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Synopeas cryptus Buhl, 2004 Material examined IRAN ��� 1 ♀; East Azarbaijan Province, Marand, Farfar Village; 38��48��� N, 45��68��� E; 1365 m a.s.l.; 5 Jun. 2017; M. Asadi leg.; sweeping net; HMIM. Distribution Mongolia (Buhl 2004c); Finland (Koponen et al. 2016); Iran (new record). Host Unknown., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on page 44, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2004 a. New African Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Folia Entomologica Hungarica 65: 65 - 83.","Buhl P. N. 2004 c. Platygastridae (Hymenoptera) from Mongolia. Annales Historico-Naturales Musei Nationalis Hungarici 96: 115 - 152.","Koponen M., Buhl P. N. & Vikberg V. 2016. Check list of Platygastridae of Finland (Hymenoptera, Platygastroidea). Sahlbergia 22 (2): 32 - 47. Available from http: // hdl. handle. net / 10138 / 231837 [accessed 5 Sep. 2019]."]}

Synopeas rhanis Walker, 1836 Material examined IRAN ��� 1 ♀; East Azarbaijan Province, Maragheh; 37��22��� N, 46��32��� E; 1887 m a.s.l.; Oct. 2010; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM. Distribution England, Ireland (Buhl & Notton 2009); Latvian (Buhl 2016); Korea (Buhl & Choi 2006); Iran (new record). Host A parasitoid of the gall midges (Dipera: Cecidomyiidae) Dasineura ulmaria (Bremi, 1847) on Meadow sweet Filipendula ulmaria (L.) Maxim. and D. urticae (Perris, 1840) on nettles Urtica dioica L. and U. urens L. (Vlug 1995)., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on page 46, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. & Notton D. G. 2009. A revised catalogue of the Platygastridae of the British Isles (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea). Journal of Natural History 43: 1651 - 1703. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222930902993732","Buhl P. N. 2016. New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Latvijas Entomologs 53: 313.","Buhl P. N. & Choi J. Y. 2006. Taxonomic review of the family Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) from the Korean Peninsula. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 9 (2): 121 - 137. https: // doi. org / 10.1016 / S 1226 - 8615 (08) 60283 - 6","Vlug H. J. 1995. Catalogue of the Platygastridae (Platygastroidea) of the world (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Hymenopterorum Catalogus 19: 1 - 168. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 24358"]}

Genus Synopeas F��rster, 1856 Type species Synopeas inermis Thomson, 1859. Distribution Worldwide (Rajmohana & Divya 2011; Veenakumari et al. 2014, 2015). Biology Parasitoids of Cecidomyiidae (Austin et al. 2005; Hern��ndez Mahecha et al. 2018). From seven species of Synopeas discussed below, one is described as new and five are new records for Iran., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on pages 41-42, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Rajmohana K. & Divya K. P. 2011. Checklist of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) of India. Available from: http: // www. zsi. gov. in / [accessed 25 Sep. 2019].","Veenakumari K., Buhl P. N., Mohanraj P. & Khan F. R. 2014. Four new species of Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) from India. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 150: 49 - 60.","Veenakumari K., Buhl P. N. & Mohanraj P. 2015. Six new species of Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea) from India. Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 151: 35 - 50.","Austin A. D., Johnson N. F. & Dowton M. 2005. Systematics, evolution, and biology of scelionid and platygastrid wasps. Annual Review of Entomology 50: 553 - 582. https: // doi. org / 10.1146 / annurev. ento. 50.071803.130500"]}

Synopeas inerme Thomson, 1859 Material examined IRAN ��� East Azarbaijan Province ��� 21 ♀♀; Khosroshah; 37��58��� N, 46��02��� E; 1357 m a.s.l.; 14 Jun. 2008, Aug. 2008, May 2009, Aug. 2009, 25 Dec. 2009; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; pan trap; HMIM ��� 1 ♀; Marand, Yam; 38��48��� N, 45��77��� E; 1810 m a.s.l.; 7 Jul. 2009; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM ��� 1 ♀; Tasuj; 38��19��� N, 45��21��� E; 1500 m a.s.l.; 23 May 2015; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM. ��� West Azarbaijan Province ��� 3 ♀♀; Urmia University Campus; 37��39��� N, 44��58��� E; 1335 m a.s.l.; 11 Oct. 2016; M. Asadi leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM. ��� Fars Province ��� 1 ♀; Dasht-e Arzhan; 51��58��� N, 29��38��� E; 2020 m a.s.l.; 30 May 2015; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Berlese funnels; HMIM. Distribution Ireland (Buhl & O���Connor 2010); England (Buhl & Notton 2009); Fennoscandia and Denmark (Buhl 1999); Iran (new record). Host Parasitoids of the gall midge Contarinia medicaginis Kieffer, 1890 (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) on lucerne (Vlug 1995; O���Connor & Buhl 2016)., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on pages 44-45, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. & O'Connor P. J 2010. Eleven species of Platygastrinae (Hym., Platygastridae) new to Ireland, and descriptions of the hitherto unknown males of three species. Entomologists Monthly Magazine 146: 33 - 35.","Buhl P. N. & Notton D. G. 2009. A revised catalogue of the Platygastridae of the British Isles (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea). Journal of Natural History 43: 1651 - 1703. https: // doi. org / 10.1080 / 00222930902993732","Buhl P. N. 1999. A synopsis of the Platygastridae of Fennoscandia and Denmark (Hymenoptera, Platygastroidea). Entomofauna, Zeitschrift fur Entomologie 20: 17 - 52.","Vlug H. J. 1995. Catalogue of the Platygastridae (Platygastroidea) of the world (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Hymenopterorum Catalogus 19: 1 - 168. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 24358","O'Connor P. J. & Buhl P. N. 2016. A review of the Irish platygastrids (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) including their known distributions. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 40: 43 - 115."]}

