Date Available
2024
Year of Publication
2009
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Document Type
Master's Thesis
College
Agriculture, Food and Environment
Department/School/Program
Entomology
First Advisor
Dr. Michael Sharkey
Abstract
Ichneutine wasps have received little attention, despite their hypothesized placement at the base of an economically and ecologically important clade, the Microgastroidia s.s. This study combines previous hypotheses based on morphology with molecular evidence from multiple genes (28S: D1-5, 18S, COI, and CAD) to examine phylogenetic relationships of Ichneutinae using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The three main ichneutine groups (Ichneutini, Muesebeckiini, and Proteropini) are each found to be monophyletic, but evidence exists that Ichneutinae itself is paraphyletic with respect to the rest of Microgastroidea s.l. Lispixys is found to be derived from within Oligoneurus, and Masonbeckia is almost certainly derived from within Proterops, though there is weak evidence for this. Questions such as gene utility, the effect of missing data, and the evolution of host switching are addressed. Additionally, a fossil ichneutine (Colemanus keeleyorum) is described and placed on the phylogenetic hypothesis presented.
Recommended Citation
Fischer, John Ray, "SYSTEMATICS OF ICHNEUTINE PARASITIC WASPS (BRACONIDAE: ICHNEUTINAE)" (2009). Theses and Dissertations--Entomology. 89.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/entomology_etds/89
