Register      Login
Invertebrate Systematics Invertebrate Systematics Society
Systematics, phylogeny and biogeography
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Systematics and biology of the aberrant intertidal parasitoid wasp Echthrodesis lamorali Masner (Hymenoptera : Platygastridae s.l.): a parasitoid of spider eggs

Simon van Noort A B H , Lubomir Masner C , Ovidiu Popovici D , Alejandro A. Valerio E , Charuwat Taekul E , Norman F. Johnson E , Nicholas P. Murphy F and Andrew D. Austin G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Department of Natural History, Iziko South African Museum, PO Box 61, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.

B Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.

C Research Associate, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Research Branch. K.W. Neatby Building, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OC6, Canada.

D Facultatea de Biologie, Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza IASI, Bulevardul Carol I, Nr.11, 700506, IASI, Romania.

E Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Organismal Biology, The Ohio State University, 1315 Kinnear Road, Columbus, OH 43212, USA.

F Department of Genetics, School of Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.

G Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

H Corresponding author. Email: svannoort@iziko.org.za

Invertebrate Systematics 28(1) 1-16 https://doi.org/10.1071/IS13015
Submitted: 11 April 2013  Accepted: 12 November 2013   Published: 20 March 2014

Abstract

The platygastroid wasp Echthrodesis lamorali has been of considerable interest since its description in 1968, primarily because of its highly modified, densely pilose, wingless body, its distribution and unusual biology. The species is endemic to the Cape Peninsula, South Africa, where it is an endoparasitoid of eggs of the marine spiders Desis formidabilis (Desidae) and Amaurobioides africanus (Anyphaenidae) in the intertidal region. Although a highly aberrant monospecific genus, the phylogenetic relationships of Echthrodesis are confused, in part due to convergence in body form across numerous unrelated platygastroid genera. We used sequence data from the nuclear 28S rRNA and 18S rDNA genes, and the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 (CO1) gene, to determine the phylogenetic affinities of E. lamorali. We present a revised taxonomic description for the genus and species, as well as new morphological information on the structure of its mouthparts and ovipositor system. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular data place E. lamorali within one of two independent clades of platygastroid wasps that use spider eggs as hosts. Echthrodesis is sister to a group of three genera: Neobaeus (New Zealand; host unconfirmed); Mirobaeoides (Australia; spider eggs); and Embidobia (near cosmopolitan; embiid eggs). Details on the biology, behaviour and morphological adaptations of E. lamorali are provided.

Additional keywords: morphology, phylogeny, Scelioninae, taxonomy.


References

Aoyagi, M., and Ishii, M. (1991). Host acceptance behavior of the aquatic wasp, Agriotypus gracilis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) toward the caddisfly host Goera japonica (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae). Journal of Ethology 9, 113–119.
Host acceptance behavior of the aquatic wasp, Agriotypus gracilis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) toward the caddisfly host Goera japonica (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D. (1984c). The fecundity, development and host relationship of Ceratobaeus spp. (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), parasites of spider eggs. Ecological Entomology 9, 125–138.
The fecundity, development and host relationship of Ceratobaeus spp. (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), parasites of spider eggs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D. (1985). The function of spider egg sacs in relation to parasitoids and predators, with special reference to the Australian fauna. Journal of Natural History 19, 359–376.
The function of spider egg sacs in relation to parasitoids and predators, with special reference to the Australian fauna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D. (1986). A taxonomic revision of the genus Mirobaeoides Dodd (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 34, 315–337.
A taxonomic revision of the genus Mirobaeoides Dodd (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D. (1988a). A new genus of baeine wasp (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) from New Zealand associated with moss. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 15, 173–183.
A new genus of baeine wasp (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) from New Zealand associated with moss.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D. (1988b). Guarding behaviour, eggmass shape and the eggsac in Clubiona robusta L. Koch (Araneae: Clubionidae). In ‘Australian Arachnology’. (Eds A. D. Austin and N. W. Heather.) pp. 87–95. (Australian Entomological Society: Brisbane.)

Austin, A. D. (1995). New species of scelionid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae: Baeini) from Western Australia, parasitic on spider eggs. Records of the Western Australian Museum 52, 253–263.

Austin, A. D., and Field, S. A. (1997). The ovipositor system of scelionid and platygastrid wasps (Hymenoptera, Platygastoidea), comparative morphology and phylogenetic implications. Invertebrate Taxonomy 11, 1–87.
The ovipositor system of scelionid and platygastrid wasps (Hymenoptera, Platygastoidea), comparative morphology and phylogenetic implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Austin, A. D., Johnson, N. F., and Dowton, M. (2005). Systematics, evolution and biology of scelionid and platygastrid wasps. Annual Review of Entomology 50, 553–582.
Systematics, evolution and biology of scelionid and platygastrid wasps.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXhtFOqtb0%3D&md5=5a84cac56531c429ed8ff3031410856eCAS | 15450001PubMed |

Bradoo, B. L. (1972). Life history and bionomics of Idris sp. (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera), egg parasite of Uloborus, a commensal on the web of the social spider Stegodyphus sarasinorum Karsch. Zoologischer Anzeiger 188, 43–52.