Key to species of Synopeas found in the northwest of Iran 1. Notauli present (Fig. 4)....................................................... Synopeas calecai Buhl & Asadi sp. nov. ��� Notauli entirely absent...................................................................................................................... 2 2. Occiput with complete carina........................................................................................................... 3 ��� Occipital carina incomplete or absent............................................................................................... 4 3. Occipital carina strong and complete; scutellum posteriorly with a semitransparent lamella.................................................................................................................. Synopeas lugubre Thomson, 1859 ��� Occipital carina complete; scutellum not as above................................ Synopeas pinnei Buhl, 2009 4. Occiput rounded without carina........................................................... Synopeas cryptus Buhl, 2004 ��� Head with a weak occipital carina.................................................................................................... 5 5. Mid lobe of mesoscutum clearly situated above level of base of scutellum (a leveled gap present); frons finely coriaceous with some transverse wrinkles above antennae..... Synopeas rhanis Walker, 1836 ��� Scutellar line continuous with line of mesoscutum (no leveled gap present); frons finely coriaceous......................................................................................................................................... 6 6. Scutellum in lateral view slightly sloping downwards to strongly curved propodeal carinae; metasoma as long as head and mesosoma combined...................................... Synopeas euryale (Walker, 1835) ��� Scutellum in lateral view much sloping downwards to a small keel just above the slightly curved propodeal carinae; metasoma shorter than head and mesosoma combined............................................................................................................................................... Synopeas inerme Thomson, 1859, Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on page 46, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. Entomologica Fennica 20 (2): 65 - 83. https: // doi. org / 10.33338 / ef. 84463","Buhl P. N. 2004 a. New African Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Folia Entomologica Hungarica 65: 65 - 83."]}

Synopeas cf. lugubre Thomson, 1859 Material examined IRAN ��� 1 ♀; East Azarbaijan Province, Tikmadash; 37��72��� N, 46��93��� E; 1900 m a.s.l.; 1 Sep. 2015; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; sweeping net; HMIM. Distribution Moderately common in Northwestern Europe (Buhl & Jałoszyński 2016); Germany (Buhl et al. 2016); Iran. Host Dasyneura brassicae (Winnertz, 1853) (Dip.: Cecidomyiidae) on Brassica sp. may be a host (Vlug 1995; O���Connor & Buhl 2016). Remarks Our studied specimens are similar to S. lugubre but with having the following morphological character can be separated from it: larger, with lighter body appendages, stronger hind lamella on scutellum., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on page 45, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. & Jaloszynski P. 2016 a. New records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Poland, including sixteen species new in the Polish fauna. Wiadomosci Entomologiczne 35 (2): 109 - 116.","Vlug H. J. 1995. Catalogue of the Platygastridae (Platygastroidea) of the world (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Hymenopterorum Catalogus 19: 1 - 168. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 24358","O'Connor P. J. & Buhl P. N. 2016. A review of the Irish platygastrids (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) including their known distributions. Bulletin of the Irish Biogeographical Society 40: 43 - 115."]}

Synopeas calecai Buhl & Asadi sp. nov. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: 91FEB88D-4B82-4734-ADF5-C4F1A25816F2 Fig. 4 Diagnosis (female) A9 1.5 times as long as wide; hyperoccipital carina weak; notauli indicated in posterior two-thirds; female metasoma 1.3 times as long as rest of body, 1.3 times as wide as high, T2 anteromedially swollen, here striate to 0.2 of length. Etymology Named after Dr Virgilio Caleca, University of Palermo, Italy. Material examined Holotype IRAN ��� ♀; East Azarbaijan Province, Khajeh; 38��10��� N, 46��38��� E; 1450 m a.s.l.; 1 Jun. 2015; H. Lotfalizadeh leg., Malaise trap; HMIM. Description (female) BODY LENGTH. 1.5 mm. COLOR. Black; coxae hardly lighter; A1 and legs light brown, A2���A10 and tegulae dark brown. HEAD. From above 1.8 times as wide as long, hardly 1.1 times as wide as mesosoma, very faintly reticulate-coriaceous, just behind ocellar area with a short, incomplete, weak hyperoccipital carina. OOL:POL:LOL = 2.0:8.0:3.5. OOL very slightly longer than longest diameter of lateral ocellus. Eyes bare. Head in frontal view 1.15 as wide as high. Antenna with A1 0.8 as long as height of head, longer than distance between inner orbits (15:14). Length:width of A1���A10 = 15.0:2.1; 4.7:1.3; 2.0:1.0; 4.0:1.0; 2.0:1.1; 2.2:1.5; 2.9:1.7; 3.0:2.0; 3.0:2.0; 4.8:2.0. Flagellar pubescence negligible. MESOSOMA. 1.4 times as long as wide, about as high as wide. Sides of pronotum reticulate-coriaceous (in lower half longitudinally so). Mesoscutum with very sparse, scattered setae, very finely and evenly reticulate-coriaceous; notauli faintly indicated in posterior two-thirds; mid lobe slightly prolonged, somewhat bluntly, to base of scutellum, dark and swollen here. Scuto-scutellar grooves wide, each with six strong, pale setae in anterior half. Mesopleuron smooth, with two strong longitudinal furrows and some weaker ones just below tegula. Scutellum smooth and bare on large medial area, finely coriaceous on anterior slope, along sides with dense white setae, posteriorly obliquely angled in lateral view, bluntly triangular in dorsal view. Metapleuron in anterior half smooth and bare, in posterior half with dense, white adpressed pilosity. Propodeal carinae low, dark, well separated, slightly diverging; area between them only slightly longer than its posterior width. WINGS. Much damaged in a unique specimen, but fore wing seems to be of average size (reaching at least base of T 6), with whitish tint and without visible microtrichia or marginal cilia. METASOMA. About 1.3 times as long as rest of body, 2.3 times as long as wide, 1.3 times as wide as high, very slightly wider than mesosoma. Length:width of T 1��� T 6 = 4.0:9.0; 34.0:22.0; 3.0:20.5; 2.5:18.0; 3.0:15.0; 7.0:11.0. T 1 with numerous fine longitudinal carinae, only laterally with pubescence. T 2 anteromedially convex, here longitudinally striate to 0.2 of length, at each side with a longitudinal fovea of similar length, pubescent in basal half. T 3��� T 5 each with a transverse stripe of weak reticulation and about ten inconspicuous setae. T 6 with faint reticulation all over, with very few scattered setae. Remarks Similar to the hitherto differentiated species S. latvianum Buhl, 2009 in shape of the anterior part of T2, but S. latvianum has preapical antennal segments transverse (vs distinctly longer than wide in S. calecai sp. nov.), and lacks hyperoccipital carina and notauli., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on pages 42-44, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. Entomologica Fennica 20 (2): 65 - 83. https: // doi. org / 10.33338 / ef. 84463"]}

