6 urn:lsid:arphahub.com:pub:DE333E49-E4EE-5693-9BEF-D446E6301C98 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:55528528-5C97-4D79-A718-8B3D153B37CC Journal of Hymenoptera Research JHR 1070-9428 1314-2607 Pensoft Publishers 10.3897/jhr.99.199506 199506 Research Article Braconidae Ichneumonoidea Identification key Systematics Taxonomy Far East Three new species and two new records of the genus Aspilota Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea Sohn Ju-Hyeong https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0976-4114 1 Conceptualization Writing - original draft Writing - review and editing Data curation Formal analysis Investigation Methodology Resources Software Validation Visualization van Achterberg Cornelis https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-4853 2 Writing - original draft Writing - review and editing Methodology Validation Kim Sangjin https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-8019 1 Data curation Methodology Resources Software Kim Yeongmo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6895-9873 1 Data curation Methodology Resources Kim Hyojoong hkim@kunsan.ac.kr https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1706-2991 1 Funding acquisition Project administration Supervision Animal Systematics Lab., Department of Biological Science, Kunsan National University, Gunsan, 54150, Republic of Korea Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University Hangzhou China https://ror.org/00a2xv884 Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China Animal Systematics Lab., Department of Biological Science, Kunsan National University Gunsan Republic of Korea https://ror.org/02yj55q56

Corresponding author: Hyojoong Kim (hkim@kunsan.ac.kr)

Academic editor: Eduardo Shimbori

 2026 24 07 2026 99 857 875 379C9A5E-91AF-5C8C-B4C9-F466D60A3A8D B32ECB74-02D2-4933-AFB7-F06A3050B129 13 05 2026 09 07 2026 Ju-Hyeong Sohn, Cornelis van Achterberg, Sangjin Kim, Yeongmo Kim, Hyojoong Kim This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. https://zoobank.org/B32ECB74-02D2-4933-AFB7-F06A3050B129

Three new species of the genus Aspilota Foerster, 1863 s. str. (Braconidae: Alysiinae), are described and illustrated: A. angusticarinatasp. nov., A. ocellocarinatasp. nov., and A. laticlypeatasp. nov. Additionally, A. aniva Belokobylskij, 2007 and A. chanka Belokobylskij, 2007 are recorded for the first time from South Korea. We also analyzed the barcode region of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) for those five species. In addition, we provided an identification key for the Aspilota species recorded from Korea.

 Alysiini Hymenoptera new species parasitoid wasp taxonomy National Institute of Biological Resources 501100005880 https://ror.org/012a41834 http://doi.org/10.13039/501100005880 National Research Foundation of Korea 501100003725 https://ror.org/013aysd81 http://doi.org/10.13039/501100003725 Introduction

The subfamily Alysiinae is a relatively large taxon in the family Braconidae, which consists of over 2,440 valid species worldwide (Yu et al. 2016). Alysiinae is subdivided into two tribes, Alysiini and Dacnusini, with 76 and 31 genera, respectively. In South Korea, 270 species in 21 genera have been recorded, including 132 species in Alysiini and 138 in Dacnusini (NIBR 2025).

Alysiinae is part of the Cyclostome clade and comprises exclusively koinobiont endoparasitoids of dipterous larvae (Yu et al. 2016). They use the outward-curved or straight teeth (usually 3, but varies between 2–7) of the exodont mandible to emerge from the host puparium (Docavo et al. 2002). Several alysiine species have been used in the biological control of Liriomyza trifolii (Diptera, Agromyzidae) and Drosophila suzukii (Diptera, Drosophilidae) (Ozawa et al. 2001; Chabert et al. 2012).

The genus complex surrounding Aspilota is regarded taxonomically as one of the most difficult groups within the Alysiinae, largely due to their diminutive body size and the limited number of stable morphological diagnostic characters available for differentiation (Belokobylskij 2005). The genus Aspilota Foerster, 1863, is reliably distinguished by the presence of a subclypeal depression reaching to the inner margin of the eye, and by the presence of vein cuqu1 (2-SR) in the fore wing (van Achterberg 1998; Peris-Felipo et al. 2016; Peris-Felipo et al. 2025).

Species of Aspilota are primarily koinobiont endoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphous Diptera, with confirmed host records mainly from the family Phoridae. Host associations with other dipteran families, Tephritidae, Anthomyiidae, and Sarcophagidae, have been reported (Yu et al. 2016), but are considered doubtful and in need of further verification (van Achterberg 1998).

The genus currently comprises approximately 250 described species distributed across nearly all zoogeographic regions, of which 16 species have been reported from the Korean Peninsula (Yu et al. 2016). Previous Korean records were based primarily on the works of Papp (2001, 2007), with a significant proportion originating from North Korea. Papp (2001) documented eleven species: A. aestiva, A. fuscicornis, A. jabingensis, A. latipelus, A. longifemur, A. semipilosa, A. stenogaster, A. variabilis, A. inflatitempus, A. laevinota, and A. parallela. Subsequently, four additional species were reported in Papp (2001): A. anaphoretica, A. farra, A. flagellaris, and A. inflatinervis. Finally, A. turgida was added in Papp (2007), bringing the total number of Korean records to sixteen.

Three previously recorded species from Korea—Aspilota inflatitempus Fischer, 1974, A. laevinota Tobias, 1962, and A. parallela Fischer, 1971—were excluded from the Korean fauna by Sohn (2026). Accordingly, 13 species of Aspilota s.str. are currently recognized from Korea. The subgenus Eusynaldis Zaykov & Fischer (see Peris-Felipo et al. 2025) is not treated in the present study.

