Apanteles subandinus Blanchard, 1947

Apanteles subandinus Blanchard, 1947 View in CoL

Fig. 58 (examined material View Figure 58 )

Holotype information.

♀; Argentina ( MACN).

Examined material.

Diagnosis based on a female specimen from the USA: CNCHYM 00221 ( CNC); and a female specimen with the label data: “ W. A. R. I [Waite Agricultural Research Institute] Glen Osmond SA, A. Eduayah, ex Phthorimaea operculella ; ♀ Apantles subandinus Blanchard, I. D Naumann det. 1979 ( WINC).

Diagnosis.

Apanteles subandinus is extremely distinct from all other described Apanteles species known from Australia, easily separated by T 1 strongly narrowing posteriorly, pterostigma with pale centre, and the propodeum smooth with areola poorly defined by rather short carinae on posterior 1 / 2.

Notes.

Apanteles subandinus was introduced to Australia for biocontrol of the potato tuber moth ( Phthorimaea operculella ( Lepidoptera : Gelechiidae )) in the 1960 s ( Callan 1974) and was considered established, with shipments subsequently made to New Zealand in 1966 ( Cameron et al. 1989). Whilst we have not collected any material that could possibly be A. subandinus during this project, it is possible it is restricted to agricultural areas where the host is present.