A new species of Pseudophanerotoma (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from Nayarit, Mexico

Parasitoid wasps are known to be among the most abundant and species-rich on Earth and thus considered an ecologically important group of arthropods. Braconid wasps play a key role in regulating the populations of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. However, the biology and taxonomy of numerous parasitoid species remain poorly known. In Mexico, only 17 species of the subfamily Cheloninae have been described. A new species of Pseudophanerotoma Zettel, 1990 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), P. huichol sp. nov., is described from Nayarit, Mexico. The tortricid moth Cryptaspasma perseana Gilligan & Brown, 2011 is reported as the host of this parasitoid wasp. Detailed taxonomic and barcoding information are provided.

Automated summary

Parasitoid wasps are recognized as a highly abundant and diverse group of organisms on Earth, with a crucial role in regulating populations of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Diptera. However, there is still limited knowledge regarding the biology and taxonomy of many parasitoid species. This study describes a new species of Pseudophanerotoma and its host, the tortricid moth Cryptaspasma perseana, providing detailed taxonomic and barcoding information.