some novel patterns of relationship. The ground‐plan host for the superfamily are the eggs of Orthoptera, with multiple shifts to attack new host groups. The phylogenomic analysis of a subset of taxa recovered a clear pattern of relationships for the backbone of the superfamily with maximal bootstrap support. Based on the combination of these two approaches, we present a revised classification for Platygastroidea and recognize the following eight families: Geoscelionidae stat.rev., Janzenellidae fam.nov., Neuroscelionidae fam.nov., Nixoniidae stat.rev., Platygastridae stat.rev., Proterosceliopsidae†, Scelionidae stat.rev. and Sparasionidae stat.rev.
A new species,PlatygasterharpagocerasPopovici & Veenakumari, is described from India. The most un... more A new species,PlatygasterharpagocerasPopovici & Veenakumari, is described from India. The most unusual features of this species are the acuminate shape of the last antennomere and the 9-merous antenna in both sexes. The male and female are described and illustrated with brightfield and scanning electron microscopy. We provide a comparative analysis of the acuminate distal antennomere in the superfamily Chalcidoidea, including several genera of Pteromalidae (CallitulaSpinola,HomoporusThomson,NorbanusWalker,RhaphitelusWalker).
The Platygastroidea is a highly diverse group of small to minute parasitoid wasps. Despite the re... more The Platygastroidea is a highly diverse group of small to minute parasitoid wasps. Despite the reduced size, the morphology of the maxillolabial complex of scelionids is very diverse and phylogenetically informative. 81 characters are scored for 129 genera (representing 75% of the total number of known extant genera of scelionids), as well as for seven outgroup taxa. All taxa examined are illustrated with images, SEM micrographs and/or line drawings. Phylogenetic trees resulting from analyses conducted in TNT under various settings were not fully resolved, but some relationships were repeatedly retrieved. The Platygastroidea are usually corroborated. Nixoniini, Sparasionini, Plaumannion and Huddlestonium are frequently retrieved as the most basal platygastroid lineages. Psix and Paratelenomus often form a monophyletic group close to Gryonini. The Scelioninae, Teleasinae and Telenominae are not supported as monophyletic. However, some major scelionid clades are frequently retrieved, ...
The Palearctic species of the genus Fidiobia are revised, seventeen new species are described (F.... more The Palearctic species of the genus Fidiobia are revised, seventeen new species are described (F. bohemicasp. nov.; F. brevialissp. nov.; F. communissp. nov.; F. gallicasp. nov.; F. hirtasp. nov.; F. insoonaesp. nov.; F. lisenchiaesp. nov.; F. longiclavasp. nov.; F. nipponicasp. nov.; F. platystasioidessp. nov.; F. politoidessp. nov.; F. pronotatoidessp. nov.; F. roataisp. nov.; F. rugosifronsoidessp. nov.; F. sashaisp. nov.; F. tripotinisp. nov.; F. vladlubomirisp. nov.), and eleven species (F. brevinotaula Veenakumari et al., 2018; F. filicornis Buhl, 2014; F. flaviabdominalis Veenakumari et al., 2018; F. hispanica Popovici & Buhl, 2010; F. hofferi Kozlov, 1978; F. polita Buhl, 1998; F. pronotata Szabó, 1958; F. rugosifrons Crawford, 1916; F. striatitergitis (Szabó, 1962); F. synergorum (Kieffer, 1921); F. vanharteni Buhl, 2010) are redescribed. A key for identification of females and distributional data for each species are provided. Brachypterous specimens are reported for F. ru...
This paper presents an overview of the most important and best-known works that were the subject ... more This paper presents an overview of the most important and best-known works that were the subject of taxonomy or systematics Platygastroidea superfamily. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part of the research surprised the early period can be placed throughout the XIXth century between Latreille and Dalla Torre. Before this period, references about platygastrids and scelionids were made by Linnaeus and Schrank, they are the ones who described the first platygastrid and scelionid respectively. In this the first period work entomologists as: Haliday, Westwood, Walker, Forster, Ashmead, Thomson, Howard, etc., the result of their work being the description of 699 scelionids species which are found quoted in Dalla Torre's catalogue. The second part of the paper is devoted to early 20th century. This vibrant work is marked by the work of two great entomologists: Kieffer and Dodd. In this period one publish the first and only global monograph of platygastrids and sceli...
