All Aphelinidae are parasitoids, the most common hosts being hemipterans in the suborder Stenorrhyncha; many species of Aphelinidae have great economic importance in biological control of insect pests, including whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), armored scales (Diaspididae), soft scales (Coccidae) and aphids (Aphididae) (Woolley 1997). Several species in the genera Encarsia Foerster and Aphytis Howard have been introduced into Mexico to combat whiteflies and armored scales in citrus and other crops (Myartseva & Ruiz-Cancino 2000).

Aphelinidae contains 40 genera and more than 1,350 species in the world (Woolley 1997; Jung-Wook & Heraty 2012; Noyes 2012). In Mexico 194 species in 12 genera have been recorded (Myartseva et al. 2012a). Myartseva & Evans (2008) reviewed the species of Encarsia, the most diverse genus in the family in Mexico, and furnished a key for identification, including 88 species in 12 genera; 47 species were described by them as new for science. Reviews of the species in the more important aphelinid genera used for biocontrol in Mexico—Aphytis Howard, Eretmocerus Haldeman and Coccophagus Westwood—were published (Myartseva 2006a, 2006b, 2011a). Many of these publica- tions include new information on natural enemy complexes of insect pests, and descriptions of new species generally collected in urban areas. Given its host specificity and enormous diversity, the genus Encarsia has species that represent a huge, untapped resource for biological control of armored scale and whitefly pests. Effective utilization of this resource requires a clear knowledge of its taxonomy. Perhaps even more important, their role in controlling insects in natural ecosystems is virtually unknown (Polaszeket al. 2009).

The Sierra Madre Oriental is a mountain system, where tropical (200–800 m asl) and cloud (800–1,400 m asl) forests reach their northern limits in Mexico. Pine (Pinus) and oak (Quercus) forests form the more frequent types of vegetation (Gonzalez 2004). Isolation between mountains has been a fundamental factor in the regional biodiversity of plants and insects (Ruiz-Cancino 2010). In Tamaulipas, Pinus-Quercus forests are located between 800 and 2,500 m asl, this type of vegetation covers extensive areas between 1,400 and 2,300 m asl; in Miquihuana pine forest occurs between 1,400 and 3,100 m asl in separate areas. The dominant species in oak forests are Quercus glaucoides Martens & Galeotti, Q. lauriana Bonpl., Q. polymorpha Schlechthendal & Chamisso, Q. virginiana Mill, Q. oleoides Schlechthendal & Chamisso and Q. clivicola Trell. & C. H. Mull. Other trees found in these forests include madrone (Arbutus xalapensis Kunth; Ericales: Ericaceae), Croton fruticulosus Engelm. (Euphorbiales: Euphobiaceae), Persea podadenia S. F. Blake (Laurales:Lauraceae) and Randia sp. (Gentianales: Rubiaceae) (Treviño-Carreón & Valiente-Banuet 2005). At El Madroño, Victoria, oak forests (Q. rysophylla Weatherby, Q. laurina) occur with other trees such as madrone and pecan nut (Carya illinoensis Koch) (Juglandales: Juglandaceae), palms (Sabal mexicana Mart.; Arecales: Areaceae), agaves (Agave spp.; Asparagales: Asparagaceae), prickly pear cactus (Opuntia sp.; Caryophyllales: Cactaceae) and other cacti; shrubs as Karwinskia humboldtiana (Roem. & Schult.) (Rosales: Rhamnaceae) and ‘chamal’ (Dioon edule Lindley; Cycadales: Zamiaceae), herbaceous plants (Croton ciliatoglandulosus Ortega, Ageratina sp.; Asterales: Asteraceae) and grasses (Poales: Poaceae) are also present in the area (Ruiz 1984).

The objectives of this paper were to report the species of Aphelinidae collected in mountain localities in 2 municipalities (Miquihuana and Victoria) of the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico, located in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range, and to describe a new species of Encarsia.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Specimens of Aphelinidae collected in several localities of the State of Tamaulipas and deposited at the Insects Museum of Universidad Autonoma de Tamaulipas, in Ciudad Victoria, were studied. Collecting took place in 4 localities of the municipalities of Miquihuana and Victoria, Tamaulipas. Miquihuana is located at N 23° 34′ W 99. 45′, and 1,500–3,670 m asl. Victoria is located at N 23 44.06′W 99° 07.51′, and 300–1,800 m asl.

In Victoria, specimens were collected in 3 mountain localities: ‘Balcón de Moctezuma’, ‘El Madroño’ and ‘Rancho Santa Elena’. Balcón de Moctezuma is located at Ejido Altas Cumbres, 18 km south of Ciudad Victoria, at 1,200 m asl; El Madroño is located 25 km southwest Ciudad Victoria, at 1,300–1,450 m asl; Rancho Santa Elena is located 15 km Southwest Ciudad Victoria, at 750 m asl.

