Building a DNA barcode reference collection of Hymenoptera in New Zealand.

Molecular tools used for the identification of species are heavily reliant on reference DNA sequences and taxonomic annotation. Despite this, there are large gaps in the availability of DNA sequences for many taxonomic groups and for different parts of the globe. Here, a DNA barcode library for the Hymenoptera of New Zealand is presented, based on the COI region for 3,145 sequences assigned to 837 BINs and which represent 231 genera and 236 species.

High Dietary Niche Overlap Between Non-native and Native Ant Species in Natural Ecosystems.

Ants represent a highly diverse and ecologically important group of insects found in almost all terrestrial ecosystems. A subset of ant species have been widely transported around the globe and invade many natural ecosystems, often out-competing native counterparts and causing varying impacts on recipient ecosystems. Decisions to control non-native ant populations require an understanding of their interactions and related impacts on native communities.

Notogaster, a new genus of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from New Zealand.

A new genus of Microgastrinae parasitoid wasp endemic to New Zealand, Notogaster gen. nov. Fernández-Triana and Ward, is described, with ten new species: Notogaster avilai sp.

Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from New Zealand. Part 2. Review of genera Kiwi gen. nov. and Zealochus Khalaim.

In the second paper on New Zealand Tersilochinae (Ichneumonidae) we review two endemic New Zealand genera, Kiwi gen. nov. (eight species) and Zealochus Khalaim (three species).

Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from New Zealand. Part 1. Generic key and three new genera.

The Tersilochinae (Ichneumonidae) from New Zealand are revised in part, with three new endemic genera and seventeen new species described: Aotearoazeus gen. nov., A.

Variation in the diversity and richness of parasitoid wasps based on sampling effort.

Parasitoid wasps are a mega-diverse, ecologically dominant, but poorly studied component of global biodiversity. In order to maximise the efficiency and reduce the cost of their collection, the application of optimal sampling techniques is necessary. Two sites in Auckland, New Zealand were sampled intensively to determine the relationship between sampling effort and observed species richness of parasitoid wasps from the family Ichneumonidae.

Using spatially explicit surveillance models to provide confidence in the eradication of an invasive ant.

Effective detection plays an important role in the surveillance and management of invasive species. Invasive ants are very difficult to eradicate and are prone to imperfect detection because of their small size and cryptic nature. Here we demonstrate the use of spatially explicit surveillance models to estimate the probability that Argentine ants (Linepithema humile) have been eradicated from an offshore island site, given their absence across four surveys and three surveillance methods, conducted since ant control was applied.

Microbial community structure in the gut of the New Zealand insect Auckland tree weta (Hemideina thoracica).

The endemic New Zealand weta is an enigmatic insect. Although the insect is well known by its distinctive name, considerable size, and morphology, many basic aspects of weta biology remain unknown. Here, we employed cultivation-independent enumeration techniques and rRNA gene sequencing to investigate the gut microbiota of the Auckland tree weta (Hemideina thoracica).

Molecular identification of the prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp.

The prey range of the invasive Asian paper wasp, Polistes chinensis antennalis, was studied using molecular diagnostics. Nests of paper wasps were collected from urban residential and salt marsh habitats, larvae were removed and dissected, and DNA in the gut of the paper wasp larvae was amplified and sequenced with cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Seventy percent of samples (211/299) yielded medium-to high-quality sequences, and prey identification was achieved using BLAST searches in BOLD.

More than just records: analysing natural history collections for biodiversity planning.

Natural History Collections (NHCs) play a central role as sources of data for biodiversity and conservation. Yet, few NHCs have examined whether the data they contain is adequately representative of local biodiversity. I examined over 15,000 databased records of Hymenoptera from 1435 locations across New Zealand collected over the past 90 years.