FIGURES 18–24. Tetrabaeus americanus, FEMALE (SEM): 18. HEAD, FRONTAL VIEW; 19. BACK OF THE HEAD;... more FIGURES 18–24. Tetrabaeus americanus, FEMALE (SEM): 18. HEAD, FRONTAL VIEW; 19. BACK OF THE HEAD; 20. FORE-TIBIAL SPUR; 21. MESOSOMA,DORSAL VIEW;22. MESOSOMA,LATERAL VIEW;23. METASOMA,DORSAL VIEW;24. METASOMA,VENTRAL VIEW.
The wasp genus Macroteleia Westwood from China has been previously revised, but some species are ... more The wasp genus Macroteleia Westwood from China has been previously revised, but some species are only known from males. Here the females of two known species are described: M. carinigena Chen, Johnson, Masner & Xu and M. gracilis Chen, Johnson, Masner & Xu. In addition, one species is redescribed: M. variegata Kozlov & Kononova; and one species is described as new: Macroteleia xui Hong & Chen, sp. nov.Macroteleia ischtvani Kononova, syn. nov. is proposed as new synonym of M. variegata Kozlov & Kononova.
Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”
In this paper, new data concerning the occurrence and distribution of Xylomoia graminea (Graeser,... more In this paper, new data concerning the occurrence and distribution of Xylomoia graminea (Graeser, 1889) in Romania are given. Pictures of specimen and male genitalia are provided.
Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”
This study presents the genera Iphitrachelus Haliday, 1836 and Baryconus Förster, 1856 with the s... more This study presents the genera Iphitrachelus Haliday, 1836 and Baryconus Förster, 1856 with the species B. graeffei (Kieffer, 1908), I. lar Haliday, 1836 and I. gracilis Masner, 1957 as new records for the Romanian fauna.
Abstract. The genus Fidiobia Ashmead of the subfamily Sceliotrachelinae is represented by 26 spec... more Abstract. The genus Fidiobia Ashmead of the subfamily Sceliotrachelinae is represented by 26 species worldwide. Only two species viz. F. nagarajae Veenakumari et al. and F. virakthamati Veenakumari et al. were described from India. Surveys conducted from different parts of India resulted in 22 new species of Fidiobia: F. brevinotaula sp. nov., F. carinata sp. nov., F. crocea sp. nov., F. dantela sp. nov., F. decora sp. nov., F. doddi sp. nov., F. flaviabdominalis sp. nov., F. flavifrons sp. nov., F. fusca sp. nov., F. galben sp. nov., F. hima sp. nov., F. leptidantela sp. nov., F. longiabdominalis sp. nov., F. multicarinata sp. nov., F. nandi sp. nov., F. nilgiriensis sp. nov., F. prashanthi sp. nov., F. punyakoti sp. nov., F. setosa sp. nov., F. striatipleura sp. nov., F. szaboi sp. nov. and F. vandu sp. nov. All the 24 species from India are illustrated and a dichotomous key is provided.
The genus Calotelea Westwood, 1837 (Scelionidae) of the Indian region is revised. Fifteen new spe... more The genus Calotelea Westwood, 1837 (Scelionidae) of the Indian region is revised. Fifteen new species of Calotelea - C. andamanensis sp. n., C. aurea sp. n., C. brevinotaularis sp. n., C. hodgsoni sp. n., C. kannagiae sp. n., C. lambodara sp. n., C. longistriata sp. n., C. mandavyai sp. n., C. marykingsleyae sp. n., C. microtrichiana sp. n., C. nigriventris sp. n., C. oloftoreni sp. n., C. sibyllamerianae sp. n., C. sushrutai sp. n. and C. trikona sp. n. - are described and imaged. Images of previously described species, C. auriventria Sharma, 1978 and C. immaculata Sharma, 1982, are also provided. Calotelea cameroni (Masner, 1965) is revalidated and redescribed as Probaryconus cameroni Masner, 1965 status revalidated based on morphological characters. Keys to females and known males of Indian species of Calotelea are furnished. While sexual dimorphism with differently coloured males and females has been reported earlier in some species of Calotelea, intrasexual colour dimorphism among females of a species is reported here for the first time.
The superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupomorpha) is a diverse group of parasitoid... more The superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupomorpha) is a diverse group of parasitoid wasps that are parasitoids of nine orders of insects as well as spiders. They appear to show a clear pattern of host group specificity among genera. A robust phylogeny is essential for devising a stable and informative classification and understanding the pattern of the shifts to parasitize new host groups. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of Platygastroidea based on four molecular markers (18S, 28S, COI and wingless) and 119 morphological characters, and a phylogenomic analysis of a subset of taxa based on 4371 single‐copy, protein‐coding genes. The four‐gene analyses, both with and without morphological data, robustly recovered some well‐established groups, e.g., Platygastridae (in its traditional sense), Scelionini, Teleasinae and Telenominae, as well as some novel patterns of relationship. The ground‐plan host for the superfamily are the eggs of Orthoptera, with multiple shifts to attack new host groups. The phylogenomic analysis of a subset of taxa recovered a clear pattern of relationships for the backbone of the superfamily with maximal bootstrap support. Based on the combination of these two approaches, we present a revised classification for Platygastroidea and recognize the following eight families: Geoscelionidae stat.rev., Janzenellidae fam.nov., Neuroscelionidae fam.nov., Nixoniidae stat.rev., Platygastridae stat.rev., Proterosceliopsidae†, Scelionidae stat.rev. and Sparasionidae stat.rev.
A new species,PlatygasterharpagocerasPopovici & Veenakumari, is described from India. The most un... more A new species,PlatygasterharpagocerasPopovici & Veenakumari, is described from India. The most unusual features of this species are the acuminate shape of the last antennomere and the 9-merous antenna in both sexes. The male and female are described and illustrated with brightfield and scanning electron microscopy. We provide a comparative analysis of the acuminate distal antennomere in the superfamily Chalcidoidea, including several genera of Pteromalidae (CallitulaSpinola,HomoporusThomson,NorbanusWalker,RhaphitelusWalker).
The Platygastroidea is a highly diverse group of small to minute parasitoid wasps. Despite the re... more The Platygastroidea is a highly diverse group of small to minute parasitoid wasps. Despite the reduced size, the morphology of the maxillolabial complex of scelionids is very diverse and phylogenetically informative. 81 characters are scored for 129 genera (representing 75% of the total number of known extant genera of scelionids), as well as for seven outgroup taxa. All taxa examined are illustrated with images, SEM micrographs and/or line drawings. Phylogenetic trees resulting from analyses conducted in TNT under various settings were not fully resolved, but some relationships were repeatedly retrieved. The Platygastroidea are usually corroborated. Nixoniini, Sparasionini, Plaumannion and Huddlestonium are frequently retrieved as the most basal platygastroid lineages. Psix and Paratelenomus often form a monophyletic group close to Gryonini. The Scelioninae, Teleasinae and Telenominae are not supported as monophyletic. However, some major scelionid clades are frequently retrieved, ...
The Palearctic species of the genus Fidiobia are revised, seventeen new species are described (F.... more The Palearctic species of the genus Fidiobia are revised, seventeen new species are described (F. bohemicasp. nov.; F. brevialissp. nov.; F. communissp. nov.; F. gallicasp. nov.; F. hirtasp. nov.; F. insoonaesp. nov.; F. lisenchiaesp. nov.; F. longiclavasp. nov.; F. nipponicasp. nov.; F. platystasioidessp. nov.; F. politoidessp. nov.; F. pronotatoidessp. nov.; F. roataisp. nov.; F. rugosifronsoidessp. nov.; F. sashaisp. nov.; F. tripotinisp. nov.; F. vladlubomirisp. nov.), and eleven species (F. brevinotaula Veenakumari et al., 2018; F. filicornis Buhl, 2014; F. flaviabdominalis Veenakumari et al., 2018; F. hispanica Popovici & Buhl, 2010; F. hofferi Kozlov, 1978; F. polita Buhl, 1998; F. pronotata Szabó, 1958; F. rugosifrons Crawford, 1916; F. striatitergitis (Szabó, 1962); F. synergorum (Kieffer, 1921); F. vanharteni Buhl, 2010) are redescribed. A key for identification of females and distributional data for each species are provided. Brachypterous specimens are reported for F. ru...
