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In recent years, the collection of eggs of stink bugs (Pentatomidae) has intensified because of the attention given to egg parasitoids in classical biological control strategies against Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in Europe. Several specimens belonging to the genus Telenomus Haliday emerged from field-collected pentatomid eggs. Taxonomic knowledge to date has not been sufficient to enable the research community to identify these specimens to species level. Three species of scelionid wasps (Scelionidae) associated with Pentatomidae, Telenomus gifuensis Ashmead, Telenomus truncatus (Nees von Esenbeck) and Telenomus turesis Walker, have been characterized on a morphological basis. A COI barcode analysis confirmed the genetic distance between the latter two species. An identification key to the three Telenomus species occurring in the Palearctic region associated with stink bugs is provided. Telenomus heydeni Mayr is here considered conspecific with Telenomus truncatus (Nees von Esenbeck).

In the past decade, several species of platygastroid wasps were found to be adventive in North America and Europe while under evaluation in quarantine as biological control agents of invasive pests. The scope and relative risk of this phenomenon is not fully known, but it is clearly a trend with implications for classical biological control. As a means of assessing the issue and to provide a global baseline, we implemented a data-mining approach with DNA sequences in the Barcode of Life Database, yielding 201 platygastroid BINs with intercontinental and island distributions. At least fifty-five BINs displayed exact COI barcode matches across continents, with many more BINs scored as inconclusive due to sequence length variation. These intercontinental and island BINs include biocontrol agents known to be adventive, as well as many species identified only to genus with uncertain geographic origins. We provide 2,500 identifications for platygastroid BOLD BINs, 88% to genus, to encourage additional research on this distributional phenomenon. The intercontinental BOLD BINs were compared to literature records and GBIF occurrences of cosmopolitan species to identify gaps and discordance across data sources. Smaller COI barcode datasets from localities in Florida and Germany, including topotypical specimens, revealed more intercontinental matches. We analyzed COI sequences in BOLD for the entirety of Insecta and Araneae to assess this phenomenon more broadly and because these taxa contain many hosts for platygastroid wasps. This method revealed that the intercontinental distribution phenomenon is widespread with implications for assessing biological diversity, taxonomic methodology and regulatory frameworks.

Iranian species of the superfamily Platygastroidea (Hymenoptera) belonging to two families Platygastridae, (12 genera, 35 species) and Scelionidae (13 genera, 46 species), are reviewed. The recorded platygastroid species from Iran represent a very small assemblage of the world fauna, and certainly not the complete list from Iran. Except for a few recently described species, the others are found in many other countries as well. The known distribution for 27 species (77.1%) of Platygastridae of Iran is restricted to the Palaearctic region, while a smaller percentage was found in the Afrotropical (14.3%) and Nearctic (8.6%) regions. The distributions of 77.8% of Iranian scelionids are strictly Palaearctic, while the remaining scelionids were found also in the Nearctic (11.1%), Oriental (11.1%), Afrotropical (8.9%), Australasian (2.2%) and Neotropic regions (2.2%). Considering the sporadic treatment of platygastroids in Iran, it is evident that major parts of the country, including the eastern third, remain unexplored.

Synopeas maximum Awad & Talamas, sp. nov., the first reported parasitoid associated with the soybean gall midge, Resseliella maxima Gagné, is described based on morphological and molecular data. Parasitoids were reared from soybean stems infested by R. maxima in Minnesota. A phylogenetic reconstruction of the genus Synopeas Förster was performed with COI sequences (n=2412) available on the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD). Phylogenetic and barcode gap analyses suggest 279 Synopeas species in this dataset, with S. maximum sequences forming a monophyletic clade that is distinct from relatives. The Synopeas maximum clade was close to specimens from Canada and the United States, suggesting it is native to North America. We present a taxonomic treatment of S. maximum to facilitate its identification, including comparison to morphologically similar species. This project provides baseline data for further ecological study of R. maxima parasitism, and its management in soybean.

Hymenoptera is an incredibly diverse order, with numerous behavioral and morphological innovations. Here, the authors compile a time-calibrated Hymenoptera phylogeny and find that secondary transitions to phytophagy, plant feeding, are associated with significant increases in diversification rate in this group.