Synopeas pinnei Buhl, 2009 Material examined IRAN ��� East Azarbaijan Province ��� 11 ♀♀; Khosroshah; 37��58��� N, 46��02��� E; 1357 m a.s.l.; Jun. ��� Aug. 2008, 25 Oct. 2009, 16���29 May 2009, 10 Oct. 2007; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM ��� 1 ♀; Tasuj; 38��19��� N, 45��21 E; 1500 m a.s.l.; 1 Jul. 2015; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM ��� 5 ♀♀; Maragheh; 37��22��� N, 46��32��� E; 1887 m a.s.l.; Jul. 2010; H. Lotfalizadeh leg.; Malaise trap; HMIM. Distribution Latvia (Buhl 2016); Germany (Buhl et al. 2016); Iran (new record). Host Unknown., Published as part of Asadi-Farfar, Maryam, Karimpour, Younes, Lotfalizadeh, Hossein & Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2021, Four new species and new records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) from Iran, pp. 29-51 in European Journal of Taxonomy 750 on page 45, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2021.750.1359, http://zenodo.org/record/4770523, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. Entomologica Fennica 20 (2): 65 - 83. https: // doi. org / 10.33338 / ef. 84463","Buhl P. N. 2016. New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Latvijas Entomologs 53: 313.","Buhl P. N. & Jaloszynski P. 2016 a. New records of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Poland, including sixteen species new in the Polish fauna. Wiadomosci Entomologiczne 35 (2): 109 - 116."]}

Synopeas pauropsyllae Veenakumari & Buhl sp. nov. (Figs 1–8) Material examined. HOLOTYPE: ♀, INDIA: KARNATAKA : Bengaluru, Hebbal, 13°02 ′ 08 ″ N 77°35 ′ 49 ″ E, 906 m, 02.XII.2011 (NBAIR, registration no. ICAR / NBAIR / P1920). PARATYPES: 11 ♀♀ (nos. ICAR / NBAIR / P1921–P1931) and 2 (nos. ICAR / NBAIR /P1932–P1933), same data as holotype (NBAIR). Description. Adult female . Body length: 1.24–1.37 mm (mean = 1.3, SD = 0.04, n = 11; holotype = 1.3 mm). Colour. General body colour black. A1 and legs golden yellow except dark brown coxae, apices of femur and tibia and basitarsi of hind leg; clava dark brown, other antennomeres golden yellow (Figs 1, 5). Head (Figs 1, 2, 4, 5). FCI = 1.23; LCI = 1.44. IOS 0.65× width of head, shortest at the level of mid-frons; frons finely reticulate, sparsely setose; inverted V shaped striae present above toruli; hyperoccipital carina distinct, joining the posterior orbits; hyperoccipital carina extending anteromedially; occiput finely reticulate; compound eye bare, L/W= 19.4/13.1; posterior ocellus contiguous with orbits; POL>LOL in ratio of 24.4/10.5; clypeus rectangular (L/W = 2.3/12.7); interantennal process projecting; length to width of antennomeres in ratios of 25.1/5.1, 6.7/3.1, 2.8/1.9, 5.5/2.0, 2.5/2.3, 3.7/3.0, 4.2/4.7, 5.1/5.7, 5.1/6.6, 7.7/5.7, respectively; radicle 0.1× length of A1. Mesosoma (Figs 1–3, 6, 8). Mesoscutum as long as wide (L/W = 29.5/30.6), convex, sparsely setose, finely reticulate, reticulations longitudinally elongate medially; posteromedial margin of mesoscutum extending as a short triangular midlobe over mesoscutellum; axilla large, triangular, covered with 12 long white setae; scutoscutellar sulcus non-foveate; pronotum clearly visible from above, reticulate, sparsely setose; epomial carina faint; cervical pronotal area finely reticulate with anterior rim of pronotum smooth; upper lateral pronotal area reticulate and sparsely setose; lower lateral pronotal area smooth; entire mesopleuron smooth; metapleuron smooth with dense long white setae; mesoscutellum triangular, convex, smooth with a short upturned spine with a lamella posteromedially, L/W = 13.7/20.4; lateral keel broad anteriorly and narrow posteriorly; metascutellum rectangular, smooth; metanotal trough smooth with two transverse median carinae (Fig. 8); propodeum with two median carinae placed close to each other; lateral propodeal area smooth with dense long white setae. Forewing (L/W = 88.7/39.4) and hind wing (L/W = 77.5/14.1) hyaline, with sparse microtrichia; forewing with no marginal cilia; hind wing cilia 0.25× width of wing. Metasoma (Figs 1, 6). L/W = 41.6/34.4; T1 short with median and submedian carinae; T2, entirely smooth with a row of long white setae on anterior margin; remaining tergites anteriorly smooth and with faint reticulations and sparse setae posteriorly; length and width of tergites T1–T 6 in ratios of 3.9/11.6, 30.3/18.2, 2.3/32.7, 2.0/28.1, 1.4/24.1, 3.5/18.7, respectively; anterior margin of S2 with dense setae. Adult male. Similar to female. Body length 1.24–1.28 mm (mean = 1.26, SD = 0.03, n = 2). Length and width of antennomeres A1–A 10 in ratios of 25.6/5.2, 6.2/3.2, 2.2/2.1, 5.8/2.6, 4.3/2.5, 5.0/3.1, 6.0/3.6, 6.1/3.7, 6.0/3.7, 10.0/3.5, respectively (Fig. 7). A3–A10 densely setose, length of setae 0.1× length of A1. Metasoma L/W = 37.3/30.1, with seven tergites; length and width of tergites T1–T 7 in ratios of 3.6/14.1, 24.0/17.6, 2.9/29.3, 2.9/26.5, 2.1/21.2, 1.7/14.8, 1.3/8.3, respectively. Variability. Not much variation was found between specimens except for differences in size as mentioned above. This could possibly be the result of all specimens being obtained from a single batch of galls. Differential diagnosis. This new species of Synopeas is similar to S. involutum Kieffer, 1926, S. pinnei Buhl, 2009, S. mangiferae Austin, 1984 and S. fuscum Buhl, 1998 but differs from them in the following combination of character states: presence of hyperoccipital carina, OOL not distinct, dense setae along hind margin of mesoscutum, shape of scutellum and unusually short female T3–T6. While S. involutum, S. pinnei and S. fuscum are distributed in the Palaearctic Region, S. mangiferae is an Oriental species known from India (KIEFFER 1926; AUSTIN 1984; BUHL 1998, 2009). Biology. All specimens emerged from galls induced by Pauropsylla cf. depressa (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Triozidae) on isolated trees of Ficus benghalensis (Figs 9–12) situated in rainfed agricultural land. The adult male psyllid that emerged from the galls closely resembles P. depressa Crawford, 1912 as redescribed by MATHUR (1975) in the structure of the head and antenna, the shape and venation of the fore wing and probably also in the paramere shape, but a more detailed study of the material is needed to confirm the identity (I. Malenovský & D. Burckhardt, pers. comm.). Pauropsylla depressa is a widely distributed species in India including Karnataka; it has so far been known to induce galls on Ficus racemosa L. (MATHUR 1975, D’SOUZA & RAVISHANKAR 2014). Etymology. This species is named ‘ pauropsyllae ’ based on the generic name of the host of this parasitoid; noun in genitive case standing in apposition.

