Lytopylus Förster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae) species from Costa Rica, with an emphasis on specimens reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste

A comprehensive taxonomic study identifies twelve species of Lytopylus wasps from Costa Rica, including ten newly described species and two reclassified from other genera. Over 32 years of caterpillar inventory in Area de Conservación Guanacaste yielded critical specimens, revealing the diversity and ecological significance of these parasitoids. The research transfers nine species to the Lytopylus genus, providing updated taxonomic keys—one interactive and one static—to facilitate identification. This work advances our understanding of wasp biodiversity and their role in tropical ecosystems.

Sharkey, M., Stoelb, S., Tucker, E., Janzen, D., Hallwachs, W., Dapkey, T., & Smith, M. A. (2011). Lytopylus Förster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Agathidinae) species from Costa Rica, with an emphasis on specimens reared from caterpillars in Area de Conservación Guanacaste. ZooKeys, 130, 379–419. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.130.1569