Applying consistent terminology for morphological traits across different taxa is a highly pertinent task in the study of morphology and evolution. Different terminologies for the same traits can generate bias in phylogeny and prevent correct homology assessments. This situation is exacerbated in the male genitalia of Hymenoptera, and specifically in Ichneumonoidea, in which the terminology is not standardized and has not been fully aligned with the rest of Hymenoptera. In the current contribution, we review the terms used to describe the skeletal features of the male genitalia in Hymenoptera, and provide a list of authors associated with previously used terminology. We propose a unified terminology for the male genitalia that can be utilized across the order and a list of recommended terms. Further, we review and discuss the genital musculature for the superfamily Ichneumonoidea based on previous literature and novel observations and align the terms used for muscles across the literature.

Riptortus pedestris (Fab.) (Hemiptera, Alydidae) is one of the most damaging insects of leguminous crops in Eastern Asia but has only recently emerged as a pest in Bangladesh. Eggs, nymphs and adults of R. pedestris are here reported from mung bean (Vigna radiata (L.)) fields in Bangladesh. Two parasitoid species were reared from field-collected eggs of R. pedestris, the solitary Hadronotus pubescens (Motschoulsky) (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae) and a gregarious species of Ooencyrtus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae). Here we redescribe H. pubescens, treat H. hogenakalensis (Sharma) as a junior synonym, and report aspects of its biology that were investigated under laboratory conditions. The number of eggs parasitized by H. pubescens was constant with eggs up to 48 hours in age, decreasing by 14% for 96 hour-old eggs. As host egg age increased, the parasitoid mean development time increased and the longevity of the parasitoids decreased.

The platygastrid subfamily Sceliotrachelinae, while represented globally by numerous biologically important taxa, is generally poorly known for the Afrotropical region. It contains a number of species of economic significance, including some that attack hemipteran pests of citrus. Here we review the taxonomy of the subfamily for the region. We revise two enigmatic, endemic South African genera, Afrisolia Masner and Huggert and Sceliotrachelus Brues, providing illustrated identification keys to the species. Afrisolia anyskop van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov., Afrisolia quagga van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. and Afrisolia robertsoni van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov. are described for this previously monotypic genus. Sceliotrachelus was previously known only from the two male type specimens of Sceliotrachelus braunsi Brues. Two new species, Sceliotrachelus midgleyi van Noort, sp. nov. and Sceliotrachelus karooensis van Noort, sp. nov., are described from the Eastern and Western Cape, respectively. The female of S. braunsi is described for the first time and additional distribution records for the species are documented. The putatively basal species, S. karooensis, exhibits less derived morphology than the highly apomorphic S. braunsi, necessitating reassessment of the limits of the genus. The exceptional morphology exhibited by species of Sceliotrachelus is hypothesized to be an adaptation to living in leaf-litter. We also revise the Old World species of Parabaeus Kieffer, describing a remarkable new species, Parabaeus nasutus van Noort, sp. nov., and provide an illustrated and updated key to the species. Fidiobia Ashmead is currently represented in Africa by seven described species to which we add Fidiobia celeritas van Noort & Lahey, sp. nov., a charismatic new species from South Africa. The distribution of the genus Isolia is expanded to include new country records for I. hispanica Buhl (Kenya) and an undescribed species from Madagascar. To facilitate the ongoing exploration and documentation of the African platygastrid fauna, an identification key to Afrotropical sceliotracheline genera and high resolution images of exemplar species for the remaining genera are provided. An overview of known species richness and biology is also included. All images presented here as well as additional images and interactive online Lucid identification keys are available on WaspWeb at http://www.waspweb.org.

Psix striaticeps (Dodd) is an egg-parasitoid wasp previously known only from the Old World. We report this species from twelve counties in Florida, which are the first records in the Western Hemisphere. It was collected in yellow cylinder traps and reared from the eggs of three stink bug species: Nezara viridula L., Chinavia marginata (Palisot de Beauvois), and Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood). A COI barcode analysis found a 100% match between the Floridian population and a specimen from South Africa. The prospects of using Ps. striaticeps as a biological control agent against exotic stink bugs are discussed.

