From two putative inquilines to one definitive parasitoid: clarifying feeding ecology and species limits in Nearctic Euceroptres Ashmead, 1896 wasps (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)

Guerin E Brown; Louis F Nastasi; Charles Davis; Nicolas Sierra; Corey J Lewis; Makella J Steffensen; Dane Sweezer; Andrew A Forbes

doi:10.1093/aesa/saag028

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From two putative inquilines to one definitive parasitoid: clarifying feeding ecology and species limits in Nearctic Euceroptres Ashmead, 1896 wasps (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)

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From two putative inquilines to one definitive parasitoid: clarifying feeding ecology and species limits in Nearctic Euceroptres Ashmead, 1896 wasps (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)

Guerin E Brown, Louis F Nastasi, Charles Davis, Nicolas Sierra, Corey J Lewis, Makella J Steffensen, Dane Sweezer and Andrew A Forbes

Annals of the Entomological Society of America, saag028

07/14/2026

DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saag028

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Abstract

Oak galls are structures of modified plant tissue, induced by an ovipositing female oak gall wasp (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Cynipini), that provide food and shelter for her progeny. Myriad other wasp species exploit galls, feeding on either the gall wasp larva (parasitoidism), the gall tissue (inquilinism/kleptoparasitism), or other parasites within the gall (hyperparasitism). Though many oak gall-associated wasps are now described, their feeding ecology often remains poorly documented, particularly in the species-rich communities across North America. Wasps in the genus Euceroptres (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) exemplify this problem, long having been assumed to be inquilines based on limited evidence. We used dissections, microcomputed tomography scanning, and DNA barcoding to discover that Euceroptres do not modify the internal composition of their host gall. We also found a Euceroptres larva feeding on gall-inducer larva within an unaltered gall wasp larval chamber. Thus, Euceroptres are parasitoids, not inquilines. While sequencing larval and adult Euceroptres, we also found that the 2 previously described species in eastern North America, Euceroptres whartoni Buffington and Liljeblad, 2008 and Euceroptres primus Ashmead, 1896, did not separate into distinct clades, suggesting they are a single species. Subsequent morphological comparisons support this finding, allowing the establishment of E. whartoni as a syn. nov. of E. primus.

Cynipidae

Cynipini

micro-CT

taxonomy

oak gall

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Details

Title: Subtitle: From two putative inquilines to one definitive parasitoid: clarifying feeding ecology and species limits in Nearctic Euceroptres Ashmead, 1896 wasps (Hymenoptera: Figitidae)
Creators: Guerin E Brown - University of Iowa
Louis F Nastasi - University of Iowa
Charles Davis - Pennsylvania State University
Nicolas Sierra - University of Iowa
Corey J Lewis - University of Iowa
Makella J Steffensen - University of Iowa
Dane Sweezer - University of Iowa
Andrew A Forbes - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Annals of the Entomological Society of America, saag028
DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saag028
ISSN: 0013-8746
eISSN: 1938-2901
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Grant note: National Science Foundation: AAF (DEB 21)
Funding was provided by a National Science Foundation grant to AAF (DEB 21).
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 07/14/2026
Academic Unit: Biology; University College Courses
Record Identifier: 9985183395602771

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