In this study, three new species of Aspilota are described from South Korea, and two additional species are recorded from the country for the first time. The barcode region of cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) was analyzed for the five Korean species of Aspilota to estimate pairwise genetic distances. Comparative diagnoses are provided for each new and newly recorded species based on morphologically similar taxa. Descriptions, an identification key (excluding subgenus Eusynaldis), and photographs of diagnostic characters are also provided.

 Materials and methods Morphological classification and identification

The examined specimens were collected using Malaise traps in South Korea at Chuncheon-si, Yeoncheon-gun, Pyeongchang-gun, Daejeon and Namwon-si. The sorting and preparation were performed at the Animal Systematics Laboratory (ASL), Department of Biological Science, Kunsan National University (KSNU).

Wharton et al. (1997) and Zhu et al. (2017) were used for morphological identification of generic level. Morphological characters were observed with a Leica M205 C stereomicroscope. The Taxapad database (Yu et al. 2016) was used for references up to 2015. The terminology follows Wharton (2002) and van Achterberg (1993). Holotypes of the new species have been deposited in the NIBR (National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon) collection. VXH-7100 (Keyence, Japan) was used for photography; all pictures were taken by using multi-focusing technology. Helicon Focus 7 (Helicon Soft, Kharkiv, Ukraine) software were used to stack the photographs. Final illustrations were created using Adobe Photoshop CS6.

 Abbreviations

Head. OOL: ocello-ocular line; AOL: antero-posterior ocellar line; DAO: diameter of anterior ocellus; POL: postero-ocellar line.

Wing. CU: cubitus; M: media; R: radius; SR: sectio radii; r: transverse radial vein; r-m: transverse radio-medial vein; 2: submarginal cell; 3: discal cell.

 <italic>COI</italic> extraction for identification

For DNA analyses, whole genome was extracted from the specimens using a Labopass Tissue kit (Cosmo Genetech, Daejeon, Korea) following the manufacturer’s protocol. In order to conserve morphologically complete voucher specimens, the ‘non-destructive method’ by Favret (2005) and the ‘freezing method’ by Yaakop et al. (2009) were used, with slight modification to avoid the first crushing of the sample. In the original protocol, the sample was crushed or damaged and then soaked in 180 μL of buffer ATL + 20 μL of proteinase and incubated at 55 °C for 3 hours. In the slightly modified DNA extraction methods, samples were incubated in 180 μL of buffer ATL + 20 μL of proteinase K without first crushing the sample, followed by a 10-minute incubation at 55 °C and then kept in a freezer at −22 °C overnight. Subsequently, a general protocol was followed for the remaining steps. The primer set LCO1490 (5’-GGTCAACAAATCATAAAGATATTGG-3’) and HCO2198 (5’-TAAACTTCAGGGTGACCAAAAAATCA-3’), originally designed by Folmer et al. (1994), was used to amplify an approximately 658 bp fragment from the 5’ region of COI. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were amplified by using AccuPowerH PCR PreMix (BIONEER, Corp., Daejeon) in 20 μl reaction mixtures containing 0.4 μM of each primer, 20 μM of the dNTPs, 20 μM of the MgCl2, and 0.05 μg of the genomic DNA template. PCR amplification was performed using a GS1 thermo-cycler (Gene Technologies, Ltd., U.K) according to the following procedure: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 5 min, followed by 34 cycles at 94 °C for 35 sec; an annealing temperature of 48 °C for 25 sec; an extension at 72 °C for 45 sec, and a final extension at 72 °C for 5 min. PCR products were visualized using electrophoresis and a 1.5% agarose gel. A single band was observed and sequenced using an automated sequencer (ABI Prism 3730 XL DNA Analyzer, California, USA) at Macrogen Inc. (Seoul, South Korea).

 Results and discussion <italic>COI</italic> analysis

A total of 586 bp of the COI fragments were sequenced from Aspilota angusticarinata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. ocellocarinata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. laticlypeata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov., A. aniva Belokobylskij, 2007 and A. chanka Belokobylskij, 2007, which were deposited in GenBank (Table 1). Pairwise distances were estimated by using the P-distance model with the option for pairwise deletion. Interspecific distance ranged from 0.076 to 0.096 (average 0.083) (Table 2). The lowest interspecific distance (0.076) was observed between A. angusticarinata and A. laticlypeata, between A. angusticarinata and A. chanka, and between A. laticlypeata and A. chanka, whereas the highest distance (0.096) was found between A. ocellocarinata and A. aniva. These interspecific distances support the morphological distinction of the five Aspilota species treated in this study.

Species list for COI analysis in the present study.

No Species NCBI accession number
1 Aspilota angusticarinata Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov PV937709
2 A. ocellocarinata Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov PV937716
3 A. laticlypeata Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov PV937703
4 A. aniva Belokobylskij, 2007 PV937733
5 A. chanka Belokobylskij, 2007 PV937648

Calculated genetics distances, based on COI sequences between Aspilota spp. used in the analysis.