The egg parasitoid Telenomus fariai Costa Lima (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae), is reported for the first time in Veracruz, Mexico. Telenomus fariai was discovered in 2019 during a field collection of Triatoma dimidiata L. (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), representing the first report of its association with Tr. dimidiata in Mexico. This species is here redescribed and sequencing of a portion of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (COI) was performed to facilitate future identifications and to examine host associations between species of Telenomus Haliday and Reduviidae in a broader context.

Synopeas from New Guinea is revised, including 16 new species and four previously named species. The concepts for these species were developed in conjunction with a CO1 analysis that includes 16 New Guinean species and 3 Synopeas species from other regions. The molecular analysis determined that the New Guinea fauna does not form a clade, indicating multiple migrations. The following species are described and keyed: S. amandae Awad, sp. nov.; S. anunu Awad, sp. nov.; S. butterilli Buhl; S. codex Awad, sp. nov.; S. csoszi Buhl; S. kalubia Awad, sp. nov.; S. kiki Awad, sp. nov.; S. kira Awad, sp. nov.; S. klingunculum Awad, sp. nov.; S. luli Awad, sp. nov.; S. occultum Awad, sp. nov.; S. pattiae Awad, sp. nov.; S. psychotriae Buhl; S. pterocarpi Buhl; S. pulupulu Awad, sp. nov.; S. roncavei Awad, sp. nov.; S. sanga Awad, sp. nov.; S. toto Awad, sp. nov.; S. valavala Awad, sp. nov.; S. zhangi Awad, sp. nov. Leptacis pleuralis (Buhl), comb. nov. is transferred from Synopeas. Images of 56 holotypes of Synopeas are made publicly available online.

Teleasinae are commonly collected scelionids that are the only known egg parasitoids of carabid beetles and therefore play a crucial role in shaping carabid populations in natural and agricultural ecosystems. We review the available host information of Teleasinae, report a new host record, and revise Gryonoides Dodd, 1920, a morphologically distinct teleasine genus. We review the generic concept of Gryonoides and provide diagnoses and descriptions of thirteen Gryonoides species and two varieties: G. glabriceps Dodd, 1920, G. pulchellus Dodd, 1920 (= G. doddi Ogloblin, 1967, syn. nov. and G. pulchricornis Ogloblin, 1967, syn. nov.), G. brasiliensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. flaviclavus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. fuscoclavatus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. garciai Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. mexicali Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. mirabilicornis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. obtusus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. paraguayensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. rugosus Masner & Mikó, sp. nov., G. uruguayensis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov. We treat Gryonoides scutellaris Dodd, 1920, as status uncertain. Gryonoides mirabilicornis Masner & Mikó, sp. nov. is the only known teleasine with tyloids on two consecutive flagellomeres, a well-known trait of Sparasionidae. An illustrated identification key to species of Gryonoides, a queryable semantic representation of species descriptions using PhenoScript, and a simple approach for making Darwin Core Archive files in taxonomic revisions accessible are provided.

A new genus and species of parasitoid wasp is described from Burmese amber: Prototeleia kleio gen. nov., sp. nov. (Platygastroidea, Platygastridae). Prototeleia kleio exhibits multiple characters that we consider to be plesiomorphic for Platygastridae. These characters are analyzed and discussed in the context of extant and fossil taxa.

Platygastridae (Hymenoptera) is a diverse family of parasitoid wasps for which few studies of internal morphology have been conducted. The monophyly of the group is undisputed based on recently published molecular data, but based on morphology, the family is diagnosable from other platygastroids only by a combination of character reductions. In the present study we explored the mesosoma of Platygastroidea and found two new synapomorphies for Platygastridae: an externally visible anterior mesofurcal pit, which corresponds to an invagination that connects to the anterior portion of the mesofurca, and internally, a posteriorly shifted origin of the first wing flexors. The absence of a mesofurcal bridge and the exclusively mesopectal origin of the fore wing flexors are treated as synapomorphies for Platygastridae+Janzenellidae. Phylogenetic implications and evolutionary hypotheses regarding these traits are discussed.

A new species, Janzenella theia Bremer & Talamas, sp. nov., is described from Baltic amber, which is the second known species of the family Janzenellidae (Platygastroidea). Synchrotron scanning was performed to observe internal structures and external morphology that was occluded by turbidity in the amber matrix surrounding the specimen.