Whiteflies, soft scales and armored scales were collected in different seasons on leaves and twigs of several plant species. Material was taken to the Laboratory of Biological Control, and held for parasitoid emergence. Parasitoids were preserved in vials with 75% ethanol. Also, material obtained in 2 Malaise traps located at El Madroño and Rancho Santa Elena was examined. Part of the material was mounted for species determination.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The fauna of Aphelinidae in the mountain localities includes 20 species in 5 genera (Table 1). Encarsia is the genus with more species (13). Two species of Aphytis found at this locality are parasitoids of armored scales, including A. miquihuana Myartseva, a new species described in 2010 (Myartseva et al. 2010). Two species of Eretmocerus are whitefly parasitoids and 1 species of Coccophagus is parasitoid of soft scales. Of the 13 species of Encarsia, 12 are parasitoids of Aleyrodidae and one attacks Diaspididae. Two species of Coccobius parasitoids armored scales were collected. The family Aphelinidae in these mountain localities therefore has 3 groups of hosts: Aleyrodidae (12 parasitoid species, 65% of all the Aphelinidae species), Coccidae (1 species, 5%) and Diaspididae (5 species, 25%). The host of the new species, E. santaelenae, is unknown; this species was obtained in a Malaise trap.

According to Miller (1996), 224 species in 68 genera of Diaspididae have been recorded from Mexico. Martin & Mound (2007) published a list of New World whiteflies, which included 3 subfamilies, 20 genera and 52 new species. According to Evans (2007), the aleyrodid fauna in Mexico consists of 123 species in 30 genera of 2 subfamilies.

In Mexico, we have found or reared 155 species of Aphelinidae whose hosts include primarily whiteflies and armored scales. Most of them were collected in natural and urban ecosystems. For example, in Ciudad Victoria 50 species in 6 genera were recorded (Myartseva et al. 2011b). In natural ecosystems in the State of Tamaulipas, especially in the Biosphere Reserve “El Cielo”, 42 species in 7 genera have been collected (Myartseva et al. 2011c).

In the mountain localities in Tamaulipas, which consisted of mainly oak forest, Aleyrodidae on trees and shrubs were found as the most common hosts of Aphelinidae (13 species). Seven species in 3 genera of Aphelinidae were described as new (Myartseva & Evans 2008; Myartseva et al. 2012b). One new species is described in this article.

Nine species of the aphelinids obtained in mountain localities were also found in urban areas. These are polyphagous species (Woolley 1997), which include the scale parasitoids Aphytis comperei DeBach and Rosen and Encarsia citrina (Crawford), and the whitefly parasitoids Eretmocerus comperei Rose, Encarsia citrella (Howard), E. formosa Gahan, E. luteola Howard and E. pergandiella Howard. The global host list for E. citrina includes more than 65 Diaspididae species, E. pergandiella and E. formosa have 19 and 17 host species, respectively (Myartseva & Evans 2008). Hosts of these Aphelinidae also include several insect pests of citrus and other crops in Mexico (Miller 1996): armored scales—California red scale Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), citrus snow scale Unaspis citri (Comstock), lesser snow scale Pinnaspis strachani (Cooley), vanda orchid scale Parlatoria pseudaspidiotus Lindinger; whiteflies—sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci Gennadius, greenhouse whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood), citrus woolly whitefly Aleurothrixus floccosus (Maskell), and mulberry whitefly Tetraleurodes mori Quaintance. Some parasitoid species (Aphytis miquihuana, Eretmocerus montanus Myartseva and Encarsia altacima Myartseva & Evans) of these pests were found in mountain localities for the first time.

TABLE 1.

APHELINIDAE COLLECTED IN MOUNTAIN LOCALITIES IN MIQUIHUANA AND VICTORIA, TAMAULIPAS. (A — ALEYRODIDAE, C — COCCIDAE, D — DIASPIDIDAE, + PRESENT, - ABSENT). 1998–2012.

Aphelinidae species contribute to the natural control of Aleyrodidae and Diaspididae, protecting trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in mountain localities in Tamaulipas. In Miquihuana and Victoria, species of polyphagous parasitoids (Aphytis comperei, Encarsia citrella, E. citrina, E. formosa, E. luteola, E. pergandiella) were collected. These parasitoids attack hemipteran pests in agricultural ecosystems and urban areas. Protection of Aphelinidae biodiversity may results in preservation of natural and agricultural areas. Protected areas are appropriate for the conservation of parasitoid wasp's diversity and provide an opportunity for beneficial insects and their hosts to establish an ecological balance.

Figs. 1–4.

Encarsia santaelenae Myartseva, sp. nov., female: 1 — antenna, 2 — detail of marginal vein, 3 — midtibial spur and middle tarsus, 4 — ovipositor, ventral view.

TABLE 2.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ENCARSIA SANTAELENAE SP. NOV. AND E. BIMACULATA.

TABLE 3.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ENCARSIA SANTAELENAE SP. NOV. AND ENCARSIA MEXICELLA.