The current status of thrips parasitoids Ceranisus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) species in Turkey based on morphology and 28S D2 rDNA

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate genetic analysis of the species within genus Ceranisus (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) that are interesting groups found in South Eastern Anatolia and Eastern parts of Mediterranean Region of Turkey and to compare with the other thrips-parasitoids between May 2006 and May 2007. Totally, 143 specimens (30 male: 113 female) belonging to Ceranisus genus were collected from 20 locations of 38 different localities in Hatay, Gaziantep, Adiyaman and Sanliurfa provinces. The population was divided into 13 groups based on morphologic characters. Phylogenetic relationships amongst Ceranisus species (Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) were gathered from DNA sequence data. Fifteen species of thrips chalcid parasitoids were analyzed using one gene, D2 domain of the 28S ribosomal DNA. Among morphologically distinct 13 species/taxonomic groups, 3 of them identified as new species according to the genetical analysis. Four of the other species occurred in C. nr. lepidotus group while 5 of C. nr. bozovaensis consisted of two groups. To conclude 3 new species of Ceranisus and 3 different groups that may yield new species were determined in Turkish Ceranisus population.