A taxonomic revision, biology and morphology of immature stages of theEntedon sparetusspecies group (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), egg-larval endoparasitoids of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

AbstractThesparetus-group ofEntedonis revised. Six species are recognized for the group, including one new species,E. lucasiGumovskysp. n., which is described from Algeria. All species are either diagnosed or described, and illustrated, and new distribution records are provided. An illustrated dichotomous key to all species of the group is given. Biology of two species,E. thomsonianusErdös andE. sparetusWalker, is studied in detail: both species proved to be egg-larval parasitoids of stem-boring weevils,Lixus carduiOlivier on the scotch thistleOnopordum acanthiumandGymnetron asellus(Gravenhorst) on mulleinVerbascumsp., respectively. The morphology of larval stages and peculiarities of parasitoid–host relationships are described. Possible benefits of egg-larval parasitism forEntedonspecies are discussed.