A. angusticarinata sp. nov. A. ocellocarinata sp. nov. A. laticlypeata sp. nov. A. aniva
A. angusticarinata sp. nov.
A. ocellocarinata sp. nov. 0.080
A. laticlypeata sp. nov. 0.076 0.092
A. aniva 0.083 0.096 0.092
A. chanka 0.076 0.082 0.076 0.080
Taxonomy Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae F7BEBCCE-73F3-58A0-B230-D38E34D5E0DA Aspilota Foerster, 1863 Aspilota Foerster, 1863: 268; Shenefelt 1974: 966; Wharton 1980: 84; Chen and Wu 1994: 49; Belokobylskij 1998: 218; van Achterberg 1998: 9; Wharton 2002: 34. Type species.

Alysia ruficornis Nees von Esenbeck, 1834 (monobasic).

 Synonyms.

Dipiesta Foerster, 1863; Eusynaldis Zaykov & Fischer, 1982 (retained as subgenus with Regetus Papp, 1999 and Adelphenaldis Fischer, 2003 as synonyms).

 Diagnosis.

Enlarged anterior tentorial depression reaching inner margin of the eye, and by the presence of vein cuqu1 (2-SR) in the fore wing for Aspilota Foerster s.str.

 Biology.

Broad host range, containing parasitoids of Phoridae and Platypezidae (in mushrooms). The host records of Anthomyiidae and Drosophilidae are probably erroneous.

 Distribution.

Cosmopolitan.

Key to species of <italic><tp:taxon-name><tp:taxon-name-part taxon-name-part-type="genus" reg="Aspilota">Aspilota</tp:taxon-name-part></tp:taxon-name></italic> Foerster from Korea
1 Mesoscutum with medio-posterior depression A. ocellocarinata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov.
– Mesoscutum without medio-posterior depression 2
2 First flagellomere more than 5.0 times longer than wide 3
– First flagellomere less than 4.6 times longer than wide 4
3 Hind femur more than 5.7 times longer than wide. Third antennal segment more than 6.0 times longer than wide. Areola narrowly developed on medial part of propodeum. 5
– Hind femur less than 5.0 times longer than wide. Third antennal segment less than 5.7 times longer than wide. Areola widely developed on medial part of propodeum. 6
4 Precoxal sulcus largely present and as long as mesopleuron. First tergite robust, less than 1.5 times as long as its apical width 9
– Precoxal sulcus shortly present. First tergite more than 2.0 times longer than wide 10
5 Head 1.8 times longer than wide; eye 1.2 times longer than temple in dorsal view; clypeus robust, 2.3 times longer than wide. Propodeum entirely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina present half of propodeum. Vein r of fore wing slender, about 10 times longer than wide. First tergite 2.5 times longer than wide. Setose part of ovipositor sheath 0.9 times as long as hind tibia A. longifemur Papp, 2001
– Head 1.6 times longer than wide; eye as long as temple in dorsal view; clypeus 3.0 times longer than wide. Propodeum entirely smooth, medio-longitudinal carina only present anterior part of propodeum. Vein r of fore wing about 5 times longer than wide. First tergite slender, 4.0 times longer than wide. Setose part of ovipositor sheath 0.7 times as long as hind tibia A. stenogaster Stelfox & Graham, 1951
6 Head slender, 1.5 times longer than wide. First tergite less than 2.0 times longer than its apical width 7
– Head more than 1.7 times in its width. First tergite more than 2.4 times longer than its apical width 8
7 Clypeus robust, 2.0 times longer than wide. Vein r of fore wing 4.0 times longer than wide. Hind femur 4.0 times longer than wide. First tergite 1.8 times longer than wide apically A. jabingensis Fischer, 1976
– Clypeus 2.6 times longer than wide. Vein r of fore wing 6.5 times longer than wide. Hind femur 5.0 times longer than wide. First tergite 2.0 times longer than wide apically A. anaphoretica Fischer, 1973
8 Head 2.0 times longer than wide; first flagellomere 5.2 times longer than wide; eye as long as temple in dorsal view; mandible 1.6 times longer than wide. Precoxal sulcus shortly present at medial part of mesopleuron. Vein r of fore wing 5.2 times longer than wide A. flagellaris Fischer, 1973
– Head 1.7 times longer than wide; first flagellomere 5.7 times longer than wide; eye in dorsal view 1.2 times longer than temple; mandible 1.8 times longer than wide. Precoxal sulcus longer, reaching to anterior part of mesopleuron. Vein r of fore wing 3.5 times longer than wide A. inflatinervis Fischer, 1973
9 First flagellomere 1.4 times longer than second and 3.5 times longer than wide; eye 1.2 times longer than temple in dorsal view; width of face 1.5 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus; mandible 1.8 times longer than wide. Dorsope of first tergite distinctly protruding A. aestiva Papp, 2001
– First flagellomere 1.1 times longer than second and 4.3 times longer than wide; eye 1.8 times longer than temple in dorsal view; width of face 1.7 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus; mandible 1.5 times longer than wide. Dorsope of first tergite weakly developed A. latipelus Papp, 2001
10 Propodeum without areola 11
– Propodeum with areola 12
11 First flagellomere 4.6 times longer than wide; mandible 1.4 times longer than wide. Propodeum entirely rugose, medio-longitudinal carina only present anteriorly. Vein r of fore wing 4.8 times longer than wide. Setose part of ovipositor sheath 1.1 times longer than hind tibia A. turgida Papp, 2007
– First flagellomere 3.9 times longer than wide; mandible 1.6 times longer than wide. Propodeum anteriorly smooth, medio-longitudinal carina present on half of propodeum. Vein r of fore wing 4.2 times longer than wide. Setose part of ovipositor sheath long, 0.8 times longer than hind tibia A. variabilis Tobias, 1962
12 First tergite about 3.3 times longer than its apical width 13
– First tergite at most 3.0 times longer than its apical width 14
13 First flagellomere 4.6 times longer than wide; eye 2.0 times longer than temple in dorsal view; areola with medio-longitudinal carina; ovipositor sheath 0.7 times as long as mesosoma A. laticlypeata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov.
– First flagellomere 3.4 times longer than wide; eye 1.3 times longer than temple in dorsal view; areola without medio-longitudinal carina; ovipositor sheath 0.4 times as long as mesosoma A. angusticarinata Sohn & van Achterberg, sp. nov.
14 First flagellomere 2.5 times longer than wide; middle segments of antenna stout, 1.3 times longer than wide; hind femur 3.8 times longer than wide A. chanka Belokobylskij, 2007
– First flagellomere 3.0–4.2 times longer than wide; middle segments of antenna 1.5–2.0 times longer than wide; hind femur 4.0–5.0 times longer than wide 15
15 First tergite 1.8 times longer than its apical width; width of face 1.6–1.7 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus [Mandible 1.3 times longer than wide in Korean species] A. aniva Belokobylskij, 2007
– First tergite 2.0–2.5 times longer than its apical width; width of face 1.3–1.5 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus 16
16 Eye 1.4 times longer than temple in dorsal view. Propodeum without medio-longitudinal carina. Vein r of fore wing 4.0 times longer than wide. Dorsope of first tergite distinctly developed. Setose part of ovipositor sheath 1.3 times longer than hind tibia A. farra Papp, 2003
– Eye 1.0–1.1 times longer than temple in dorsal view. Propodeum with medio-longitudinal carina. Vein r of fore wing 4.4–5.2 times longer than wide. Dorsope of first tergite weakly developed. Setose part of ovipositor sheath 0.9–1.0 times as long as hind tibia 17
17 First flagellomere 3.8 times longer than wide; width of face 1.5 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus; clypeus 3.5 times wider than high. Medio-longitudinal carina only present anteriorly. Vein r of fore wing 5.2 times longer than wide. First tergite 2.4 times longer than wide apically A. fuscicornis (Haliday, 1838)
– First flagellomere 4.2 times longer than wide; width of face 1.3 times its height from ventral rim of antennal sockets to upper margin of clypeus; clypeus 2.1 times wider than High. Medio-longitudinal carina present on half of propodeum. Vein r of fore wing 4.4 times longer than wide. First tergite 2.0 times longer than wide apically A. semipilosa Papp, 2001
Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae C15228EA-359A-525A-92F6-9ECB7A6942EA Aspilota angusticarinata https://zoobank.org/DA145107-1068-468A-8046-405EC69871A9 Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov. Fig. 1A–L Type material.

