Zaldívar-Riverón Lab Systematics and biogeography of the Neotropical doryctine genus  Notiospathius  In this study, we investigate the diversity, evolution and historical  biogeography of a parasitic wasp genus that is widely distributed along  the American continent, the doryctine genus Notiospathius  (Braconidae: Doryctinae). This highly speciose taxon occurs from  Argentina to Central Mexico. However, to date only around 20 species  have been formally described. We will make use of traditional (i.e.  morphology) as well as DNA barcoding taxonomy to assess the actual  number of species within the genus. Moreover, we will reconstruct the  phylogenetic relationships among the species belonging to the genus  based on different mitochondrial and nuclear markers. The estimate(s)  of phylogeny obtained will be employed to revise the taxonomic  classification of the species involved, to infer the main biogeographic  events that caused the origin and subsequent radiation in  Notiospathius in the american continent, as well as to investigate the  evolution of a morphological feature that is thought to have originated  in multiple occasions within the Doryctinae as a result of the  adaptation to parasitize concealed bark-boring beetle larvae, the  enlargement of the first metasomal tergite.            This study is being carried out in collaboration with the following  people from different Latin American countries: Rosa Briceño. Universidad Centrooccidental “Lisandro Alvarado”,  Cabudare, Venezuela.  Paul Hanson. Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica. Enrique Medianero, Universidad de Panamá, Ciudad de Panamá,  Panamá. Juan José Martínez, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales  "Bernardino Rivadavia", Buenos Aires, Argentina.