A morphological and molecular analysis of Gryon Haliday (Platygastroidea, Scelionidae) was conducted to provide a taxonomic and phylogenetic context for a species under evaluation as a biological control agent of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera, Pentatomidae). Our analysis revealed that Gryon is polyphyletic and that the biological control agent is not G. gonikopalense, a name that was tentatively applied to this species in 2019. We here describe this species as new, Gryon aetherium Talamas sp. nov., and resurrect the generic name Hadronotus Förster. Morphological characters that delimit our concepts of Gryon and Hadronotus are presented. Based on morphological characters and multilocus phylogenies, we determined that five presently valid scelionid genera belong within Gryon. In total, 15 species are transferred into Gryon from these genera, 215 species are transferred from Gryon to Hadronotus, and 6 species are transferred from Gryon to Dyscritobaeus Perkins. Specimens collected during field studies in California and reevaluation of specimens determined as G. myrmecophilum in Mexico reveal that G. aetherium is adventive in North America.

Surveys for egg-parasitoid wasps were conducted in Rafsanjan, Iran, on two species of Pentatomidae (Hemiptera) found in pistachio orchards, Acrosternum arabicum Wagner and Brachynema signatum Jakovlev. Five species of Scelionidae (Platygastroidea) were recovered, including one that is here described as new: Psix saccharicola (Mani), Trissolcus colemani (Crawford), T. darreh Talamas sp. nov., T. perepelovi (Kozlov), and T. semistriatus (Nees). In addition to describing a new species, we report new host associations, provide COI barcodes for four of these species, and discuss host-related intraspecific variation in T. darreh and T. perepelovi.

Surveys with sentinel eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in southern California retrieved two parasitoids that were not previously known to be associated with this stink bug, Trissolcus hullensis and T. utahensis (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Molecular and morphological analysis of these specimens is used to modify the concept of T. utahensis and assess the factors that contribute to intraspecific variation. We provide an updated couplet to separate T. utahensis from a morphologically similar species, T. cosmopeplae.

Halyomorpha halys is an invasive, widespread stink bug for which only short-term solutions are currently available for pest control worldwide. The need for long-term management solutions for H. halys has driven studies on augmentative and classical biological control of this species, especially by its egg parasitoids. Numerous investigations in Asia, USA, and Europe on native and exotic egg parasitoids of H. halys, and the effects on non-target pentatomids, have improved the global knowledge of parasitoid-host relationships, uncovered new associations, and led to the discovery of new species. This trend continues with Acroclisoides sinicus, a pteromalid that was described in the 1980’s from Asia. In this work we report recent findings of this species in North America and Europe. Moreover, we propose that Acroclisoides solus syn. nov., a species described originally from the USA, is conspecific with A. sinicus based on morphological and molecular analysis.

A species of Idris Förster (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is found to parasitize the eggs of Bagrada hilaris (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and is described as new: Idris elba Talamas, sp. nov. This is the first association of an Idris species with a non-spider host, and the association is confirmed with molecular diagnostic tools that enable identification of parasitoid and host from the remains of parasitized eggs.

Paratelenomus anu Rajmohana, Sachin & Talamas, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) is an egg parasitoid of the kudzu bug, Megacopta cribraria (Fab.) (Hemiptera: Plataspidae). It is morphologically and genetically distinct from P. saccharalis (Dodd), a well-known egg parasitoid of the same host. Paratelenomus anu is here described from India and diagnosed from other species of Paratelenomus Dodd. This parasitoid can be reared easily, has high rates of parasitism, and thus may be significant for the biological control of M. cribraria. Phoresy is documented in P. anu and provides the first known example of this behavior in Paratelenomus. Paratelenomus longus (Kozlov & Lê) syn. nov. and P. mangrovus Rajmohana & Narendran, syn. nov. are treated as junior synonyms of P. tetartus (Crawford), and P. obtusus (Lê) syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of P. saccharalis.