Synopeas vikbergi sp. nov. (Figs 9-13) Holotype ♀ MZH: Finland, Uusimaa region, Nurmijärvi (6705:378), 24.07.1992, Martti Koponen. Paratype: 1Ƌ MZH, same data as in the holotype. D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s: Patronymic. Named after the prominent Finnish hymenopterist Veli Vikberg. D i a g n o s i s: Hardly 1 mm long, with head fully twice as wide as long, without hyperoccipital carina; female A4 fully twice as long as A3, A7 about three times as long as A6, fully as long as A8; A9 1.4 times as wide as long; notauli only weakly indicated posteriorly; scutellum very slightly below level of mesoscutum; tooth in lateral view pale and broadly triangular, about 0.3 as long as anterior part of scutellum; female metasoma nearly as long as rest of body, 1.45 times as wide as high, T3-T6 with distinct microsculpture, T6 about as long as wide. Description: ♀. Body length 0.90 mm. Black, antennae and legs including coxae dark brown, the following parts pale brownish: mandibles, entire fore legs (except coxae), mid and hind trochanters, about basal 0.6 of mid and hind tibiae, and entire tarsi except darkened tip. Head from above (Fig. 9) fully twice as wide as long, wider than mesosoma (16:13), distinctly reticulate-coriaceous with larger meshes on occiput than on rest of head, only with transverse elements on frons; hyperoccipital carina absent but head somewhat angled behind ocelli. LOL about twice as long as OOL. Head in frontal view wider than high (16:13). Antenna (Fig. 10) with A1 0.75 times as long as height of head, A9 1.4 times as wide as long. Mesosoma 1.6 times as long as wide, 1.2 times as high as wide. Sides of pronotum in upper half reticulate-coriaceous (not longitudinally so), smooth in lower half and along hind margin, in upper half evenly and moderately densely setose. Mesoscutum towards sides with sparse, adpressed setae, very few around middle, finely and rather uniformly reticulate-coriaceous; notauli weakly indicated posteriorly, converging to a fine point which is slightly prolonged to base of scutellum, at each side with about eight golden setae over each rather narrow scuto-scutellar groove. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum (Fig. 11) along middle smooth, sparsely setose, without a carina, towards sides densely setose, behind with a distinct tooth which in dorsal view is thin and only pale at apex, in lateral view broadly triangular and light brownish. Metapleuron smooth, bare in about anterior 0.3, over most of surface with only sparse, long pilae, with dense pilosity only along hind margin. Propodeal carinae low, fused, dark, straight. Fore wing 0.8 times as long as entire body, overreaching tip of metasoma by a distance equal to length of T5-T6 combined, 2.5 times as long as wide, almost clear, with fine and dense microtrichia; marginal cilia 0.06 width of wing. Hind wing 6.3 times as long as wide; marginal cilia half as long as width of wing. Metasoma (Fig. 12) 0.95 times as long as head and mesosoma combined, 0.9 times as wide as mesosoma, 1.45 times as wide as high. T1 without noticeable carinae. T2 smooth except for reticulation along narrow hind margin. T3-T6 with distinct reticulate microsculpture, with a few inconspicuous setae. T6 about as long as wide. Ƌ. Body length 0.80 mm. Antenna (Fig. 13) with A1-A6 yellowish brown, A9 hardly 1.2 times as long as wide, flagellar pubescence very short. Scutellar tooth smaller than in female. Fore wing 0.95 times as long as entire body, marginal cilia about 0.1 width of wing. Metasoma as long as mesosoma. D i ff e r e n t i a l d i a g n o s i s: Close to S. evanescens BUHL, 2010 and S. ronquisti BUHL, 2010, but with a more transverse head, relatively longer female A7, and a more pointed female metasoma with stronger sculptured apical tergites, see also Buhl (2010b). The somewhat similar S. melampus FÖRSTER, 1861 has female A3-A5 almost equal, each hardly longer than wide, and mesosoma twice as long as wide., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on pages 6-8, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2010 a. New or little known species of Platygastrinae from Northern Europe (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). - Latvijas Entomologs 48: 33 - 49.","Buhl P. N. 2010 b. New or little known species of Platygastrinae from NW Europe (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae). - Entomofauna, Zeitschrift fur Entomologie 31: 301 - 315."]}

