A new genus of Australian Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): an introduced pest of Chamelaucium uncinatum (Myrtaceae) in California

Abstract

A new genus of tetrastichine eulophid, Oncastichus LaSalle, is described to contain a single new species, Oncastichus goughi Headrick and LaSalle. This species is native to Australia, and is a gall former on the Geraldton waxflower, Chamelaucium uncinatum. Oncastichus goughi was accidentally introduced into California where it causes economic damage to the Californian horticultural industry. This is the first example of a tetrastichine Eulophidae becoming an economically important introduced pest species.

Keywords :

• Eulophidae
• Tetrastichinae
• Oncastichus
• Chamelaucium uncinatum
• gall
• horticulture
• pest
• Australia