projects->Eucoilinae->project description->

(By Matt Bufington)

The Sub-Family Eucoilinae

The superfamily Cynipoidea is comprised of the phytophagous gall inducers and gall inquillines (Cynipidae) and the parasitic families Austrocynipidae, Ibaliidae, Liopteridae and Figitidae (Ronquist 1995). Recently, Ronquist (1995) showed that Austrocynipidae, Ibaliidae and Liopteridae (the 'macrocynipoids') form a "Hennigian comb" with the sister groups Cynipidae and Figitidae (the "microcynipoids") as the crown group of the entire cynipoid clade. Ronquist also suggested the movement of Eucoilidae to sub-family rank within Figitidae (along with the former families Charipidae and Anacharitidae). This classification reflects biology as well as morphology, placing all the parasitic microcynipoids into one family (Figitidae), and all the phytophagous microcynipoids into a sister family (Cynipidae).
The Gronotoma Group

Studies on the systematics of the Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) by the Swedish entomologist Göran Nordlander in the late 1970's and early 1980's resulted in the first clear understanding of many generic and species level relationships within this sub-family. Nordlander´s (1982) thesis summarized and discussed the results of 5 previously published revisionary studies., and included 6 informal genus groups that Nordlander recognized based on explicit morphological characters. Unfortunately, these genus groups were never treated phylogenetically to determine whether or not they were monophyletic. The genus group I am studying, the Gronotoma Group, consists of the Holartic genera Gronotoma, Diglyphosema, Disorygma, Microstilba, and the Neotropical genera Zaeucoila, Rhabdeucoela, Penteucoila and Dicerataspis (Nordlander 1982). Other potential members of the Gronotoma group, based on our work so far, include the Neotropical genera Agrostocynips, Tropideucoila, Moneucoela, Dettmeria and Lopheucoila, and the Afrotropical genera Ealata and Nordlandiella.



An added feature that supports the solidarity of the Gronotoma group is a shared biological feature: all eucoilines are parasitoids of cyclorraphous Diptera, and, where known, all the putative members of the Gronotoma group of genera are parasitoids of the leaf-miner family Agromyzidae, except for Lopheucoila (Lonchaeidae), Dicerataspis (Drosophilidae) and Dettmeria (Otitidae). Hosts have not been verified for Rhabdeucoela, Tropideucoila, Moneucoela, Ealata and Nordlandiella.

With the assistance and guidance of my advisors, Dr. Wharton and Dr. Woolley, my research aims to remedy the confusion currently surrounding the identities of these genera using phylogenetic (cladistic) methodology . Based on my analyses I am attempting to define the boundaries of each genus mentioned above. Upon its completion, my thesis will included a robust phylogeny of these genera, a key useful for identification purposes and the first complete descriptions of these genera (including scanning electron micrographs and line drawings).


Additional projects I was engaged in while at Texas A&M University are:

1. A complete bibliography of the Eucoilinae (systematics, behavior, biology, etc.); in conjunction with Felix Fontal-Cazalla of the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid, and Kathy Schick of U.C. Berkeley

2. The first ever phylogenetic analysis of the Eucoilinae, testing not only Nordlander's genus groups (mentioned above) for monophyly, but also attempting to better understand more completely the relationship between the Eucoilinae and other figitid sub-families; in conjunction with F. Fontal-Cazalla (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales), G. Nordlander, F. Ronquist, J. Liljeblad (Uppsala University), P. Ros, J. L. Nieves Aldrey, J. Pujade (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales)

3. A continuing effort to clarify host records for many members of the Eucoilinae, specifically those that are considered members of the Gronotoma Group of genera.

I believe that through this work, entomologists whose studies range from biological control to ecology will benefit. The Eucoilinae are not only diverse but also ubiquitous. They are readily collected in just about every ecosystem on the planet and undoubtedly play an important role in each one of those ecosystems. Yet, our understanding of this group is fairly incomplete. Who knows what we may find out about this fascinating group of insects!

Suggested Reading:

Nordlander, G. (1982) Systematics and phylogeny of an interrelated group of genera within the family Eucoilidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea). Doctoral Dissertation. University of Stockholm. 34 pp.

Ronquist, F. (1995) Phylogeny and early evolution of the Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera). Systematic Entomology 20(4) 309-335.



Contact Information:

Matt is now continuing his studies on eucoilines under Dr. John Hearty, University of California, Riverside.