The painted bug or bagrada bug, Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a key pest of crops in the family Brassicaceae. In this work, three species of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera) are reported for the first time as parasitoids of painted bug eggs in Mexico, at Saltillo, state of Coahuila: Gryon myrmecophilum (Ashmead), Telenomus podisi Ashmead and Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston). This is also the first report of a species of the widespread genus Telenomus as an egg parasitoid of B. hilaris outside of India. Total percent parasitism, high resolution images, and CO1 sequences are provided for each species. In the future, research in Mexico should be carried out on parasitoid species presented in this work to determine their potential as biological control agents and the feasibility of augmentative, classical or inoculative biocontrol strategies for integrated pest management.

Accurate identification of parasitoids is crucial for biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomrpha halys (Stål). A recent work by Talamas et al. (2017) revised the Palearctic fauna of Trissolcus Ashmead, egg-parasitoids of stink bugs, and treated numerous species as junior synonyms of T. semistriatus (Nees von Esenbeck). In the present paper, we provide a detailed taxonomic history and treatment of T. semistriatus and the species treated as its synonyms by Talamas et al. (2017) based on examination of primary types, molecular analyses and mating experiments. Trissolcus semistriatus, T. belenus (Walker), T. colemani (Crawford), and T. manteroi (Kieffer) are here recognized as valid and a key to species is provided. The identification tools provided here will facilitate the use of Trissolcus wasps as biological control agents and as the subject of ecological studies.

As the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) has spread across the Northern Hemisphere, research on its egg parasitoids has increased accordingly. These studies have included species-level taxonomy, experimental assessments of host ranges in quarantine, and surveys to assess parasitism in the field. We here present a molecular phylogeny of Trissolcus that includes all species that have been reared from live H. halys eggs. Species-group concepts are discussed and revised in the light of the phylogenetic analyses. The analyses indicate that the ability to successfully parasitize H. halys eggs is not phylogenetically constrained, but the most effective parasitoids are all found in the flavipes species group.

Proterosceliopsis was erected by Ortega-Blanco et al. (2014) in their treatment of scelionid genera in Cretaceous amber from Álava, Spain. The generic description appears to have been based on specimens in which only the dorsal aspects of the mesosoma and metasoma were visible, as characters of the mesopleuron, metapleuron, lateral pronotum, and ventral metasoma were not mentioned. We here provide a comprehensive description of the genus that includes characters from throughout the body and we reinterpret some of the characters presented by Ortega-Blanco et al. (2014). Our analysis of Proterosceliopsis in the context of extant and fossil platygastroids places this group as a lineage well outside of the current families. We here designate Proterosceliopsis as the type genus of a new family, Proterosceliopsidae Talamas, Johnson, Shih & Ren, fam. nov., and describe five new species: Proterosceliopsis ambulata Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. nigon Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. plurima Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., P. torquata Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov., and P. wingerathi Talamas, Shih & Ren, sp. nov. We provide a key to all presently known species in the genus. The oldest known specimen of Platygastridae s.s., in Burmese amber, is presented and compared to Proterosceliopsidae fam. nov.

We report the first detection of Trissolcus japonicus, an exotic Asian egg parasitoid and the primary candidate for classical biological control of the invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in Canada. Twenty-eight Trissolcus japonicus emerged from an H. halys egg mass from a site heavily infested by H. halys in Chilliwack, British Columbia, in 2018. This egg mass was deployed and retrieved as part of ongoing sentinel egg mass surveys for natural enemies of H. halys from 2017–2018 in coastal and interior British Columbia (total of 1,496 egg clusters at 16 sites). The identification of T. japonicus was based on biology (high levels of successful emergence from H. halys eggs), morphology, and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Trissolcus japonicus was not detected at any other survey sites in 2017–2018; however, three species of indigenous egg parasitoids were found attending or emerging from H. halys egg masses at low levels (

The genus Chromoteleia Ashmead is revised. Twenty-seven species are recognized, of which six species are redescribed: C. congoana (Risbec), C. connectens Kieffer, C. fuscicornis Kieffer, C. longitarsis Kieffer, C. semicyanea Ashmead, C. tricarinata Kieffer; and twenty-one species are described as new: C. aequalis Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. alternata Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. bidens Chen & Masner, sp. n., C. copiosa Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. cuneus Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. curta Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. depilis Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. dispar Chen & Masner, sp. n., C. feng Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. fossa Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. ingens Chen & Masner, sp. n., C. levitas Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. longa Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. maura Chen & Masner, sp. n., C. parvitas Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. pilus Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. plana Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. rara Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. robusta Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. semilutea Chen & Johnson, sp. n., C. sparsa Chen & Johnson, sp. n. Chromoteleia rufithorax Kieffer remains a valid species, but its identity and status are unclear. All species are known only from the Neotropical region except for Chromoteleia congoana (Resbec) which only occurs in Africa.

