Field studies and molecular forensics identify a new association: Idris elba Talamas, sp. nov. parasitizes the eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister)

Abstract

A species of Idris Forster (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is found to parasitize the eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and is described as new: Idris elba Talamas, sp. nov. This is the first association of an Idris species with a non-spider host, and the association is confirmed with molecular diagnostic tools that enable identification of parasitoid and host from the remains of parasitized eggs.