Synopeas rhanis (WALKER, 1835) Material: 5♀, 1 Ƌ, Jēkabpils, 1 km S of Brodi, Āres house, 08- 29.07.2006, Malaise trap; 5♀, Vīpe, 01.08- 07.11.2009, Malaise trap in meadow., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas sosis (WALKER, 1835) Material: 2Ƌ, Jēkabpils, 1 km S of Brodi, Āres house, 12.05- 23.06.2007, Malaise trap., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas wangsjoi BUHL, 2009 Material: 1♀, 9 km W of Viesīte, Zakeri house, 08.08- 08.11.2009, Malaise trap in forest., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palaearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. - Entomologica fennica 20: 65 - 83."]}

Synopeas pinnei BUHL, 2009 Bibliography: Buhl (2009)., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palaearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. - Entomologica fennica 20: 65 - 83."]}

Synopeas bohemani BUHL, 1998 M a t e r i a l: 1♀, 9 km W of Viesīte, 23.06- 27.07.2006, Malaise trap in marshy forest; 1♀, 1.5 km W of Jēkabpils, 08-09.2012, Malaise trap in forest., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas fungorum BUHL, 2000 Material: 2♀, 6 km E of Jēkabpils, 30.07- 26.08.2006, Malaise trap in forest; 1♀, 15 km W of Jēkabpils, Riesti house, 22.06- 31.08.2007, Malaise trap in forest., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas hyllus (WALKER, 1835) M a t e r i a l: 1♀, Jēkabpils, 25.08- 08.10.2006, Malaise trap in garden., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas ciliatum THOMSON, 1859 Material: 1♀, 6 km E of Jēkabpils, 30.07- 26.08.2006, Malaise trap in forest; 1♀, 9 km W of Viesīte, Zakeri house, 08.08- 08.11.2009, Malaise trap in forest., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas ventrale (WESTWOOD, 1833) M a t e r i a l: 2♀, Jēkabpils, 16.06- 07.07.2006, Malaise trap in garden., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas craterus (WALKER, 1835) Material: 1Ƌ, Jēkabpils, 1 km S of Brodi, Āres house, 08- 29.07.2006, Malaise trap; 2♀, same data but 29.07- 25.08.2006; 1♀, same data but 25.08- 23.09.2006; 2♀, 9 km W of Viesīte, Zakeri house, 25.06- 08.08.2009, Malaise trap in forest; 2♀, 1Ƌ, Vīpe, 01.08- 07.11.2009, Malaise trap in meadow., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas latvianum BUHL, 2009 Bibliography: Buhl (2009)., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 12, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2009. New or little known Palaearctic species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). III. - Entomologica fennica 20: 65 - 83."]}

Synopeas samium sp. nov. (Figs 5-8) Holotype ♀ MZH: Greece, Samos, 12.10.1989, Martti Koponen. Paratypes: 1♀ MZH, same data as in the holotype; 1♀ MZH, Samos, Oros Thios, 15.10.1989, Martti Koponen. D e r i v a t i o n o m i n i s: Named after the island with the type localities. D i a g n o s i s: Female about 1 mm long, with LOL 1.33 times as long as OOL, A9 fully 1.1 times as long as wide; notauli visible to 0.7 of length; scutellum distinctly sloping in posterior half, with a short and thin tooth or no tooth at all; female metasoma about as long as rest of body, 1.4 times as wide as high, T3-T6 combined hardly shorter than T1-T2 combined, T6 about 1.4 times as long as wide. Description: ♀. Body length 0.90-1.15 mm. Black; antennae, mandibles, tegulae and legs dark brown; A1 basally, A3, trochanters, base and apex of fore tibiae, basal half of mid and hind tibiae, and segments 1-4 of all tarsi light brownish. Head from above (Fig. 5) 1.9 times as wide as long, 1.2 times as wide as mesosoma, distinctly reticulate-coriaceous (not transversely so), without trace of a hyperoccipital carina. Frons with a longitudinal medial impression. LOL about one and a third times as long as OOL. Head in frontal view 1.15 times as wide as high. Antenna (Fig. 6) with A1 shorter than height of head (13:16), longer than distance between inner orbits (13:12); A9 fully 1.1 times as long as wide. Mesosoma 1.6 times as long as wide, 1.2 times as high as wide. Sides of pronotum distinctly reticulate-coriaceous (not longitudinally so) on most of upper twothirds, smooth below and along hind margin. Mesoscutum with sparse, scattered setae, distinctly and almost uniformly reticulate-coriaceous; notauli weak, visible in posterior 0.7, fading out anteriorly, meeting in a fine point at hind margin, here at each side with about six long setae over the rather wide scuto-scutellar grooves. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum (Fig. 7) with very sparse setae, much weaker sculptured than mesoscutum, without a carina, posteriorly with a small dark tooth with a narrow lamella below its base (on the smallest specimen only with a lamella, no tooth). Metapleuron smooth, with very few pilae in anterior 0.6, with a denser white fringe only along lower and hind margins. Propodeal carinae low, slightly translucent, very close together but separate. Fore wing 0.75 times as long as entire body, overreaching tip of metasoma by a distance hardly as long as length of T6, 2.5 times as long as wide, clear, with fine and dense microtrichia, without marginal cilia. Hind wing 5.4 times as long as wide; marginal cilia 0.25 width of wing. Metasoma (Fig. 8) 0.95- 1.05 times as long as head and mesosoma combined, about as wide as mesosoma, 1.4 times as wide as high. T1-T2 smooth except for weak reticulation postero-laterally on T2. T3-T6 reticulate, on T4 only basally, on T5 only laterally, on T6 longitudinally so. T4- T6 with setae in shallow punctures: 6 on T4, about 10 more scattered on each of T5-T6. Differential diagnosis: Generally similar to S. gastralis BUHL, 2001 from Spain, but that species has shorter OOL, notauli and apical segments of antennae (length of A 4- A 7 combined equal to A 8- A 10 combined in S. gastralis, whereas A 8- A 10 combined are fully 1.2 times as long as A 4- A 7 combined in S. samium). Scutellum of S. samium is more convex and with a distinctly thinner scutellar tooth than in S. gastralis (in the smallest specimen of S. samium which is of equal size to the holotype of S. gastralis and thus best comparable to that, the scutellar tooth is even absent)., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on pages 5-6, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas euryale (WALKER, 1835) M a t e r i a l: 1♀, 6 km E of Jēkabpils, 30.07- 26.08.2006, Malaise trap in forest; 1♀, Vīpe, 27.06- 01.08.2009, Malaise trap in meadow., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas larides (WALKER, 1835) B i b l i o g r a p h y: Buhl (2010b). Material: 1♀, 1.5 km W of Jēkabpils, 28.05- 26.06.2012, Malaise trap in forest., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794, {"references":["Buhl P. N. 2010 b. New or little known species of Platygastrinae from NW Europe (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae). - Entomofauna, Zeitschrift fur Entomologie 31: 301 - 315."]}

