A phylogeny of aphid parasitoids (Hymenoptera : Braconidae : Aphidiinae) inferred from mitochondrial NADH 1 dehydrogenase gene sequence

Wasps of the braconid subfamily Aphidiinae are solitary endoparasitoids of aphids. Several aspects of their biology have been the focus of intuitive e volutionary hypotheses which could be tested with a robust phylogeny. Phylo genetic hypotheses have been proposed previously for aphidiines based on mo rphology, embryology, and DNA sequences. However, many of them are based on a limited number of characters and/or taxa and lack congruence. In additio n, many of the inferred phylogenies have not been based upon cladistic anal ysis. Therefore, a phylogenetic study of Aphidiinae was undertaken, utilizi ng 465 bp of DNA sequence of the mitochondrial NADH1 dehydrogenase gene. DN A sequences were obtained from 40 taxa, including 14 genera and three outgr oups. It is suggested that in agreement with most of the previously propose d phylogenies, the aphidiines, each of the three recognized tribes (Praini, Ephedrini, Aphidiini), and most genera are monophyletic. In contrast to pr eviously proposed phylogenies, the clade of Praon + Dyscritulus (=Praini), rather than Ephedrini, is basal among the aphidiines. (C) 1999 Academic Pre ss.