Bellopius (Braconidae) parasitoids of fruit-infesting Tephritidae (Diptera)

Bellopius is a little-studied neotropical subgenus placed within what is possibly the largest genus of Braconidae- Opius. All known members are koinobiont larval-prepupa endoparasitoids that attack cyclorrhaphous fruit-infesting Diptera in the family Tephritidae. Previous work on the group has been limited to original descriptions with the exception of two species reared in association with pest tephritids. Morphometric data and morphological characters, especially those of the ovipositor, will be used to delineate species and these species hypotheses will be compared to those previously generated by collaborators using sequence data. The inherent difficulties involved in analyzing ovipositors and ovipositor sheaths will be discussed. Results of this study will aid in identification of Bellopius species and increase our knowledge of braconid parasitoid biodiversity in the Neotropics.