Journal
JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY RESEARCH
Volume 59, Issue 7, Pages 1481-1490Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/jzs.12542
Keywords
color; fore wing; interference color; interference pattern; parasitoid; variation
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
The study evaluated the usefulness of wing interference patterns and colors in taxonomy, showing that both qualitative and quantitative measurements can discriminate different taxa at the genus and species level. Despite some slight qualitative differences between sexes, quantitative measurements were not sexually dimorphic.
Wing interference patterns (WIPs) and wing interference colors have been highlighted in taxonomy for their usefulness in the discrimination of species, particularly in the case of some parasitic wasps. Here, we evaluate the usefulness of these stable structural color patterns as species-specific characters in nine species of Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) within seven genera including Aphidus Nees, 1819; Binodoxys Mackauer, 1960; Diaeretiella StarATIN SMALL LETTER Y WITH ACUTE, 1960; Ephedrus Haliday, 1833; Lysiphlebus Forster, 1863; Praon Haliday, 1833; and Trioxys Haliday, 1833. Six color parameters including red, green, and blue (RGB) as well as hue, saturation, and value were compared. Preliminary statistical analysis of color values, as well as a qualitative comparison of patterns, were performed. Our findings show that both qualitative and quantitative measurements can discriminate selected taxa at the genus and species level. Moreover, different biotypes of Lysiphlebus fabraum (Marshall) and Aphidus matricariae Haliday present identical color patterns (WIPs) with only slight qualitative differences. Despite some slight qualitative differences in WIPs between sexes, quantitative measurements were not sexually dimorphic. This is the first study of its kind in the subfamily Aphidiinae and to provide a preliminary WIP-based key to the studied species of Aphidiinae. Our findings show that WIPs and WICs are stable and can be useful for museum collections.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available