Here, we present the first two South American species of Nealiolus Mason (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), both reared from weevils damaging plants of economic value: Nealiolus chayohtli Wengrat Shimbori sp. n. on Phymatophosus squameus feeding in stems of Sechium edule (chayote), and Nealiolus jaboticaba Shimbori Wengrat sp. n. on Conotrachelus sp. in fruits of Plinia cauliflora (jaboticaba). This parasitoid genus is poorly studied, despite its potential importance as a biological control agent of several pest weevils (Curculionidae), including the cotton boll weevil. With the addition of the two new species, nine species of Nealiolus are known, three of them occurring in the Neotropical region. We also present an identification key to species of Nealiolus and DNA barcoding information for the new species.
Keywords: Hymenoptera, parasitoids, taxonomy, DNA barcode, biological control, New World.