Brandley, M. C., Schmitz, A., and Reeder, T. W. (2005). Partitioned bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards. Systematic Biology 54, 373–390.
Partitioned bayesian analyses, partition choice, and the phylogenetic relationships of scincid lizards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 16012105PubMed |

Buffington, M. L., and Gates, M. (2009). Advanced imaging techniques II, using a compound microscope for photographing point–mount specimens. American Entomologist 54, 222–224.

Buffington, M. L., Burks, R., and Mcneil, L. (2005). Advanced techniques for imaging microhymenoptera. American Entomologist 51, 50–54.

Carey, D., Murphy, N. P., and Austin, A. D. (2006). Molecular phylogenetics and the evolution of wing reduction in a tribe of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae: Baeini). Invertebrate Systematics 20, 489–501.
Molecular phylogenetics and the evolution of wing reduction in a tribe of parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae: Baeini).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD28XoslGlt78%3D&md5=6d01f914bff59bd8ee4b565318a7ca70CAS |

Cobb, L. M., and Cobb, V. A. (2004). Occurrence of parasitoid wasps, Baeus sp. and Gelis sp. in the egg sacs of the wolf spiders Pardosa moesta and Pardosa sternalis (Araneae, Lycosidae) in southeastern Idaho. Canadian Field Naturalist 118, 122–123.

Galloway, I. D., and Austin, A. D. (1984). Revision of the Scelioninae (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) of Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology Supplementary Series 32, 1–138.
Revision of the Scelioninae (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gatesy, J., Desalle, R., and Wheeler, W. (1993). Alignment ambiguous nucleotide sites and exclusion of systematic data. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2, 152–157.
Alignment ambiguous nucleotide sites and exclusion of systematic data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2cXktVCntr0%3D&md5=76d64166172a804935fbea3537e0d1afCAS | 8025721PubMed |

Gillespie, J. J., Munro, J. B., Heraty, J. M., Yoder, M. J., Owen, A. K., and Carmichael, A. E. (2005). A secondary structural model of the 28S rRNA expansion segments D2 and D3 for chalcidoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Molecular Biology and Evolution 22, 1593–1608.
A secondary structural model of the 28S rRNA expansion segments D2 and D3 for chalcidoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXlsFWhsb8%3D&md5=383e67ad9fc0ebb82c2fed74ad5bc60bCAS | 15843598PubMed |

Hieber, C. S. (1992). The role of spider cocoons in controlling desiccation. Oecologia 89, 442–448.

Hinton, H. E. (1976). Respiratory adaptations of marine insects. In ‘Marine Insects’. (Ed. L. Cheng.) pp. 43–78. (North–Holland Publishing Company: Amsterdam.)

Huelsenbeck, J. P., and Ronquist, F. (2001). MrBayes: Bayesian inference of phylogenetic trees. Bioinformatics 17, 754–755.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3MvotV2isw%3D%3D&md5=ceab3d44bc74e85c441d4509c0328141CAS | 11524383PubMed |

Iqbal, M., and Austin, A. D. (2000). A preliminary phylogeny for the Baeini (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae): endoparasitoids of spider eggs. In ‘The Hymenoptera: Evolution, Biodiversity and Biological Control’. (Eds A. D. Austin and M. Dowton.) pp. 178–191. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)

Jackson, D. J. (1966). Observations on the biology of Caraphractus cinctus Walker (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), a parasitoid of the eggs of Dytiscidae (Coleoptera). Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society (London) 118, 23–49.
Observations on the biology of Caraphractus cinctus Walker (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), a parasitoid of the eggs of Dytiscidae (Coleoptera).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Johnson, N. F. (1984). Systematics of Nearctic Telenomus: classification and revisions of the podisi and phymatae species groups (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Bulletin of the Ohio Biological Survey 6, 1–113.

Johnson, N. F. (1992). Catalog of world Proctotrupoidea excluding Platygastridae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 51, 1–825.

Johnson, N. F., and Masner, L. (2004). The genus Thoron Haliday (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), egg-parasitoids of waterscorpions (Hemiptera: Nepidae), with a key to world species. American Museum Novitates 3452, 1–16.
The genus Thoron Haliday (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae), egg-parasitoids of waterscorpions (Hemiptera: Nepidae), with a key to world species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kerr, P., Fisher, E., and Buffington, M. L. (2009). Dome lighting for insect imaging under a microscope. American Entomologist 54, 198–200.

Lamoral, B. H. (1968). On the ecology and habitat adaptations of two intertidal spiders, Desis formidabilis (O.P. Cambridge) and Amaurobioides africanus Hewitt, at “The Island” (Kommetjie, Cape Peninsula), with notes on the occurrence of two other spiders. Annals of the Natal Museum 20, 151–193.

Masner, L. (1968). A new scelionid wasp from the intertidal zone of South Africa (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae). Annals of the Natal Museum 20, 195–198.

