A Revision of the Tetrasphaeropyx Ashmead Lineage of the Genus Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae)

Abstract

In this revision, seventy-two Aleiodes (Tetrasphaeropyx) species are described of which 28 are recently described species and 43 are new species. A morphological phylogenetic analysis provided to test the monophyly of the group using Aleiodes coxalis-group species as the out-group provides evidence for the monophyly of the A. (Tetrasphaeropyx) group, which is herein classified as a subgenus of Aleiodes Wesmael. A. coxalis-group species were used as the outgroup because previous work has shown that the A. (Tetrasphaeropyx) lineage falls at the apex of the A. coxalis-group. A dichotomous key to all species is provided as well as a glossary of terminology, illustrations referred to in the key, host information, and geographical collection information. Aleiodes (Tetrasphaeropyx) is easily distinguished from other Aleiodes species by the sculptured, carapace-like metasomal tergite IV. Host associations herein reported for about 35% of all A. (Tetrasphaeropyx) species suggest that the group exclusively attacks larvae of Geometridae. Aleiodes (Tetrasphaeropyx) species treated in this study are as follows: A. accohannocki n. sp., A. alafuscus n. sp., A. anatariatus Fortier, A. aquaedulcensis Fortier, A. aranamai n. sp., A. arcticus (Thomson), A. areolatus Fortier, A. argyllacearivorax Fortier, A. arikarai n. sp., A. assateaguenus n. sp., A. axaceei n. sp., A. bretti n. sp., A. brevicellula Fortier, A. cartwrightensis Fortier, A. catherinensis Fortier, A. chisosi n. sp., A. chumashanus n. sp., A. citriscutum Fortier, A. cochisensis Fortier, A. copiosus n. sp., A. crassijugosus Fortier, A. dabai n. sp., A. dakotensis Fortier, A. dissiticarina Fortier, A. dorsofoveolatus Fortier, A. exiguus n. sp., A. fernaldellavorax Fortier, A. flavinotaulus Fortier, A. haematoxyloni Fortier, A. halifaxensis Fortier, A. hiisiis n. sp., A. huberi Fortier, A. illiniweki n. sp., A. iowensis n. sp., A. itamevorus Shaw and Marsh, A. jaliscoensis Fortier, A. karankawai n. sp., A. kisomm n. sp., A. kohook n. sp., A. luhmanin. sp., A. magnoculus n. sp., A. maheono n. sp., A. maidunus n. sp., A. mannegishii n. sp., A. marinensis n. sp., A. maritimus Shaw and Marsh, A. min n. sp., A. nigrilatus n. sp., A. oaxacensis Fortier, A. parabretti n. sp., A. paracopiosus n. sp., A. paraluhmani n. sp., A. parareolatus n. sp., A. paraselu n. sp., A. parasquilaxensis n. sp., A. pilosus (Cresson), A. pooedooa n. sp., A. provancheri Fortier, A. pseudoanatariatus n. sp., A. quickei Fortier, A. quiniguanus n. sp., A. reisi Fortier and Sherman, A. sarceei n. sp., A. secwepemc Fortier, A. selu n. sp., A. sexmaculativorax Fortier, A. shawi Fortier, A. squilaxensis n. sp., A. totuyai n. sp., A. tulensis Fortier, A. tullyi Fortier, and A. wicayazipa Fortier.