Telenomus cristatus Johnson (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae): new diagnostic data, distribution records and host associations

Abstract

Specimens of an egg parasitoid wasp, Telenomus cristatus Johnson (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae), were reared from stink bug egg masses collected in the wild, in Maryland, United States. The egg masses were identified morphologically as Halyomorpha halys (Stål), Banasa Stål and Euschistus Dallas (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae). Molecular tools were used to further identify the Euschistus egg masses as E. servus (Say) and E. tristigmus (Say). All of these are new host associations for Te. cristatus. We also provide data to contribute to future identification of Te. cristatus: images of the holotype specimen and COI sequences from two disparate localities.