FIRST RECORD FOR PANAMA OF THE WASP Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga (HYMENOPTERA: ICHNEUMONIDAE) PARASITIZING SPIDERS Leucauge argyra y L. venusta (ARACHNIDA: TETRAGNATHIDAE)

Recent studies show that the conservation of spider populations diversity in agricultural fields brings great benefits to farmers, which could help minimize pest damage and potentially lead to higher crop yields. The objective of this research is to report the parasitism of the wasp Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga Gauld, 2000 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), parasitizing spiders Leucauge argyra (Walckenaer, 1842) and Leucauge venusta (Walkenaer, 1841) (Arachnida: Tetragnathidae). For this, araneomorphic spiders of the genus Leucauge were collected in backyard crops and gardens in two sites in the Republic of Panama: province of Chiriquí, Tolé, Veladero; and in the province of Los Santos, Tonosí, Búcaro. All the collected spiders showed signs of being parasitized or with the presence of larvae in the dorsal part of the abdomen; Spiders were taken to the laboratory for the parasitoid to complete its development and to carry out the behavioral observations of the spider and the parasitoid wasp. Five individuals of the spider Leucauge venusta were collected in the province of Chiriquí, Tolé, Veladero, the spiders were associated with tomato backyard crops (Solanum lycopersicum L. 1794), of three houses in the community. Also, seven Leucauge argyra spiders were collected in the province of Los Santos, Tonosí, Búcaro, associated with gardens of three residences. According to the results and observations made in the field and laboratory, we obtained a total of 12 females of Hymenoepimecis argyraphaga, from five L. venusta spiders and seven L. argyra spiders. We can conclude that, indeed, the larvae of the parasitoid wasp H. argyraphaga induce behavioral changes in the making of the web of the parasitized spiders, in the two collected species of Leucauge. Also, it can be shown that H. argyraphaga is a genus/specific parasitoid of Leucauge. Additionally, we can state that, despite the fact that spiders are beneficial biological control agents, they maintain their enemies and natural controllers, which shows the natural balance that can exist in these agricultural systems and gardens.