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Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition
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Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450). This special issue belongs to the section "Insect Systematics, Phylogeny and Evolution".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 November 2026 | Viewed by 3145

Editors

Dr. Mar Ferrer-Suay

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, Campus de Burjassot-Paterna, Dr. Moliner 50, 46100 Burjassot, Spain
Interests: taxonomy; Charipinae; Hymenoptera; phylogeny; control pests
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Andrew Polaszek

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Interests: Hymenoptera; parasitoids; bees; Chalcidoidea; ooparasitoids; Aphelinidae; Mymaridae; taxonomy; systematics; host-associations
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Hymenoptera represents one of the most diverse insect lineages, and its parasitoid members constitute a key group in biological pest management. This Special Issue seeks to underscore the central role of taxonomy in contemporary entomological research, while drawing attention to its growing relevance across disciplines. Particular emphasis will be placed on integrative taxonomy as a fundamental approach to resolving species boundaries and enhancing our understanding of parasitoid diversity. The aim is to highlight how taxonomic research contributes to advancing biodiversity knowledge through the description of new species, the accurate identification of taxa as a prerequisite for studying their biology and behavior, and the application of these insights to strengthen biological control strategies. Contributions will also address the curation and cataloging of entomological collections, encompassing both historical and newly collected material, as well as phylogenetic studies that refine evolutionary hypotheses and promote necessary taxonomic revisions. This Special Issue welcomes original research articles and reviews, with potential topics including—but not limited to—species discovery and description, integrative taxonomy, molecular systematics, cryptic species delineation, phylogeny, and applications in integrated pest management.

Dr. Mar Ferrer-Suay
Dr. Andrew Polaszek
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • hymenoptera
  • taxonomy
  • pest control
  • new species
  • museum collections
  • cryptic species

