A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago
Megastigmidae comprises more than 200 species in 12 genera. <i>Megastigmus</i> has a worldwide distribution with more than 150 species. Over 80% of these species are recorded from the Australian and Palearctic region, with a few from Afrotropical and Oriental regions, but none from the N...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/677 |
| _version_ | 1827729550800322560 |
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| author | Irinel Eugen Popescu Irina Neta Gostin |
| author_facet | Irinel Eugen Popescu Irina Neta Gostin |
| author_sort | Irinel Eugen Popescu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Megastigmidae comprises more than 200 species in 12 genera. <i>Megastigmus</i> has a worldwide distribution with more than 150 species. Over 80% of these species are recorded from the Australian and Palearctic region, with a few from Afrotropical and Oriental regions, but none from the Neotropical region. We describe a new species of <i>Megastigmus</i> obtained from the seeds of <i>Pemphis acidula</i> in the Maldives Archipelago. This is the first mention of Megastigmidae having as a host plant a species from Lythraceae. It is also the first recorded association of Chalcidoidea with the genus <i>Pemphis</i> and the first mention of Megastigmidae and <i>Megastigmus</i> in the Maldives Archipelago. We provide a detailed description of the species, focusing on its morphology, using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). <i>Megastigmus irinae</i> Popescu n. sp. is a strictly phytophagous species, with each larva consuming a single seed. Currently, <i>M. irinae</i> is an endemic species found only in the Maldives Archipelago. However, considering the distribution of its host plant, <i>P. acidula</i>, which ranges from East Africa to Southeast Asia, Australia, Micronesia, and French Polynesia, we anticipate that future research could significantly expand the known range of this interesting new species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:51:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4a3f9bc5bcc9444da2ebec71b9be20a7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:51:19Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-4a3f9bc5bcc9444da2ebec71b9be20a72023-11-19T01:36:16ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-07-0114867710.3390/insects14080677A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives ArchipelagoIrinel Eugen Popescu0Irina Neta Gostin1Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Bdul Carol I, no. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, Bdul Carol I, no. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaMegastigmidae comprises more than 200 species in 12 genera. <i>Megastigmus</i> has a worldwide distribution with more than 150 species. Over 80% of these species are recorded from the Australian and Palearctic region, with a few from Afrotropical and Oriental regions, but none from the Neotropical region. We describe a new species of <i>Megastigmus</i> obtained from the seeds of <i>Pemphis acidula</i> in the Maldives Archipelago. This is the first mention of Megastigmidae having as a host plant a species from Lythraceae. It is also the first recorded association of Chalcidoidea with the genus <i>Pemphis</i> and the first mention of Megastigmidae and <i>Megastigmus</i> in the Maldives Archipelago. We provide a detailed description of the species, focusing on its morphology, using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). <i>Megastigmus irinae</i> Popescu n. sp. is a strictly phytophagous species, with each larva consuming a single seed. Currently, <i>M. irinae</i> is an endemic species found only in the Maldives Archipelago. However, considering the distribution of its host plant, <i>P. acidula</i>, which ranges from East Africa to Southeast Asia, Australia, Micronesia, and French Polynesia, we anticipate that future research could significantly expand the known range of this interesting new species.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/677Maldivesislands biogeography<i>Megastigmus irinae</i> new species<i>Pemphis acidula</i>phytophagousseed eater insect |
| spellingShingle | Irinel Eugen Popescu Irina Neta Gostin A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago Insects Maldives islands biogeography <i>Megastigmus irinae</i> new species <i>Pemphis acidula</i> phytophagous seed eater insect |
| title | A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago |
| title_full | A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago |
| title_fullStr | A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago |
| title_full_unstemmed | A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago |
| title_short | A New Species of <i>Megastigmus</i> and First Record of the Genus and Megastigmidae Family from the Paradise of the Maldives Archipelago |
| title_sort | new species of i megastigmus i and first record of the genus and megastigmidae family from the paradise of the maldives archipelago |
| topic | Maldives islands biogeography <i>Megastigmus irinae</i> new species <i>Pemphis acidula</i> phytophagous seed eater insect |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/8/677 |
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