A5059706177- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Research on scale insects
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
University of Iowa
2017-2024
Quantifying the frequency of shifts to new host plants within diverse clades specialist herbivorous insects is critically important understand whether and how contribute origin species. Oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) comprise a tribe ∼1000 species phytophagous that induce formation on various organs trees in family Fagacae-primarily oaks (genus Quercus; ∼435 sp.). The association oak with ancient (∼50 my), most are galled by one or more wasp Despite diversity both their...
ABSTRACT Gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) specializing on live oaks in the genus Quercus (subsection Virentes ) are a relatively diverse and well‐studied community with 14 species described to date, albeit incomplete information their biology, life history genetic structure. Incorporating an integrative taxonomic approach, we combine morphology, phenology, behaviour, genetics genomics describe new species, Neuroterus valhalla sp. nov . The alternating generations of this induce galls...
Abstract Cryptic species diversity is a major challenge regarding the species‐rich community of parasitoids attacking oak gall wasps due to high degree sexual dimorphism, morphological plasticity, small size and poorly known biology. As such, we know very little about number present, nor evolutionary forces responsible for generating this diversity. One hypothesis that trait in wasps, including morphology galls they induce, has evolved response selection imposed by parasitoid community, with...
Abstract Several recent reappraisals of supposed generalist parasite species have revealed hidden complexes species, each with considerably narrower host ranges. Parasitic wasps that attack gall-forming insects on plants life history strategies are thought to promote specialization, and though many indeed highly specialized, others been described as parasites. Ormyrus labotus Walker (Hymenoptera: Ormyridae) is one such apparent generalist, rearing records spanning more than 65 galls...
Abstract The identities of most arthropod associates cynipid-induced oak galls in the western Palearctic are generally known. However, a comprehensive accounting has been performed for only small number induced by estimated 700 species cynipid gall wasp Nearctic. This gap knowledge stymies many potential studies diversity, coevolution, and community ecology, which systems otherwise ideal models. We report rearing records insects other arthropods from more than 527,306 individual representing...
Abstract Cynipid gall wasps play an important role in structuring oak arthropod communities. Wasps the Cynipini tribe typically lay their eggs oaks (Quercus L.), and induce formation of a ‘gall’, which is tumor-like growth plant material that surrounds developing wasp. As wasp develops, cynipid its are attacked by diverse community natural enemies, including parasitoids, hyperparasitoids, inquilines. Determining what structures these species-rich enemy communities across species major...
Abstract Animals that exploit living spaces of other animals (inquilines) may have specialized traits adapt them to extended phenotypes their ‘hosts’. These adaptations host incur fitness trade-offs restrict the range an inquiline such shifts new hosts might trigger diversification. Speciation via shifting has been studied in many animal parasites, but we know less about role speciation. Synergus Hartig (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini) is a speciose taxonomically challenging genus...
We describe new species in the genus Ceroptres Hartig, 1840 (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Ceroptresini) represented by voucher material sequenced Ward et al. (2024). 22 species, all authored Nastasi, Smith, & Davis: C. anansii sp. nov., anzui bruti curupira daleki dandoi demerzelae iktomii jabbai jarethi lokii lupini mallowi promethei sandiegoae selinae soloi songae swiperi thrymi tikoloshei and zorroi nov. After our taxonomic treatment, includes 43 but three of which are known from North...
Abstract Host shifts to new plant species can drive speciation for plant-feeding insects, but how commonly do host also diversification the parasites of those same insects? Oak gall wasps induce galls on oak trees and novel tree hosts organs have been implicated as drivers wasp speciation. Gall are themselves attacked by many insect parasites, which must find their correct organ, navigate morphologically variable with they interact. Thus, we ask whether trees, organs, or morphologies...
Parasites of animals and plants can encounter trade-offs between their specificity to any single host fitness on alternative hosts. For parasites that manipulate host's behaviour, the added complexity manipulation may further limit parasite's range. However, this is rarely tested. The recently described crypt-keeper wasp, Euderus set , changes behaviour gall wasp Bassettia pallida such B. chews a significantly smaller exit hole in side its larval chamber ‘plugs’ with head before dying....
Abstract Cryptic species diversity is a major challenge for the species-rich community of parasitoids attacking oak gall wasps due to high degree sexual dimorphism, morphological plasticity, small size, and poorly known biology. As such, we know very little about number present, nor evolutionary forces responsible generating this diversity. One hypothesis that trait in wasps, including morphology galls they induce, has evolved response selection imposed by parasitoid community, with...
Quantifying the frequency of shifts to new host plants within diverse clades specialist herbivorous insects is critically important understand whether and how contribute origin species. Oak gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini) comprise a tribe ~1000 species phytophagous that induce formation on various organs trees in family Fagacae, — primarily oaks (genus Quercus ; ~435 sp). The association oak with ancient (~50 my), most are galled by one or more wasp Despite diversity both their...
The identities of most arthropod associates cynipid-induced oak galls in the western Palearctic are generally known. However, a comprehensive accounting has been performed for only small number induced by estimated 700 species cynipid gall wasps Nearctic. This gap knowledge stymies many potential studies diversity, coevolution, and community ecology, which systems otherwise ideal models. We report rearing records insects other arthropods from more than 527,306 individual representing 201...
Abstract Cynipid gall wasps play an important role in structuring oak invertebrate communities. Wasps the Cynipini tribe typically lay their eggs oaks ( Quercus L.), and induce formation of a “gall”, which is tumor-like growth plant material that surrounds developing wasp. As wasp develops, cynipid its are attacked by diverse community natural enemies, including parasitoids, hyperparasitoids, inquilines. Determining what structures these species-rich enemy communities across species major...
ABSTRACT Animals that exploit an extended phenotype (e.g., residences, resources, etc.) of other animals are called inquilines. Not strictly parasites, inquilines may nevertheless possess specialized traits adapt them to particular dimensions the their “host”. These adaptations host can in turn lead fitness tradeoffs restrict range inquiline such shifts novel hosts might trigger diversification. Speciation via shifting has been studied many animal but we know far less about role speciation....
Abstract Several recent reappraisals of supposed generalist parasite species have revealed hidden complexes species, each with considerably narrower host ranges. Parasitic wasps that attack gall-forming insects on plants life history strategies are thought to promote specialization, and though many indeed highly specialized, others been described as parasites. Ormyrus labotus Walker (Hymenoptera: Ormyridae) is one such apparent generalist, rearing records spanning more than 65 galls...
Host shifts to new plants can drive speciation for plant-feeding insects, but how commonly do host also diversification the parasites of those same insects? Oak gall wasps induce galls on oak trees and novel tree hosts organs have been implicated as drivers wasp speciation. Gall are themselves attacked by many insect parasites, which must find their correct species organ, navigate morphologically variable with they interact. Thus, we ask whether trees, organs, or morphologies correlate...
Abstract Parasites of animals and plants can encounter trade-offs between their specificity to any single host fitness on alternative hosts. For parasites that manipulate host’s behavior, the complexity manipulation may further limit parasite’s range. The recently described crypt-keeper wasp, Euderus set , changes behavior gall wasp Bassettia pallida such B. chews an incomplete exit hole in side its larval chamber “plugs” with head. E. benefits from this head plug, as it facilitates escape...