A collection of egg parasitoids in the Scelionidae are identified as members of the Telenomus californicus Ashmead, 1893 complex (californicus+dalmanni+arzamae groups). They were reared from eggs of the cactus zebra worm, Melitara cf. junctoliniella Hulst, 1900 (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) infesting Opuntia streptacantha Lemaire, 1839 (Cactaceae) at Bustamante, Nuevo León, Mexico. Lacking both male specimens and a revision of the complex, no species-level identification could be made. The taxonomic placement of these wasps is discussed as well as possible implementation of these egg parasitoids in new-association biological control of the invasive cactus moth Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg, 1885) (Pyralidae: Phycitinae) in North America.

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http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5497.3.9DOI Listing

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