Nina Laurenne:
SYSTEMATICS OF PARASITIC WASPS AND DNA-BASED IDENTIFICATION

Parasitic wasps are one of the largest insect groups with an estimated 800 000 species worldwide, and possibly far more. This huge species richness, together with their generally small body size, makes research on this group difficult, and the literature for identification, although growing, is still very limited for many groups.

This project is focusing on two groups of parasitic wasps (Ctenopelmatinae and Tryphoninae) members of which mainly parasitize sawflies. These insects are adapted to similar environments and ways of life and for these reasons they are morphologically very much alike.

The purpose of the project is to resolve the phylogeny of the groups mentioned, survey the Finnish fauna and clarify species identification using DNA methods. The research project is part of Deficiently known and endangered forest species in Finland, called PUTTE, running 2003 - 2007.

DNA based identification

Using genetic characters it is possible to separate similar looking species from each other without being dependent on developmental stage of an insect, interpretations characters or very few specialists. Applying these new methods has revealed many examples of previously unrecognised, cryptic species, i.e. ones morphologically so similar that separating them from each other using traditional characters may be virtually impossible. Ecological information such as host ranges, abundance and distribution, is largely unavailable of these species and therefore their roles in their ecosystems cannot currently be assessed.

Applications

Research on parasitic wasps is slowed by the often enormous problems in identification and the currently incomplete state of their taxonomy. However, by applying DNA identification methods it is now possible to investigate their biology and ecology in new ways.

Biological control is an important application area of all research of parasitic wasps. Sawflies are economically important forest pests and knowing insects that utilize them as hosts can lead to better pest management systems.

The research project is part of Deficiently known and endangered forest species in Finland, called PUTTE, running 2003 - 2007.

Additional information:

Nina Laurenne, Finnish Museum of Natural History , P.O. Box 17, 00014 University of Helsinki, tel. 09-191 44193, nina.laurenne(at)helsinki.fi.