Synopeas inerme THOMSON, 1859 M a t e r i a l: 1♀, Jēkabpils, 25.08- 08.10.2006, Malaise trap in garden., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2016, New European species of Platygastrinae, with an updated list of Latvian species of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 3-13 in Latvijas Entomologs 53 on page 11, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7942794

Synopeas ciliarissimum Buhl, 2011 Synopeas ciliarissimum: Buhl 2011 b: 108, 112. Material examined: 1♂ TOGO, Région des Plateaux, N of Kessibo­Wawa, at the border to Ghana (N of Badou), at river Wawa (07°42'11"N 00°35'26"E), 24.iv. 2008, 180 m, forest understorey, cocoa plantation and sun­exposed vegetable fields, some Cyperaceae, swept, M. von Tschirnhaus., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on page 108, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696

Synopeas tanzanianum Buhl, 2010 Synopeas tanzanianum: Buhl 2010: 45. Material examined: 1♂ TOGO, Région des Plateaux, Kpélé­Govie Mlate N of Adéta, Auberge “Yougone”(07°08'33"N 00°43'57"E), 14–15.iv. 2008, 285 m, F. Menzel & M. von Tschirnhaus. Description of the hitherto unknown male: Body length 1.8 mm. Antenna with A4 as long as A2–A3 combined, 2.15× as long as wide, angularly dilated at midlength on inner side; A5 half as long as A4; A6 1.6× as long as A5; A7–A9 almost equal, each very slightly longer and wider than A6, 2.5× as long as wide; A10 1.55× as long as A9; flagellar pubescence 0.6× width of segments. Mesopleuron with fine longitudinal striation in upper third. Metasoma 1.15× as long as head and mesosoma combined, 3.2× as long as wide. T 3– T 7 combined slightly longer than T 1– T 2 combined (about 30:28). Otherwise morphologically the same as female., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on page 111, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696

Synopeas dentilamellatum Buhl, 2011 Synopeas dentilamellatum: Buhl 2011 b: 108, 113. Material examined: 1♀ TOGO, Région des Plateaux, Forêt d’Amakpavé NE of Amakpavé (NE of Gamé) (06°48'47"N 01°11'21"E), 6.iv.2008, 115– 130 m, teak forest (Tectona grandis) with much Panicum maximum and Portulacaceae, swept; 1♀ Région des Plateaux, Cascades de Yô NW of Yô (NW of Kpalimé), edge of road N13 (06°57'05"N 00°35'51"E), 17.iv. 2008, 370 m, secondary rainforest remains, banana and cocoa, bank vegetation, swept; 1♀ Région des Plateaux, Abriwa­Nko, about 5 km N of Badou, at creek Ègnulu–Agbadja (07°37'18"N 00°36'13"E), 24.iv. 2008, 310 m, swept in cocoa and avocado plantation.All M. von Tschirnhaus., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on page 108, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696