Holotype, • ♀ (NIBR), South Korea, Mt. Daeryong, Geodu-ri, Dongnae-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon-do, 37°51'08.0"N, 127°48'22.2"E, 20.VIII. 2024 – 24. IX. 2024, Sangwoo Kim leg. GenBank accession no. PV937709.

10.3897/jhr.99.199506.figure1 120E0F8C-53D7-57A2-B7C5-57F36739D420

Aspilota angusticarinata sp. nov., ♀. A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Antennae; C. Wings; D. Head, dorsal view; E. Head, frontal view; F. Mesosoma, lateral view; G. Mesosoma, dorsal view; H. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view; I. Ovipositor sheath, lateral view; J. Proximal part of antenna; K. Mandible, lateral view; L. Claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (C); 0.3 mm (B, F, I); 0.2 mm (D, E, G, H); 0.1 mm (J, K, L).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1724225 Comparative diagnosis.

The new species is similar with A. austroussurica Belokobylskij, 2007 in having the mandible 1.8 times longer than wide (1.7–1.8 times in A. austroussurica), first flagellomere 3.4 times longer than wide (3.2–3.5 times in A. austroussurica), the hind femur 5.0 times longer than wide (4.5–5.0 times in A. austroussurica), and the first metasomal tergite 3.3 times longer than its apical width (3.3–3.7 times in A. austroussurica), but can be distinguished by having the middle flagellomere 2.2 times longer than wide (3.0–3.5 times in A. austroussurica), the eye in dorsal view 1.3 times longer than the temple (1.5–1.7 times in A. austroussurica), and the distance between the dorsal carinae of the first tergite much narrower than in A. austroussurica. In addition, lateral longitudinal carinae of metanotum is absent in Korean specimens, whereas distinct in A. austroussurica.

 Description.

Holotype, ♀, body 1.6 mm in lateral view, fore wing 1.5 mm, ovipositor sheath 0.2 mm in lateral view, antenna 1.4 mm.

Head: Width of head 1.7 times its median length in dorsal view (Fig. 1D). Antenna with 16 antennomeres, first flagellomere 3.4 times longer than wide (Fig. 1J), second flagellomere 0.9 times as long as first flagellomere and 3.0 times longer than wide. Middle antennal segments (around 10th segment) 2.2 times longer than wide. Minimum width of face (Fig. 1E) 1.4 times its height; face smooth with few setae. Eye 1.3 times longer than temple in dorsal view. OOL 5.1 times longer than DAO; OOL: AOL: POL = 19 : 6 : 7. Vertex smooth and glabrous. Width of clypeus 2.5 times its maximum length. Enlarged anterior tentorial depression smooth, 4.6 times longer than height in median length. Mandible (Fig. 1K) 1.8 times longer than wide, first tooth short and angled; second tooth narrow and long, 1.3 times longer than first tooth, tip of second tooth reddish brown; third tooth distinctly acutely protruding.

