New geographical records of the genus urosigalphus ashmead, 1889 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae, Helconinae) for Colombia.

Abstract

Urosigalphus Ashmead, 1889 is one of the most common genera belonging to the Brachistini tribe (Braconi-dae: Helconinae) with approximately 100 species restrincted to the western hemisphere. These wasps are parasites of beetles (mainly, Curculionidae and Chrysomelidae -Bruchinae-) and had been rarely reported in Colombia. After a close inspection of 5072 samples collected throughout 31 areas from the project “Colombia Biodiversity Inventory” “Diversidad de Insectos de Colombia”, a total of 45 specimens of these parasitoid wasps were found. As a result, seven new localities are reported for Colombia. The genus was previously known only from the Departments of Amazonas and Antioquia. In Colombia, 22 morphotypes are new species, in description process, therefore the total number of species for America would increase considerably from 83 up to 105. After these descriptions, South America will be the region with the largest number of Urosigalphus species, followed by North and Central America. The specimens are deposited in the entomological collection Jorge Ignacio Hernández Camacho Museum of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute, Villa de Leyva (Boyacá, Colombia).