Trissolcus hyalinipennis Rajmohana & Narendran is an Old World egg parasitoid of Bagrada hilaris (Burmeister). Its potential as a classical biological control agent in the United States has been under evaluation in quarantine facilities since 2014. A survey of resident egg parasitoids using fresh sentinel B. hilaris eggs in Riverside, California, revealed that T. hyalinipennis is present in the wild. Four cards with parasitized eggs were recovered, from which one yielded a single live T. hyalinipennis and two unidentified dead wasps (Scelionidae), and three yielded twenty live Trissolcus basalis (Wollaston) and one dead wasp. Subsequently, samples from Burbank, California, collected with a Malaise trap as part of the BioSCAN project, yielded five females of T. hyalinipennis. It is presumed that the introduction of T. hyalinipennis to this area was accidental. Surveys will be continued to evaluate the establishment of T. hyalinipennis as well as the presence of other resident parasitoid species.

The genus Habroteleia Kieffer is revised. Seven species are recognized, three are redescribed: H. flavipes Kieffer, H. persimilis (Kozlov & Kononova), H. ruficoxa (Kieffer); and four species are described as new: H. mutabilis Chen & Talamas, sp. n., H. salebra Chen & Talamas, sp. n., H. soa Chen & Talamas, sp. n., and H. spinosa Chen & Johnson, sp. n. Four species are treated as junior synonyms of Habroteleia flavipes Kieffer: Chrestoteleia bakeri Kieffer, syn. n., Habroteleia bharatensis Saraswat, syn. n., Habroteleia browni Crawford, syn. n., and Habroteleia kotturensis (Sharma), syn. n. Habroteleia dagavia (Kozlov & Lê), syn. n. is treated as junior synonym of Habroteleia persimilis (Kozlov & Kononova). Baryconus vindhiensis (Sharma), comb. n. is transferred out of Habroteleia Kieffer. Habroteleia impressa (Kieffer) and H. scapularis (Kieffer) remain valid species but their identity and status are unclear.

The brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorphahalys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) is native to Northeast Asia, but has become a serious invasive species in North America and Europe, causing major damage to crops. While it has not established itself in Australia, it has been intercepted at the border several times, indicating that future incursions and establishment are a case of when, not if. Biological control is one of the few control options for this species and will be important for managing H.halys should it become established in Australia. Prioritizing species that could be used as biological control agents would ensure Australia is prepared. This study summarizes the literature on natural enemies of H. halys in its native and invaded ranges and prioritizes potential biological control agents of H.halys that could be used in Australia. Two egg parasitoid species were identified: Trissolcusjaponicus (Ashmead) and Trissolcusmitsukurii (Ashmead) (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae). Future efforts to develop biological control should focus on T. mitsukurii, as it is already present in Australia. However, little is known about this species and further work is required to: (1) assess its potential effectiveness in parasitizing H. halys, (2) determine its current distribution and (3) host range in Australia.

The generic concepts of Archaeoteleia Masner and Proteroscelio Brues are expanded to accommodate two new species that are here described: Archaeoteleia astropulvis Talamas sp. n. and Proteroscelio nexus Talamas sp. n. A specimen of Archaeoteleia from Baltic amber is illustrated and discussed. Diagnoses of Proteroscelio, Proterosceliopsis Ortega-Blanco, McKellar & Engel and Bruescelio Ortega-Blanco, McKellar & Engel, a key to Cretaceous platygastroid genera with 14-merous antennae, and a key to the species of Proteroscelio are presented.

