New record in the Hawaiian Islands of Orasema minutissima (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), an ant-parasitic wasp and a potential biocontrol agent against the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

John M. Heraty; D. Valle Rogers; Tracy Johnson; William D. Perreira; Austin J. Baker; Ellyn Bitume; Elizabeth Murray; Laura Varone

Treesearch

New record in the Hawaiian Islands of Orasema minutissima (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), an ant-parasitic wasp and a potential biocontrol agent against the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Formally Refereed

Authors:

John M. Heraty, D. Valle Rogers, Tracy Johnson, William D. Perreira, Austin J. Baker, Ellyn Bitume, Elizabeth Murray, Laura Varone

Year:

2021

Type:

Book Chapter

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2020. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 137: 7–18.

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Abstract

Orasema minutissima Howard (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae) is recorded from the Hawaiian Islands for the first time. It has been established on the island of Hawai‘i since at least 2019. The wasp is a parasitoid of the immature stages of Pheidole and Wasmannia (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), both of which are significant pests on several of the Hawaiian Islands. Already found in substantial numbers, the wasp is a potential biological control agent for Wasmannia auropunctata, the Little Fire Ant.

Citation

Heraty, John M.; Rogers, D. Valle; Johnson, M. Tracy; Perreira, William D.; Baker, Austin J.; Bitume, Ellyn; Murray, Elizabeth; Varone, Laura. 2021. New record in the Hawaiian Islands of Orasema minutissima (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae), an ant-parasitic wasp and a potential biocontrol agent against the Little Fire Ant, Wasmannia auropunctata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Neal, L.; Evenhuis, N.L, eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2020. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 137: 7–18.