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Almost all known Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) parasitoid species in New Zealand have been introduced as biological control agents (BCAs) for introduced aphids or have self‐introduced. The New Zealand endemic aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) fauna consists of a small number of species that are parasitised, on occasion, by Aphidiinae that remain unidentified. A persistent concern has been that introduced BCAs are among the parasitoids attacking the rare endemic aphids. After 14 years of collection, 66 cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene sequences were obtained from emerged parasitoids, mummies or by specific PCR from parasitised New Zealand aphids. Parasitoid samples were from 13 aphid species (eight endemic, plus five introduced species feeding on native plants) at 20 locations. The Aphidiinae COI sequences comprised two new clades of native New Zealand parasitoids. One species‐rich clade appeared to represent a radiation after dispersal to New Zealand, whereas the second clade consisted only of parasitoids from a single endemic host. The patterns of aphid/parasitoid associations were strongly suggestive of host specificity towards the endemic aphids, while a subgroup of the newly discovered native Aphidiinae was found parasitising four introduced aphid species, despite the short time period these aphids are assumed to have been in New Zealand. We found no evidence for attack of endemic aphids by introduced BCAs or other introduced aphidiines. On the rare occasions that parasitism was detected in the most common endemic Aphidinae aphid, Aphis cottieri Carver, 1999, it was by a native Aphidiinae lineage, not by Aphidius ervi Haliday, 1834. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bird cherry‐oat aphid Rhopalosiphum padi is a major cereal pest with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. As one of the main groups of biocontrol agents for aphids, numerous Aphidiinae are associated with R. padi, including the genera Binodoxys and Trioxys.As a recently described species parasitizing R. padi, Trioxys sunnysidensis is recorded from Europe for the first time based on morphological and molecular data. Specimens from North America, Europe and New Zealand were used in the analysis of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I to explore genetic variation among populations. The analysis revealed one of the highest haplotype diversities in Aphidiinae so far, with 25 haplotypes detected. The two most common haplotypes are shared across groups of populations, whereas all of the others are found either in North America or Europe.Because the genetic structure of populations is an important factor to consider when choosing a biocontrol agent, the results obtained in the present study may be helpful in guiding potential biocontrol attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choreopraon totarae Mackauer, gen. n., sp. n., is described and placed in the tribe Praini of the subfamily Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The new species is an internal parasitoid of the aphid Neophyllaphis totarae Cottier on Podocarpus totara G. Benn. ex D. Don, and may be specific to it. A key to aphidiine genera known to occur in New Zealand is provided. The relationship with Southern Hemisphere genera of Aphidiinae and the possible evolution of pupation behaviour are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]