This paper presents an overview of the most important and best-known works that were the subject ... more This paper presents an overview of the most important and best-known works that were the subject of taxonomy or systematics Platygastroidea superfamily. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first part of the research surprised the early period can be placed throughout the XIXth century between Latreille and Dalla Torre. Before this period, references about platygastrids and scelionids were made by Linnaeus and Schrank, they are the ones who described the first platygastrid and scelionid respectively. In this the first period work entomologists as: Haliday, Westwood, Walker, Forster, Ashmead, Thomson, Howard, etc., the result of their work being the description of 699 scelionids species which are found quoted in Dalla Torre's catalogue. The second part of the paper is devoted to early 20th century. This vibrant work is marked by the work of two great entomologists: Kieffer and Dodd. In this period one publish the first and only global monograph of platygastrids and sceli...
FIGURES 18–24. Tetrabaeus americanus, FEMALE (SEM): 18. HEAD, FRONTAL VIEW; 19. BACK OF THE HEAD;... more FIGURES 18–24. Tetrabaeus americanus, FEMALE (SEM): 18. HEAD, FRONTAL VIEW; 19. BACK OF THE HEAD; 20. FORE-TIBIAL SPUR; 21. MESOSOMA,DORSAL VIEW;22. MESOSOMA,LATERAL VIEW;23. METASOMA,DORSAL VIEW;24. METASOMA,VENTRAL VIEW.
The wasp genus Macroteleia Westwood from China has been previously revised, but some species are ... more The wasp genus Macroteleia Westwood from China has been previously revised, but some species are only known from males. Here the females of two known species are described: M. carinigena Chen, Johnson, Masner & Xu and M. gracilis Chen, Johnson, Masner & Xu. In addition, one species is redescribed: M. variegata Kozlov & Kononova; and one species is described as new: Macroteleia xui Hong & Chen, sp. nov.Macroteleia ischtvani Kononova, syn. nov. is proposed as new synonym of M. variegata Kozlov & Kononova.
Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”
In this paper, new data concerning the occurrence and distribution of Xylomoia graminea (Graeser,... more In this paper, new data concerning the occurrence and distribution of Xylomoia graminea (Graeser, 1889) in Romania are given. Pictures of specimen and male genitalia are provided.
Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle “Grigore Antipa”
This study presents the genera Iphitrachelus Haliday, 1836 and Baryconus Förster, 1856 with the s... more This study presents the genera Iphitrachelus Haliday, 1836 and Baryconus Förster, 1856 with the species B. graeffei (Kieffer, 1908), I. lar Haliday, 1836 and I. gracilis Masner, 1957 as new records for the Romanian fauna.
Abstract. The genus Fidiobia Ashmead of the subfamily Sceliotrachelinae is represented by 26 spec... more Abstract. The genus Fidiobia Ashmead of the subfamily Sceliotrachelinae is represented by 26 species worldwide. Only two species viz. F. nagarajae Veenakumari et al. and F. virakthamati Veenakumari et al. were described from India. Surveys conducted from different parts of India resulted in 22 new species of Fidiobia: F. brevinotaula sp. nov., F. carinata sp. nov., F. crocea sp. nov., F. dantela sp. nov., F. decora sp. nov., F. doddi sp. nov., F. flaviabdominalis sp. nov., F. flavifrons sp. nov., F. fusca sp. nov., F. galben sp. nov., F. hima sp. nov., F. leptidantela sp. nov., F. longiabdominalis sp. nov., F. multicarinata sp. nov., F. nandi sp. nov., F. nilgiriensis sp. nov., F. prashanthi sp. nov., F. punyakoti sp. nov., F. setosa sp. nov., F. striatipleura sp. nov., F. szaboi sp. nov. and F. vandu sp. nov. All the 24 species from India are illustrated and a dichotomous key is provided.
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Papers by Ovidiu Alin Popovici