Mesosoma: In dorsal view mesosoma 2.2 times longer than wide 1.3 times longer than high in lateral view. Mesoscutum (Fig. 1G) without medio-posterior depression and glabrous; notauli impressed anteriorly, not reaching posterior area; scutellar sulcus with one carina. Precoxal sulcus distinct but not reaching anterior and posterior edge of mesopleuron. Maximum length of propodeum (Fig. 1G) 0.7 times as long as wide, smooth, but posterior part of propodeum with areola, reaching middle of propodeum. Spiracles distinct. Metanotum not protruding medio-dorsally in lateral view (Fig. 1F), lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Fore wing (Fig. 1C) 2.4 times longer than wide; vein r of fore wing 6.6 times longer than wide; vein SR1 2.8 times longer than vein 3-SR; vein SR1 slightly curved apically; vein 3-SR 2.7 times longer than 2-SR; second submarginal cell long and narrow; 3-SR: r : 2-SR = 11: 3: 4; first discal cell of fore wing as long as wide in median length. Hind wing: vein M+CU+1-M: vein 1r-m = 6: 1.

Leg: Hind femur 5.0 times longer than wide and 0.7 times as long as hind tibia; hind tibia 12 times longer than wide; hind tibia 1.1 times longer than hind tarsus. Arolium as long as claw.

Metasoma: First tergite (Fig. 1H) medially rugose, 3.3 times longer than its apical width. Setose part of ovipositor sheath (Fig. 1I) 0.4 times as long as mesosoma and 0.6 times longer than hind femur.

Colour: Body (Fig. 1A) reddish brown, antenna brown, but basally yellowish brown; metasoma brown; legs yellowish brown; first tergite brown.

Male. Unknown.

 Biology.

Unknown.

 Host.

Unknown.

 Distribution.

South Korea.

 Etymology.

The specific name ‘angusticarinata’ is an adjective, meaning ‘narrow carina’ in Latin and referring to the dorsal carinae of the first metasomal tergite.

 Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae 49A9F6A8-E13B-5C12-B274-463CB39EB924 Aspilota ocellocarinata https://zoobank.org/9B87B0B8-AC2A-4D0D-BBDC-05B3B3A05D89 Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov. Fig. 2A–L Type material.

Holotype, • ♀ (NIBR), South Korea, San 61, Tonggu-ri, Baekhak-myeon, Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, 38°01'43.1"N, 126°55'17.1"E, 10–28.VI. 2020, Jun-Ho Lee et al. leg. GenBank accession no. PV937716.

10.3897/jhr.99.199506.figure2 98F987FC-A5DA-5CD8-BCCC-C138BEE7BD11

Aspilota ocellocarinata sp. nov., ♀. A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Antennae; C. Wings; D. Head, dorsal view; E. Head, frontal view; F. Mesosoma, lateral view; G. Mesosoma, dorsal view; H. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view; I. Ovipositor sheath, lateral view; J. Proximal part of antenna; K. Mandible, lateral view; L. Claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A, C); 0.5 mm (B); 0.3 mm (F, G, I); 0.2 mm (D, E, G, H); 0.1 mm (J, K, L).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1724226 Comparative diagnosis.

The new species is similar with A. nasica Belokobylskij, 2005 in having the hind femur 4.0 times longer than wide (3.8–4.1 times in A. nasica), the mandible 1.5 times longer than wide (1.5–1.7 times in A. nasica), and the first metasomal tergite 2.0 times longer than its apical width and medially rugose (1.8–2.0 times and distinctly rugose in A. nasica), but can be distinguished by having the second flagellomere 2.3 times longer than wide (2.5–2.8 times in A. nasica), the minimum width of face 1.6 times its height (1.2–1.3 times in A. nasica), the propodeum distinctly protruding medially in lateral view (weakly protruding in basal 1/4 in A. nasica), and the ocelli encircled by deep, rugose carina (absent in A. nasica).

 Description.

Holotype, ♀, body 2.6 mm in lateral view, fore wing 2.6 mm, ovipositor sheath 0.4 mm in lateral view, antenna 2.1 mm.

Head: Width of head 1.6 times its median length in dorsal view (Fig. 2D). Antenna with 20 antennomeres, first flagellomere 2.2 times longer than wide (Fig. 2J), second flagellomere 0.9 times as long as first flagellomere and 1.7 times longer than wide. Middle antennal segments (around 10th segment) 1.2 times longer than wide. Minimum width of face (Fig. 2E) 1.6 times its height; face smooth with few setae. Eye 1.5 times longer than temple in dorsal view. OOL 2.9 times longer than DAO; OOL: AOL: POL = 11 : 4 : 5. Vertex smooth and glabrous. Ocelli encircled by deep, carinate depressions. Width of clypeus 2.2 times its maximum length. Enlarged anterior tentorial pit rugose, 2.8 times longer than height in median length. Mandible (Fig. 2K) 1.5 times longer than wide, first tooth short and angled; second tooth narrow and long, 1.4 times longer than first tooth, tip of second tooth reddish brown; third tooth distinctly robust.