It is widely accepted that there are two ovipositor system types in Platygastroidea. The Scelio-type ovipositor system features telescoping conjunctiva between metasomal tergites 6 and 7 and operates via internal changes in hydrostatic pressure alone, whereas muscles are involved in ovipositor extension and retraction in the Ceratobaeus-type. We here provide analyses of ovipositor systems in two platygastrine genera that cannot be classified as either Scelio- or Ceratobaeus-type, but exhibit telescoping conjunctivae and extend the ovipositor system without musculature. These represent unique derivations that are clearly identifiable by the location of the telescoping conjunctiva. In Gastrotrypes Brues, the telescoping conjunctiva occurs between T5 and T6, and in Platygaster tubulosa Brues it occurs between each segment from T3 to T6. If there are convergent derivations of a Scelio-type ovipositor system within Scelionidae (sensu Masner 1976), their identification will require examination of new characters, one of which we provide here, the presence and form of a ring of acanthae on the conjunctiva between T6 and T7.

A photographic catalog of primary types of Platygastroidea housed in the National Insect Collection, National Museum of Natural History, is here made available online at the image database at The Ohio State University (specimage.osu.edu). Following examination of this collection we enact the following taxonomic changes: Leptacis piniella MacGown syn. n. is treated as a junior synonym of Leptacis pinicola MacGown; Sacespalus indicus Mani is transferred to Platygaster Latreille; Platygaster indica Mukerjee is given the replacement name Platygaster chaos Talamas, n. n.; Synopeas rugiceps (Ashmead), comb. n. is transferred from Leptacis Förster; Axea atriclava (Kieffer), comb. n. is transferred from Psilanteris Kieffer; Chakra pachmarhica (Sharma), comb. n. is transferred from Paridris Kieffer; Paridris dubeyi Sharma, syn. n. is treated as a junior synonym of Chakra pachmarhica; Holoteleia indica (Mani) is transferred to Opisthacantha Ashmead and given a replacement name, Opisthacantha nomados Talamas, n. n.; Psilanteris nigriclavata (Ashmead), comb. n. is transferred from Anteris Förster; Probaryconus grenadensis (Ashmead), comb. n. is transferred from Monoteleia Kieffer; Monoteleia syn.n. is treated as a junior synonym of Probaryconus Kieffer; Paridris karnatakensis Sharma, syn. n is treated as a junior synonym of Probaryconus cauverycus Saraswat; Probaryconus punctatus (Ashmead), comb. n. is transferred from Oxyteleia Kieffer; Triteleia bengalensis (Saraswat), comb. n. is transferred from Alloteleia Kieffer; Trimorus varius Fouts, syn. n. and Trimorus pulchricornis Fouts, syn. n. are treated as junior synonyms of Trimorus annulicornis (Ashmead); Neotypes are designated for Gryon leptocorisae (Howard), Idris seminiger (Ashmead), Telenomus graptae Howard, Telenomus persimilis Ashmead, and Telenomus rileyi Howard; lectotypes are designated for Cremastobaeus bicolor Ashmead, Oethecoctonus insularis (Ashmead), Oethecoctonus laticinctus (Ashmead) and Probaryconus punctatus (Ashmead).

Species of Trissolcus Ashmead are potent natural enemies of stink bugs (Pentatomidae). Research on biological agents to control the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (BMSB), in Western Europe requires reliable taxonomic resources for identification of Trissolcus wasps. To aid this research endeavor, we present a species identification key to females of Palearctic Trissolcus. Morphological characters and concepts of the genus and species groups are discussed. We discovered a number of nomenclatural and identification issues that we here rectify.

All holotypes of Platygastroidea housed in the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources were photographed and these images are now publicly available online, as are images of most species represented in this collection by paratypes alone. Following examination of these specimens, the following taxonomic acts are made: Dyscritobaeus microocellus (Kozlov & Lê), comb. n. is transferred from Gryon Haliday; Habroteleia dagavia (Kozlov & Lê), comb. n. is transferred from Triteleia Kieffer; Paridris spinosa Rajmohana, syn. n. and Paridris stigmalshortis Kozlov & Lê, syn. n. are treated as junior synonyms of Paridris genaris Kozlov & Lê; Paridris striaefrons Kozlov & Lê, syn. n. and Paridris circus Kozlov & Lê, syn. n. are treated as a junior synonyms of Paridris coorgensis Sharma; