The 62 described species of parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of the genus Horismenus Walker (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) attack Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, and Hymenoptera larvae; which are either primary or secondary hosts. The host plants in which they can be found correspond to some 10 angiosperm families distributed along 14 countries of the Neotropical region (Noyes 2003).
While examining material from the entomology collection of the Instituto de Ecología A. C. in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico (IEXA), we found that specimens of Horismenus species had labels with information on hosts, host plants, and distribution records which are definitely new for the genus. Those insects are the result of 25 years of collecting wild type and cultivated bean pods of Phaseolus coccineus L. and P. vulgaris L. (Leguminosae: Papilionoideae), throughout the state of Mexico (Estado de México), Morelos, and Puebla to study the infesting rates of Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) and A. obvelatus Bridwell (Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), and its naturally associated parasitoids.
The specimens described herein were obtained from isolated seeds in which a bruchid host and Horismenus parasitoids emerged in the same seed. Although, Hansson et al. (2004) identified 4 species of Horismenus in the bruchid beetle parasitoid guild on wild type beans, they did not record specific hosts and host plants. Both Acanthoscelides spp. and Phaseolus spp. can be found at the same time in some localities. It is possible that the analyzed specimens emerged from grouped samples of seeds; thus, it was difficult to certify the specific record. The aim of this note is to record these new specific hosts, host plants, and distribution records from the material deposited in IEXA. We followed Hansson et al. (2004) and identified 131 specimens of 4 Horismenus species. Records of P. coccineus are from the grouped seed samples where both bruchids and other parasitoids could emerge.
The 4 Horismenus species (H. butcheri Hansson, Aebi & Benrey, H. depressus Gahan, H. missouriensis (Ashmead), H. productus (Ashmead)) attacked indiscriminately A. obtectus and A. obvelatus Bridwell on P. coccineus subsp. coccineus and P. vulgaris var. mexicanus Delgado. Wild type beans of P. vulgaris and P. coccineus in Hansson et al. (2004) are equivalents to P. coccineus subsp. coccineus var. coccineus and P. vulgaris var. mexicanus (Delgado 1985; Delgado et al. 1988; Freytag & Debouck 2002). Known distribution records of this guild are extended to the states of Morelos and Puebla (Table 1).
Material Examined (all from Mexico)
Horismenus butcheri Hansson, Aebi & Benrey
MORELOS: Tepoztlán, San Andrés de la Cal (18°54’47.20”N, 99°7’44.52”W), 1430 m, 13-I-1997, A. Bonet, 1 (m) from Acanthoscelides obtectus, reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus. Tepoztlán (18°59’53.45”N, 99°7’32.4”W), 1900 m, 25-XII-1993, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 14-I-1995, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XI-XII-1995, 3 (m) 5 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XII-1995, 1 (m) 1 (f) from A. obtectus; all reared from P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 27-I-1997, A. Bonet, 1(f); 09-10-I-1980, 4 (f); 19-I-1982, 1 (m); 08-XII-1991, 1 (f); all on Acanthoscelides sp., all reared from P. coccineus subsp. coccineus var. coccineus.
Horismenus depressus Gahan
MORELOS: Tepoztlán, San Andrés de la Cal (18°54’47.20”N, 99°7’44.52”W), 1430 m, 13-I-1997, A. Bonet, 2 (f) from A. obtectus; 18-I-1998, 2 (m) 1 (f) from A. obtectus. Tepoztlán (18°59’53.45”N, 99°7’32.4”W), 1900 m, 28-XII-1993, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 25-XI-1995, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XII-1995, 2 (m) 1 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XII-1995, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 17-I-2001, 1(f) from A. obtectus, all reared from seeds from P. vulgaris var. mexicanus. 06-I-1980, Arturo Bonet, 1 (f) from Acanthoscelides sp., reared from seeds from P. coccineus subsp. coccineus var. coccineus. Tlayacapan, Pantitlán (18°55’0.17”N, 98°59’37.22”W), 1300 m, 14-I-1997, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 21-I-2000, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 17-I-2001, 2 (f) from A. obvelatus. PUEBLA: Tilapa, San Félix Rijo, Río Ahuehueyo (18°37’0.36”N, 98°33’55.18”W), 1250 m, 20-XII-1991, A. Bonet, 2 (m) 2 (f) from A. obtectus; 20-I-1996, A. Bonet, 7 (m) 6 (f) from A. obtectus, all reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus.
Horismenus missouriensis (Ashmead)
MORELOS: Tepoztlán (18°59’53.45”N, 99°7’32.4”W), 1900 m, 25-XI-1995, A. Bonet, 1(m) 1(f) from A. obvelatus, reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 25-XI-1995, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obtectus, reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 25-XII-1995, A. Bonet, 2 (m) 1(f) from A. obtectus; 09-XII-1996, 2 (m) from A. obvelatus. Tlayacapan, Pantitlán (18°55’0.17”N, 98°59’37.22”W), 1300 m, 14-I-1997, A. Bonet, 1 (m) from A. obtectus, all reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 22-XI-1979, A. Bonet, 1 (m); 09-10, 12-I-1980, 7 (f) from Acanthoscelides sp., all reared from seeds of P. coccineus subsp. coccineus var. coccineus.
Horismenus productus (Ashmead)
MORELOS: Tepoztlán, San Andrés de la Cal (18°54’47.20”N, 99°7’44.52”W), 1430 m, 27-X-1990, A. Bonet, 1 (f) from A. obtectus, reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus. Tepoztlán (18°59’53.45”N, 99°7’32.4”W), 1900 m, 28-XII-1993, A. Bonet, 2 (m) 2 (f) from A. obtectus; 14-I-1995, 7 (m) 8 (f) from A. obvelatus; 14-I-1995, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 09-XII-1996, 1 (m) from A. obvelatus; 13-I-1997, A. Bonet, 1 (m) 1 (f) from A. obvelatus; 14-I-1997, 1 (f) from A. obtectus; 14-I-1997, 1 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XI-1995, 2 (m) 3 (f) from A. obvelatus; 25-XI-1995, 2 (m) from A. obtectus; 25-XII-1995, 3 (m) 2 (f) from A. obtectus; 25-XII-1995, 2 (m) 3 (f) from A. obvelatus, all reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 27-I-1979, A. Bonet, 2 (f); 22-XI-1979, 1 (m); 9-10, 12-I-1980, 2 (m) 5 (f); 08-XII-1991, 2 (m) from Acanthoscelides sp., all reared from seeds of P. coccineus subsp. coccineus var. coccineus. Tlayacapan, Pantitlán (18°55’0.17”N, 98°59’37.22”W), 1300 m, 14-I-1997, A. Bonet, 2 (f) from A. obtectus, reared from seeds of P. vulgaris var. mexicanus; 17-I-2001, 3 (f) from A. obtectus.
We thank Delia García for invaluable technical assistance. This contribution was possible thanks to the Entomology Department, Instituto de Ecología A. C. (INECOL), grant No. 2000810014.
Summary
New host, host plant, and distribution records were recorded for 4 Horismenus species (H. butcheri, H. depressus, H. missouriensis, H. productus) that attack A. obtectus and A. obvelatus on P. coccineus subsp. coccineus and P. vulgaris var. mexicanus. The distribution records of this guild in Mexico are extended to the states of Morelos and Puebla.
