An integrative taxonomic study of north temperate Cotesia Cameron (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Microgastrinae) that form silken cocoon balls, with the description of a new species

Using CO1 sequence analysis, we investigated the relationships of Western Palearctic and Nearctic that spin aggregated cocoons in the shape of a ball, and as adults are morphologically very similar. The analysis included the conceptual taxa , , , , and , as well as the newly described species . The examined specimens of , , , and were collected in several European countries, and and in Canada and the USA. Molecular analyses showed that is not closely related to the other studied taxa. Based on the genetic distances as well as biology and morphology, and are confirmed as solid taxa. The species comprises two entities. Having 8 haplotypes, also emerges as a species complex, divided into two clusters. With 26 detected haplotypes, shows the highest diversity, being composed of three segregates. The conceptual species , and seem to be species complexes containing several candidates for recognition as distinct species. One from the European complex is here described as new, and the impediments to be overcome before the description of further species are outlined.