Masner, L. (1972). The classification and interrelationships of Thoronini (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea, Scelionidae). Canadian Entomologist 104, 833–849.
The classification and interrelationships of Thoronini (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea, Scelionidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Masner, L. (1976). Revisionary notes and keys to world genera of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 108, 1–87.
Revisionary notes and keys to world genera of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Masner, L. (1980). Key to genera of Scelionidae of the Holarctic region, with descriptions of new genera and species (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 112, 1–54.
Key to genera of Scelionidae of the Holarctic region, with descriptions of new genera and species (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Masner, L., and Dessart, P. (1972). Notes on Embidobiini (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera with description of a new genus. Canadian Entomologist 104, 505–510.
Notes on Embidobiini (Scelionidae: Hymenoptera with description of a new genus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Mikó, I., Vilhelmsen, L., Johnson, N. F., Masner, L., and Pénzes, Z. (2007). Skeletomusculature of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea): head and mesosoma. Zootaxa 1571, 1–78.

Murphy, N. P., Carey, D., Castro, L. R., Dowton, M., and Austin, A. D. (2007). Phylogeny of the platygastroid wasps (Hymenoptera) based on sequences from the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and CO1 genes: implications for the evolution of the ovipositor system and host relationships. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Linnean Society of London 91, 653–669.
Phylogeny of the platygastroid wasps (Hymenoptera) based on sequences from the 18S rRNA, 28S rRNA and CO1 genes: implications for the evolution of the ovipositor system and host relationships.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Nondula, N., Marshall, D. J., Baxter, R., Sinclair, B. J., and Chown, S. L. (2004). Life history and osmoregulatory ability of Telmatogeton amphibius (Diptera, Chironomidae) at Marion Island. Polar Biology 27, 629–635.
Life history and osmoregulatory ability of Telmatogeton amphibius (Diptera, Chironomidae) at Marion Island.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Posada, D., and Crandall, K. A. (1998). Modeltest: testing the model of DNA substitution. Bioinformatics 14, 817–818.
Modeltest: testing the model of DNA substitution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXktlCltw%3D%3D&md5=787c5224a9b3b4a919b481f4db32fc35CAS | 9918953PubMed |

Simon, C., Frati, F., Beckenbach, A., Crespi, B., Liu, H., and Flook, P. (1994). Evolution, weighting and phylogenetic utility of mitochondrial gene sequences and a compilation of conserved polymerase chain reaction primers. Annals of the Entomological Society of America 87, 651–701.
| 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXis1Wiu7g%3D&md5=d5c73c20640b01d4cb1718c8d993d994CAS |

Spence, J. R. (1986). Interactions between the scelionid egg parasitoid Tiphodytes gerriphagus (Hymenoptera) and its gerrid hosts (Heteroptera). Canadian Journal of Zoology 64, 2728–2738.
Interactions between the scelionid egg parasitoid Tiphodytes gerriphagus (Hymenoptera) and its gerrid hosts (Heteroptera).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Stevens, N. B., and Austin, A. D. (2007). Systematics, distribution and biology of the Australian ‘micro-flea’ wasps, Baeus spp. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae): parasitoids of spider eggs. Zootaxa 1499, 1–45.

Swofford, D. L. (2002). ‘PAUP* Phylogenetic Analysis Using Parsimony (* and other methods), Version 4.’ (Sinauer: Sunderland, MA.)

Thompson, J. D., Gibson, T. J., Plewniak, F., Jeanmougin, F., and Higgens, D. G. (1997). The ClustalX windows interface: flexible strategies for multiple sequence alignment aided by quality analysis tools. Nucleic Acids Research 25, 4876–4882.
The ClustalX windows interface: flexible strategies for multiple sequence alignment aided by quality analysis tools.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXntFyntQ%3D%3D&md5=d7b0c32bbecdcace41b4f3e499261c0eCAS | 9396791PubMed |

Vachon, M. (1955). contribution a l’étude de la biologie de l’hyménoptère Baeus semilunum (Hal.) parasite des oeufs d’araignées. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France 124, 141–146.

Valerio, C. E. (1971). Parasitismo en huevus de araña Achaearanea tepidariorum (Koch) (Araneae: Theridiidae) en Costa Rica. Revista de Biologia Tropical 18, 99–106.

Whiting, M. F., Carpenter, J. M., Wheeler, Q. D., and Wheeler, W. C. (1997). The Strepsiptera problem: phylogeny of the holometabolous insect orders inferred from 18S and 28S ribosomal DNA sequences and morphology. Systematic Biology 46, 1–68.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD383js1yqtQ%3D%3D&md5=86df74a7ce3b490b4da8ad4ca25d6b71CAS | 11975347PubMed |

Yoder, M. J., Mikó, I., Seltmann, K. C., Bertone, M. A., and Deans, A. R. (2010). A gross anatomy ontology for Hymenoptera. PLoS ONE 5, e15991.
A gross anatomy ontology for Hymenoptera.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3MXltVaqsg%3D%3D&md5=9fbc4644de2a42fe40b781c7ef147992CAS | 21209921PubMed |