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

31 pages, 24960 KB  
Article
On the Generic Status of Asitrichiosoma Malaise, 1939 (Hymenoptera, Cimbicidae, Cimbicinae) and Its Revision, with Description of Seven New Species
by Guozhu Deng, Nannan He, Yuchen Yan and Meicai Wei
Insects 2026, 17(7), 745; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17070745 - 21 Jul 2026
Viewed by 523
Abstract
Due to the conspicuous variation in the present morphology, particularly in the male sex (typically the legs and penis valve), the Asitrichiosoma subgenus was established by Malaise, 1939 of the Trichiosoma genus. Based on COI data, the genetic distance between Asitrichiosoma and Trichiosoma [...] Read more.
Due to the conspicuous variation in the present morphology, particularly in the male sex (typically the legs and penis valve), the Asitrichiosoma subgenus was established by Malaise, 1939 of the Trichiosoma genus. Based on COI data, the genetic distance between Asitrichiosoma and Trichiosoma is 0.0878, and this genetic distance is significantly different (p < 0.001) from the average genetic distance (0.0256) among the species within the genus Trichiosoma. Based on morphological and molecular data, we recognize Asitrichiosoma as a valid genus. The differences between Asitrichiosoma and Trichiosoma are discussed in detail. The newly elevated genus is revised, and seven new species are described: A. bomei Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. brevicorne Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. shennong Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. sinense Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. omei Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. poecilomallosum Yan & Wei, sp. nov.; A. nigropilosum Yan & Wei, sp. nov. Descriptions, remarks, illustrations, and a key to the known species of Asitrichiosoma are provided. Four new combinations are proposed: A. himalayanum (Malaise, 1939), A. anthracinum (Forsius, 1930), A. bombiforme (Takeuchi, 1939), A. sikkimense (Konow, 1897), among which A. bombiforme (Takeuchi, 1939), A. sikkimense (Konow, 1897) and A. gansuense Yan & Wei, 2025 are re-described and illustrated. The distribution of the genus is also briefly discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 2304 KB  
Article
Taxonomic Validation and Southern Range Expansion of Campsomeriella whitelyi (Kirby, 1889) (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae: Campsomerini) in Agricultural Landscapes of North-Central Chile
by Macarena González-Dossi, Fermín M. Alfaro, Elizabeth V. Villalobos and Jaime Pizarro-Araya
Insects 2026, 17(7), 674; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17070674 - 28 Jun 2026
Viewed by 448
Abstract
The family Scoliidae is composed of parasitoid wasps of notable ecological and agronomic importance, particularly for their role in the natural control of soil-dwelling beetle larvae within agroecosystems. This study provides the first record of Campsomeriella whitelyi (Kirby, 1889) in Chile, a species [...] Read more.
The family Scoliidae is composed of parasitoid wasps of notable ecological and agronomic importance, particularly for their role in the natural control of soil-dwelling beetle larvae within agroecosystems. This study provides the first record of Campsomeriella whitelyi (Kirby, 1889) in Chile, a species originally described from the Tambo Valley, Arequipa, Peru. The specimens analyzed, previously identified as Campsomeris servillei (Guérin-Méneville, 1831), were found to correspond to Campsomeriella whitelyi, whose known distribution in Chile was restricted to the extreme north. Their identity was confirmed through morphological analysis, which revealed the presence of a distinct yellow band on the fourth abdominal tergite and an elongated posterior tibial spur—diagnostic characters consistent with the original description of the species. This record from the Coquimbo Region represents the southernmost known expansion of the species. Specimens were collected between 2017 and 2025 in horticultural and rainfed agroecosystems associated with the Elqui River Basin (Coquimbo Region, Chile), using entomological nets in targeted sampling efforts. The edaphoclimatic conditions of the area—characterized by light-textured soils, winter humidity, and a high availability of hosts—appear to have favored the establishment of this wasp in a previously unreported environment. Through MaxEnt modeling, areas of high environmental suitability were identified in Chile’s Norte Chico region. From an agronomic perspective, this finding opens opportunities to incorporate Campsomeriella whitelyi as a functional component in integrated pest management (IPM) programs, particularly in the biological control of Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera) larvae that affect root, bulb, and minor fruit crops. Its adaptation to semi-arid agricultural environments suggests potential resilience under climate change scenarios, as well as a low impact on non-target species. This study contributes to applied entomology and functional conservation, promoting the integration of beneficial Hymenoptera into sustainable agricultural systems of north-central Chile. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 22438 KB  
Article
Two New Chalcid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae and Megastigmidae) Are Parasitoids of Ophelimus bipolaris (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) on Eucalyptus in China
by Jin-Bo Sun, Guo-Bao Qin, Jian-Zhong Ning, Yan Qin, Jun Li, Zoya Yefremova and Xia-Lin Zheng
Insects 2026, 17(5), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17050449 - 24 Apr 2026
Viewed by 711
Abstract
Two new species, Aprostocetus eucalyptus Zheng & Yefremova sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Megastigmus bipolaris Zheng & Yefremova sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Megastigmidae), were discovered on populations of the invasive gall wasp Ophelimus bipolaris (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) infesting Eucalyptus in Guangxi, China. An integrative taxonomic [...] Read more.
Two new species, Aprostocetus eucalyptus Zheng & Yefremova sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) and Megastigmus bipolaris Zheng & Yefremova sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Megastigmidae), were discovered on populations of the invasive gall wasp Ophelimus bipolaris (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) infesting Eucalyptus in Guangxi, China. An integrative taxonomic approach combining morphological characterization and 28S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis was used for species identification and classification. Detailed morphological descriptions, illustrations, and an identification key for both sexes are provided. Field parasitism data confirm their potential as native natural enemies, supporting their utility for the biological control of this economically important pest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 3721 KB  
Article
Alloreferent and Apparent Seasonal Polyphenism of Dielis tejensis with an Updated Key to Nearctic Dielis Species (Hymenoptera: Scoliidae)
by Przemyslaw Szafranski
Insects 2026, 17(3), 295; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17030295 - 9 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 760
Abstract
Scoliidae are fossorial aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) whose larvae develop as parasitoids of beetle grubs, mainly from the family Scarabaeidae. Despite their distinctive appearance and economic importance, the taxonomy and biology of Scoliidae are less well understood compared to other Hymenoptera. Recently, a [...] Read more.
Scoliidae are fossorial aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Apocrita) whose larvae develop as parasitoids of beetle grubs, mainly from the family Scarabaeidae. Despite their distinctive appearance and economic importance, the taxonomy and biology of Scoliidae are less well understood compared to other Hymenoptera. Recently, a new species of Scoliidae, Dielis tejensis Szafr., was described based on about a dozen male specimens from Texas (Nearctic realm). This article reports on mtDNA-verified discovery of the female D. tejensis. As in the case of other members of the tribe Campsomerini, D. tejensis exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in body structure and color pattern. Females of D. tejensis most closely resemble Dielis plumipes (Drury) and were previously confused with D. plumipes fossulana (Fabr.), with which D. tejensis is partially sympatric. D. tejensis has more than one generation per year, characterized by a male-biased sex ratio, perhaps resulting from the female immature stages entering a state of aestivation. The multi-generational developmental cycle of D. tejensis correlates with the existence of a partial seasonal polyphenism in this species. The data presented also shows a similarity in the distribution ranges of D. tejensis and one of its main nectaring plants, Hymenopappus artemisiifolius DC (Asteraceae), that may suggest similarity in the environmental requirements of both organisms or specialized trophic relationship between the still-unknown beetle host of the wasp larvae and H. artemisiifolius or another plant with a similar range. D. tejensis has been included in the accordingly modified key to the Nearctic species of Dielis Sauss. & Sichel, which is also presented here. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hymenoptera: Biology, Taxonomy and Integrated Management—2nd Edition)
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