Synopeas watsoni sp. n. Figs 85–88 Etymology: Named in honour of the eminent South African biologist Lyall Watson (1939–2008). Diagnosis:A small species, with head uniformly isodiametrically reticulate-coriaceous; female A4–A5 of equal length; A9 fully 1.5× as wide as long; notauli absent; scutellum in lateral view slightly below level of mesoscutum and only slightly pointed behind; fore wing 2.5–2.7× as long as wide; female metasoma shorter than mesosoma, 1.5× as long as wide and 1.4× as wide as high. Description: Female. Body length 0.7–0.8 mm. Black, A1–A6 and legs light brownish, coxae, last segment of tarsi and sometimes apical 0.4 of hind tibiae slightly darker; A7–A10, mandibles and tegulae dark brown. Head from above (Fig. 85) 1.8–1.9× as wide as long, 1.15× as wide as mesosoma, dull, distinctly and uniformly reticulate-coriaceous (not transversely so); hyperoccipital carina distinct and complete. OOL equal to diameter of lateral ocellus; LOL= 3 OOL. Head in frontal view 1.15× as wide as high. Antenna (Fig. 86) with A1 0.75× as long as height of head, 1.0–1.1× as long as distance between inner orbits; A9 about 1.55× as wide as long. Mesosoma 1.5× as long as wide, 1.15× as high as wide. Sides of pronotum reticulate-coriaceous, smooth in lower half and along wide hind margin. Mesoscutum evenly and moderately densely setose, finely and uniformly reticulatecoriaceous, without notauli; hind margin medially slightly pointed to base of scutellum, at each side with 5–6 long setae over scuto-scutellar grooves. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum (Fig. 87) sculptured much as mesoscutum but more densely setose, slightly pointed behind but without a distinct tooth, dark brown here as are propodeal carinae, these being high and fused. Metapleuron with whitish pilosity all over (sparse in anterior 0.4). Fore wing clear, 2.5–2.7× as long as wide, 0.9× as long as entire body, surpassing tip of metasoma by a distance equal to length of T2, with fine and dense microtrichia; marginal cilia absent. Hind wing 6.8× as long as wide; marginal cilia slightly less than half the width of wing. Metasoma (Fig. 88) hardly 0.9× as long as mesosoma, and 0.9× as wide, 1.4× as wide as high. T2 with a weak, medial longitudinal depression between the two tufts of pubescence, otherwise smooth. T3–T6 with reticulate microsculpture and a few inconspicuous setae inserted in shallow punctures (eight on each of T5–T6, fewer on T3–T4). Male. Body length 0.65 mm.Antenna with A4 inconspicuously widened towards apex; A7–A10 forming a clava, A8–A9 each about 1.2× as wide as long; flagellar pubescence only slightly more conspicuous than in female. Metasoma 0.8–0.9× as long as mesosoma. Comparison: This species does not fit well into Buhl’s (2011 b) key. It is most similar to S. fibigeri Buhl, 2011, but S. fibigeri has meshes on occiput slightly transverse and more distinct than on rest of head, which in frontal view is 1.25× as wide as high. Moreover, S. fibigeri has slightly longer OOL and slightly more elongate flagellar segments than S. watsoni, more extensive sculptured sides of pronotum, notauli evident posteriorly, scutellum at level of mesoscutum and having a stronger tooth, propodeal carinae slightly separated, fore wing only 2.35× as long as wide, longer than body, pubescence at base of metasoma hardly 0.25× as long as T1–T2 combined (in S. watsoni fully one-third of the length of T1–T2 combined), and it is lighter in colour than S. watsoni. Cf. also Buhl (2011 a). Holotype: ♀ TOGO: Région des Plateaux, main road between Agbanon and Agoté, at creek Tomezuitoe (07°15'53"N 00°47'51"E), 15.iv. 2008, 360 m, creek bank at teak forest (Tectona grandis), shady cocoa plantation, swept, M. von Tschirnhaus. Paratypes: 1♀ 2♂ Région des Plateaux, Plateau de Danyi, near Atigba (07°09'52"N 00°41'33"E), 14.iv. 2008, 775 m, remains of secondary rainforest, underwood, forest plantation, road side with much Sida acuta Burm. F., swept, M. von Tschirnhaus., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on pages 113-115, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696

Synopeas (Sactogaster) ventricosum Buhl, 1997 Synopeas ventricosus: Buhl 1997: 449. Material examined: 1♀ TOGO, Région des Plateaux, main road between Agbanon and Agoté, at brook Tomezuitoe (7°15'53"N 0°47'51"E), 15.iv. 2008, 360 m, brook bank at teak forest (Tectona grandis), shady cocoa plantation, swept; 1♀ Région des Plateaux, Ouvêtsévé near Kpélé Élé (07°21'27"N 00°51'12"E), 15.iv. 2008, 345 m, creek bank within forest, diverse herb vegetation, swept. Both M. von Tschirnhaus. I can find no difference between the abovementioned two specimens and the type material of S. ventricosum from the Bismarck Archipelago and the Philippines. Further material of S. ventricosum from Sri Lanka was examined as well. Species of the subgenus Sactogaster are generally very similar globally, but several platygastrid species of other genera are also supposed to have a more or less cosmopolitan distribution (perhaps spread as a result of human agricultural activities)., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on page 113, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696, {"references":["BUHL, P. N. 1997. On some new or little known species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae). Entomofauna 18: 429 - 467."]}

Synopeas tschirnhausi sp. n. Figs 81–84 Etymology: Named after the collector, M. von Tschirnhaus. Diagnosis: A most characteristic species of the genus on account of pointed eyes; head in frontal view only very slightly wider than high. Description: Female. Body length 1.1 mm. Black, mandibles and coxae hardly lighter, A1–A6 and legs more or less light brownish, A1 blackish in basal 0.25; A7–A10 dark brownish. Head from above 1.85× as wide as long, 1.3× as wide as mesosoma, finely and uniformly reticulatecoriaceous (not transversely so), without hyperoccipital carina. LOL= 5 OOL. Upper outer corner of eye pointed. Head in frontal view (Fig. 81) very slightly wider than high (24:23). Antenna (Fig. 82) with A1 0.6× as long as height of head, as long as distance between inner orbits. Mesosoma 1.4× as long as wide, 1.1× as high as wide. Sides of pronotum finely reticulate­coriaceous, smooth in lower third and along hind margin. Mesoscutum evenly and moderately densely setose, uniformly and finely reticulatecoriaceous; notauli short and poorly evident at hind margin; mid lobe slightly and bluntly prolonged to base of scutellum; scuto-scutellar grooves rather narrow, each with about seven long setae. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum (Fig. 83) slightly and evenly convex, almost smooth, sparsely setose along middle, densely so laterally, without modification behind. Metapleuron smooth, in anterior 0.4 with very sparse pilosity, denser behind. Propodeal carinae high, dark, rounded, fused. Fore wing 0.85× as long as entire body, 2.2× as long as wide, clear, in apical half with fine and dense microtrichia; marginal cilia extremely short. Hind wing 5.4× as long as wide; marginal cilia one-third the width of wing. Metasoma (Fig. 84) two-thirds as long as head and mesosoma combined, about as long as mesosoma and slightly wider (19:18), 1.3× as wide as high. T1 with a few longitudinal crenulae. T2–T5 smooth, each with a narrow transverse stripe of reticulate microsculpture at hind margin, T6 with such sculpture all over. Apical tergites with a few inconspicuous setae in shallow punctures (eight on T5, fewer on the rest). Comparison: In respect of unusual shape of head, somewhat similar to S. acutanguliceps Buhl, 2011, but that species has the head in frontal view 1.4× as wide as high and eyes not pointed. Holotype: ♀ TOGO: Région des Plateaux, 1 km downstream of Totamé (07°35'21"N 00°37'55"E), 20.iv. 2008, 590 m, mountain slope with scattered forest trees and dense ground vegetation, rotting fruits of avocado, swept, M. von Tschirnhaus., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on pages 112-113, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696