Mesosoma: In dorsal view mesosoma 1.9 times longer than wide, 1.2 times longer than high in lateral view. Mesoscutum (Fig. 2G) with medio-posterior depression and glabrous; notauli impressed anteriorly, not reaching to medio-posterior depression; scutellar sulcus with one carina. Precoxal sulcus distinct but not reaching anterior and posterior edge of mesopleuron. Maximum length of propodeum (Fig. 2G) 0.6 times as long as wide, entirely rugose; areola absent; propodeum with anterior median depression, strongly protruding medio-dorsally in lateral view (Fig. 2F). Spiracles distinct, lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Fore wing (Fig. 2C) 2.4 times longer than wide; vein r of fore wing 4.3 times longer than wide; vein SR1 2.2 times longer than vein 3-SR; vein 3-SR 2.0 times longer than 2-SR; second submarginal cell long and narrow; 3-SR: r : 2-SR = 6: 1: 3; first discal cell of fore wing 1.2 times longer than wide at median length. Hind wing: vein M+CU+1-M: vein 1r-m = 3: 1.

Leg: Hind femur 4.0 times longer than wide and 0.6 times as long as hind tibia; hind tibia 9 times longer than wide; hind tibia 1.1 times longer than hind tarsus. Arolium shorter than claw.

Metasoma: First tergite (Fig. 2H) medially rugose, 2.0 times longer than its apical width. Setose part of ovipositor sheath (Fig. 2I) 0.5 times as long as mesosoma and 0.8 times longer than hind femur.

Colour: Body (Fig. 2A) reddish brown, antenna dark brown; metasoma reddish brown; legs yellowish brown; first tergite reddish brown.

Male. Unknown.

 Biology.

Unknown.

 Host.

Unknown.

 Distribution.

South Korea.

 Etymology.

The Latin specific name ‘ocellocarinata’ is an adjective, referring to the carinate depressions around the ocelli (Fig. 2D).

 Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae 3DEF82CA-E60C-54B1-9F5E-96199DDB39EA Aspilota laticlypeata https://zoobank.org/CC75B837-47D2-44B6-9CBE-CB059789D69A Sohn & van Achterberg sp. nov. Fig. 3A–L Type material.

Holotype, • ♀ (NIBR), South Korea, Seonjaegil, Banyagyo Bridge, Odaesan National Park, Jinbu-myeon, Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon-do, 37°44'21.5"N, 128°35'11.6"E, 14.VIII.2020–18.IX.2020, Junho Lee. GenBank accession no. PV937703.

10.3897/jhr.99.199506.figure3 FD032FAE-4956-530C-92E3-5CC215A870B5

Aspilota laticlypeata sp. nov., ♀. A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Antennae; C. Wings; D. Head, dorsal view; E. Head, frontal view; F. Mesosoma, lateral view; G. Mesosoma, dorsal view; H. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view; I. Ovipositor sheath, lateral view; J. Proximal part of antenna; K. Mandible, lateral view; L. Claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (C); 0.3 mm (B, F, G, I); 0.2 mm (D, E, H); 0.1 mm (J, K, L).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1724227 Comparative diagnosis.

The new species is similar with A. shiramizui Belokobylskij, 2007 in having the eye in dorsal view almost twice as long as temple, the first flagellomere 4.6 times longer than wide (4.8 times in A. shiramizui), the second flagellomere 3.5 times longer than wide (3.3–3.5 times in A. shiramizui), the propodeum largely smooth with median longitudinal carina, the first metasomal tergite 3.3 times longer than its apical width (3.0–3.3 times in A. shiramizui), and the ovipositor sheath 0.7 times as long as hind tibia (0.7–0.75 times in A. shiramizui), but can be distinguished by having the width of head 1.8 times its median length in dorsal view (1.3–1.4 times in A. shiramizui), the width of clypeus 3.0 times its maximum height (1.7–1.8 times in A. shiramizui), the mandible 1.7 times longer than wide (2.0–2.1 times in A. shiramizui), and the areola with longitudinal carina (absent in A. shiramizui).

 Description.

Holotype. ♀, body 2.1 mm in lateral view, fore wing 1.9 mm, ovipositor sheath 0.4 mm in lateral view.

Head: Width of head 1.8 times its median length in dorsal view (Fig. 3D). First antennal flagellomere 4.6 times longer than wide (Fig. 3J), second flagellomere 0.9 times as long as first flagellomere and 3.5 times longer than wide. Middle antennal segments (around 7th segment) 2.6 times longer than wide. Minimum width of face (Fig. 3E) 1.4 times its height; face smooth with few setae. Eye 2.0 times longer than temple in dorsal view. OOL 3.7 times longer than DAO; OOL: AOL: POL = 18 : 7 : 7. Vertex slightly concave. Width of clypeus 3.0 times its maximum length. Enlarged anterior tentorial depression smooth, 2.9 times longer than height in median length. Mandible (Fig. 3K) 1.7 times longer than wide, first tooth short and angled; second tooth narrow and sharp, 1.2 times longer than first tooth, slightly curved upward; third tooth comparatively large, rounded apically.

