Abstract
The biosystematics of species in the Cotesia flavipes complex is reviewed with reference to studies conducted on their morphology, morphometrics, enzyme electrophoresis and hybridisation. A survey of 5 morphological characters scored from 17 populations indicated that the scuto-scutellar sulcus and the rugosity on the propodeum could be used to separate the species. The shape of the male genitalia was valid for separating the populations of C. flavipes from those of C. sesamiae and C. chilonis. Canonical variate analysis separated the complex into three distinct clusters with populations from Africa together, populations from Asia and the neotropics forming a second cluster, and material from China and Japan forming the third cluster. Electrophoretic studies showed that esterase, glucosephosphate isomerase, hexokinase, sorbital dehydrogenase and phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, among others, had fixed alelles and could be used to distinguish the species. Cladistic analysis of the allozyme data indicated that allopatric populations currently included in C. flavipes may not be a monophyletic group. Interspecific crosses revealed that males of C. sesamiae could mate with females of C. chilonis and produce viable females.
Résumé
La biosystématique des espèces au sein du complexe Cotesia flavipes est revue en référence à leurs morphologie, morphométrie, électrophorèse enzymatique et hybridation. Un examen de 5 caractères morphologiques relevés dans 16 populations indiqua que la sulcature scuto-scutellaire et la rugosité sur le propodéum pourraient être utilisés pour différencier des espèces. La forme des organes génitaux mâles était valide pour distinguer la population de C. flavipes de celles de C. sesamiae et C. chilonis. L’analyse de la variable canonique divisa le complexe en trois groupes, le premier groupe rassemblant les populations d’Afrique, les populations asiatiques néotropicales formant le deuxième et le matériel en provenace de Chine et du Japon constituant le troisième. Les études électrophorétiques montrèrent que 1’estérase, le glucophosphate isomérase, l’hexokinase, le sorbitol déhydrogénase et le phosphogluconate, entre autres avaient fixé les allèles et pouvaient être utilisés pour distinguer les espèces. L’analyse cladistique des données d’allozymes indiqua que les populations généralement incluses dans C. flavipes pourraient ne pas être un groupe monophylétique. Des croisements interspécifiques révélèrent que des mâles de C. sesamiae pourraient s’accoupler avec des femelles de C. chilonis et produire de viables femelles.
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Kimani-Njogu, S.W., Overholt, W.A. Biosystematics of the Cotesia flavipes Species Complex (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Parasitoids of the Gramineous Stemborers. Int J Trop Insect Sci 17, 119–130 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400022232
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400022232