Genus Synopeas Förster, 1856 Sactogaster Förster, 1856: 108. Ectadius Förster, 1856: 108. Polymecus Förster, 1856: 144. Dolichotrypes Crawford & Bradley, 1911: 124. Haustagaster Szabo, 1979: 178. Synopeas: Förster 1856: 108. Type species: Synopeas inermis Thomson, 1859; designated by Muesebeck & Walkley (1951)., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on page 106, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696, {"references":["FORSTER, A. 1856. Hymenopterologische Studien. II. Heft. Chalcidae und Proctotrupii. Aachen: Ernst ter Meer.","CRAWFORD, J. C. & BRADLEY, J. C. 1911. A new Pelecinus - like genus and species of Platygasteridae. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 13: 124 - 125.","SZABO, J. B. 1979. New species of the Mongolian proctotrupoid fauna (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea, Ceraphronidae, Diapriidae and Platygasteridae). Folia Entomologica Hungarica (Series Nova) 32 (1): 177 - 179.","THOMSON, C. G. 1859. Sveriges Proctotruper. Tribus VIII. Platygastrini. Ofversigt af Kongliga Vetenskaps- Akademiens Forhandlingar 16: 69 - 87.","MUESEBECK, C. F. W. & WALKLEY, L. M. 1951. Superfamily Proctotrupoidea. Pages 655 - 718 In: Muesebeck, C. F. W., Krombein, K. V. & Townes, H. K., eds, Hymenoptera of America north of Mexico - Synoptic Catalog. U. S. Dept. of Agriculture Monograph No. 2, pp. 1420."]}

Synopeas meieri sp. n. Figs 73–76 Etymology: Named after the dipterologist Dr Rudolf Meier, who first brought me in contact with Dr von Tschirnhaus. Diagnosis: A small species with head 1.2× as wide as mesosoma, with a distinct hyperoccipital carina; female A4 1.3× as long as A5,A9 1.3× as wide as long; scutellum ending in a tiny, low lamella; female metasoma about as long as rest of body, 1.2× as wide as high. Description: Female. Body length 0.80–0.95 mm. Head black, meso- and metasoma dark brown; A1–A6, mandibles and legs including coxae yellowish brown; A7–A10 dark brown. Head from above (Figs 73–74) 1.9× as wide as long, 1.2× as wide as mesosoma, dull, finely reticulate-coriaceous, on occiput slightly transversely so; hyperoccipital carina distinct and complete but not well developed. OOL hardly as long as diameter of lateral ocellus; LOL= 3 OOL. Head in frontal view 1.15× as wide as high. Antenna with A1 0.85× as long as height of head, longer than distance between inner orbits (11:9); A2 about as long as A3–A4 combined; A4 almost twice as long as A3, 1.3× as long as A5; A9 about 1.3× as wide as long. Mesosoma (Figs 73–74) 1.45× as long as wide, 1.1× as high as wide. Sides of pronotum faintly reticulate-coriaceous (not longitudinally so) in upper half, smooth below and along hind margin. Mesoscutum rather sparsely but evenly setose, finely reticulate­coriaceous, without notauli; mid lobe medially with a distinct smooth, flat, slightly brownish prolongation to base of scutellum; the wide scuto­scutellar grooves with dense white setation. Mesopleuron smooth. Scutellum (Fig. 75) densely setose all over, slightly raised along middle, ending behind in a tiny, low, oblique lamella. Metapleuron smooth, with long and dense whitish pilosity, except along narrow anterior margin. Propodeal carinae rounded, light brownish and translucent, fused. Fore wing slightly surpassing tip of metasoma, 0.75× as long as entire body, 2.6× as long as wide, clear, with fine and dense microtrichia; marginal cilia absent. Hind wing 6.6× as long as wide; marginal cilia 0.4× width of wing. Metasoma (Figs 74 and 76) slightly shorter (22:24) to very slightly longer (28:27) than head and mesosoma combined, 0.9× as wide as mesosoma, 1.2× as wide as high. T1 and base of T2 with strong whitish pubescence. T2 smooth except for weak reticulation along narrow hind margin. T3–T6 distinctly reticulate-coriaceous all over, only apex of T6 smooth; apical tergites with very few, inconspicuous setae. Comparison: This species runs to S. mazumbaiense Buhl, 2011, or to S. goengeti Buhl, 1997, in Buhl’s (2011 b) key, but S. mazumbaiense is larger (at least 1.2 mm), with head hardly as wide as mesosoma, and metasoma down-curved at apex. S. goengeti has head only 1.6× as wide as long, a weak and incomplete hyperoccipital carina, and metasoma less elongate, wider than mesosoma. Holotype: ♀ TOGO: Région des Plateaux, Plateau de Danyi, road from Atigba to Danyi–Apéyémé, at a tributary creek of river Danyi (07°11'04"N 00°41'31"E), 14.iv. 2008, 710 m, creek bank and below shrubs and bamboo, plantation, swept, M. von Tschirnhaus. Paratypes: 2♀ Région des Plateaux, Otandjobo near Zogbégan (SE of Badou), at river Otandjoboli (07°34'42"N 00°41'37"E), 21.iv. 2008, 500 m, at river, swept, cocoa plantation; 1♀ Région des Plateaux, Klabé–Azafi, at river Gonobè (07°36'00"N 00°43'21"E), 21.iv. 2008, 485 m, remains of secondary rainforest at river, rotting oranges, grass along road, swept. All M. von Tschirnhaus., Published as part of Buhl, Peter Neerup, 2014, New species and new records of Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae from Togo (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), pp. 68 in African Invertebrates 55 (1) on pages 108-111, DOI: 10.5733/afin.055.0106, http://zenodo.org/record/7649696, {"references":["BUHL, P. N. 1997. On some new or little known species of Platygastrinae (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae). Entomofauna 18: 429 - 467."]}