Mesosoma: In dorsal view mesosoma 1.9 times longer than wide, 1.2 times longer than high in lateral view. Mesoscutum (Fig. 3G) without medio-posterior depression and glabrous; notauli impressed anteriorly, not reaching posterior area; scutellar sulcus with one carina. Precoxal sulcus short. Maximum length of propodeum (Fig. 3G) 0.6 times as long as wide, smooth, except medio-longitudinal carina. Posterior part of propodeum with areola, reaching middle of propodeum, longitudinal carina present medially; propodeum protruding anteromedially in lateral view (Fig. 3F). Spiracles small. Fore wing (Fig. 3C) 2.3 times longer than wide; vein r of fore wing 4.1 times longer than wide; vein SR1 2.9 times longer than vein 3-SR; vein 3-SR 1.9 times longer than 2-SR; vein 2-SR slightly curved; second submarginal cell long and narrow; 3-SR: r : 2-SR = 4: 1: 2; first discal cell of fore wing as long as wide in median length. Hind wing: vein M+CU+1-M: vein 1r-m = 5: 1.

Leg: Hind femur 4.5 times longer than wide and 0.7 times as long as hind tibia; hind tibia 10 times longer than wide; hind tibia as long as hind tarsus. Arolium as long as claw.

Metasoma: First tergite (Fig. 3H) 3.3 times longer than its apical width. Setose part of ovipositor sheath (Fig. 3I) 0.7 times as long as mesosoma and as long as hind femur.

Colour: Body (Fig. 3A) yellowish brown; head dark brown; antenna dark brown, scape and basal flagellomeres yellowish brown; mesosoma dark reddish brown; metasoma reddish brown; first tergite and legs yellowish brown, but hind tibia and tarsus slightly darker.

Male. Unknown.

 Biology.

Unknown.

 Host.

Unknown.

 Distribution.

South Korea.

 Etymology.

The Latin specific name ‘laticlypeata’ is an adjective (meaning wide clypeus) referring to the wide clypeus.

 Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae 5A208D23-9A35-5443-B386-B1F1BA876414 Aspilota aniva Belokobylskij, 2007 Fig. 4A–L Material examined.

• ♀ (NIBR), South Korea, Mt. Sikjang, Dong-gu, Daejeon, 36°18'16.5"N, 127°28'56.6"E, 20.IX.2021, Sohn. GenBank accession no. PV937733.

10.3897/jhr.99.199506.figure4 CD186D29-5D3E-5F8B-B0DF-A09309681A57

Aspilota aniva Belokobylskij, 2007, ♀. A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Antennae; C. Wings; D. Head, dorsal view; E. Head, frontal view; F. Mesosoma, lateral view; G. Mesosoma, dorsal view; H. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view; I. Ovipositor sheath, lateral view; J. Proximal part of antenna; K. Mandible, lateral view; L. Claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (C); 0.3 mm (B, F); 0.2 mm (D, E, G, H, I); 0.1 mm (J, K, L).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1724228 Comparative diagnosis.

Following the East Palaearctic key of Belokobylskij and Tobias (2007), the Korean female is generally consistent with the original description, although it has the minimum width of face (Fig. 4E) 1.6 times its height (1.7 times in Belokobylskij and Tobias 2007), the hind femur 4.3 times longer than wide (4.5 times in Belokobylskij and Tobias 2007), the antenna 15-segments (19-segments in Belokobylskij and Tobias 2007) and the mandible 1.3 times longer than wide (1.6 times in Belokobylskij and Tobias 2007). Diagnostic characters of the Korean specimen are illustrated in Fig. 4A–L.

 Male.

Unknown.

 Biology.

Unknown.

 Host.

Unknown.

 Distribution.

Russia, South Korea.

 Animalia Hymenoptera Braconidae 044D8EB5-7306-5FD4-B288-03AD77F52B87 Aspilota chanka Belokobylskij, 2007 Fig. 5A–L Material examined.

• ♀ (NIBR), South Korea, Buun-ri, Sannae-myeon, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do, 35°23'08"N, 127°35'4.9"E, 20.IX.2021, Sohn. GenBank accession no. PV937648.

10.3897/jhr.99.199506.figure5 FC06B5B8-5D4B-5FA3-8129-C86A636C5EFE

Aspilota chanka Belokobylskij, 2007, ♀. A. Habitus, lateral view; B. Antennae; C. Wings; D. Head, dorsal view; E. Head, frontal view; F. Mesosoma, lateral view; G. Mesosoma, dorsal view; H. First metasomal tergite, dorsal view; I. Ovipositor sheath, lateral view; J. Proximal part of antenna; K. Mandible, lateral view; L. Claw, lateral view. Scale bars: 1.0 mm (A); 0.5 mm (C); 0.3 mm (F, G); 0.2 mm (B, G, H, I); 0.1 mm (D, E, H, J, K, L).

https://binary.pensoft.net/fig/1724229 Comparative diagnosis.

Following the East Palaearctic key of Belokobylskij and Tobias (2007), the Korean specimen is generally consistent with the original description, although it has the fore wing (Fig. 5C) 2.4 times longer than wide (2.6–2.7 times in Belokobylskij and Tobias 2007). Diagnostic characters of the Korean specimen are illustrated in Fig. 5A–L.

 Male.

Unknown.

 Biology.

Unknown.

 Host.

Unknown.

 Distribution.

Russia, South Korea.

 Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Biological Resources (NIBR), funded by the Ministry of Environment (MOE) of the Republic of Korea (NIBR202602202). Additional support was provided by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education (2022R1A2C1091308), and by the Research Program for Agriculture Science and Technology Development (Project No. RS-2025-02634754) of the Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

 References Belokobylskij SA (1998) Tribe Alysiini. In: Ler PA (Ed.) Key to the Insects of Russian Far East. Dal’nauka, Vladivostok, 163–298. [In Russian] Belokobylskij SA (2005) Eastern Palaearctic species of the parasitic wasps of the genus Aspilota Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae). Species with developed mesoscutal pit. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie 84(3): 610–641. [In Russian] Belokobylskij SA, Tobias VI (2007) Alysiinae. In: Lelej AS (Ed.) Key to the insects of Russia Far East. Vol. IV. Neuropteroidea, Mecoptera, Hymenoptera. Pt 5. Dalnauka, Vladivostok, 9–133. [In Russian] Chabert S, Allemand R, Poyet M, Eslin P, Gibert P (2012) Ability of European parasitoids (Hymenoptera) to control a new invasive Asiatic pest, Drosophila suzukii. Biological Control 63(1): 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2012.05.005 Chen JH, Wu ZS (1994) The Alysiini of China (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae). 218 pp. Docavo I, Tormos J, Fischer M (2002) Three new species of Chorebus from Spain (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae). Florida Entomologist 85(1): 208–215. https://doi.org/10.1653/0015-4040(2002)085[0208:tnsocf]2.0.co;2 Favret C (2005) New non-destructive DNA extraction and specimen clearing technique for aphids (Hemiptera). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 107: 469–470. Foerster A (1863) Synopsis der Familien und Gattungen der Braconiden. Verhandlungen des Naturhistorischen Vereins der Preussischen Rheinlande und Westfalens 19: 225–288. Folmer O, Black M, Hoeh W, Lutz R, Vrijenhoek R (1994) DNA primers for amplification of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I from diverse metazoan invertebrates. Molecular Marine Biology and Biotechnology 3: 294–299. NIBR (2025) National List of Species of Korea, p. 1–988. National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon. [11-1480592-001514-01] [Online at] http://kbr.go.kr [accessed on 11.IV.2026] Ozawa A, Saito T, Ota M (2001) Biological control of the American Serpentine leafminer, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), on tomato in greenhouses by parasitoids. II. Evaluation of biological control by Diglyphus isaea (Walker) and Dacnusa sibirica Telenga in commercial greenhouses. Japanese Journal of Applied Entomology and Zoology 45(2): 61–74. https://doi.org/10.1303/jjaez.2001.61 Papp J (2001) Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from Korea XX. Alysiinae: Alysiini, Aspilota genus-group. 1–13. Papp J (2007) Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from Korea XXII. Subfamily Alysiinae. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 53(1): 1–38. https://doi.org/10.48580/d6f8s Peris-Felipo FJ, Yari Z, van Achterberg C, Rakhshani E, Belokobylskij SA (2016) Review of species of the genus Adelurola Strand, 1928, with a key to species (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae). ZooKeys 566: 13–30. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.566.6684 Peris-Felipo FJ, Santa F, van Achterberg C, Belokobylskij SA (2025) Review of the genera and subgenera of the subtribe Aspilotina (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), with a new illustrated key. ZooKeys 1229: 133–200. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1229.142489 Shenefelt RD (1974) Braconidae 7. Alysiinae. Hymenopterum Catalogus. Pars 11: 937–1113. Sohn JH (2026) Phylogenetic study of Alysiinae and Opiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with taxonomic review of Korean Alysiini. Doctoral dissertation, Kunsan National University, Gunsan, South Korea, 77–100. van Achterberg C (1993) Illustrated key to the subfamilies of the Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). Zoologische Verhandelingen Leiden 283: 1–189. van Achterberg C (1998) Bobekoides gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) from South Africa. Zoologische Mededelingen, Leiden 72(9): 105–111. Wharton RA, Marsh P, Sharkey M (1997) Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera). The International Society of Hymenopterists. Washington, DC, 439 pp. Wharton R (1980) Review of the Nearctic Alysiini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae): with discussion of generic relationships within the tribe. University of California Press, 112 pp. Wharton RA (2002) Revision of the Australian Alysiini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Invertebrate Systematics 16: 7–105. https://doi.org/10.1071/it01012 Yaakop S, van Achterberg C, Idris AB (2009) Heratemis Walker (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae: Alysiini): revision and reconstruction of the phylogeny combining molecular data and morphology. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 152: 1–64. https://doi.org/10.1163/22119434-900000268 Yu DSK, van Achterberg C, Horstmann K (2016) Taxapad 2016, Ichneumonoidea 2015. Database on flash-drive. https://www.taxapad.com, Nepean, Ontario, Canada. Zhu JC, van Achterberg C, Chen XX (2017) An illustrated key to the genera and subgenera of the Alysiini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), with three genera new for China. ZooKeys 722: 37–79. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.722.14799 Additional information Conflict of interest

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

 Ethical statement

No ethical statement was reported.

 Artificial Intelligence (AI) use

The authors accept full responsibility for the content of the manuscript, including the disclosure of any use of AI.

No AI tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript.

 Funding

National Institute of Biological Resources and National Research Foundation of Korea.

 Author contributions

Conceptualization: JS. Data curation: JS, YK, SK. Formal analysis: JS. Funding acquisition: HK. Investigation: JS. Methodology: SK, JS, KA, YK. Project administration: HK. Resources: YK, JS, SK. Software: SK, JS. Supervision: HK. Validation: KA, JS. Visualization: JS. Writing – original draft: KA, JS. Writing – review and editing: JS, KA.

 Author ORCIDs

J.-H. Sohn https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0976-4114

C. van Achterberg https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6495-4853

S. Kim https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8395-8019

Y. Kim https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6895-9873

H. Kim https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1706-2991

 Data availability

All of the data that support the findings of this study are available in the main text.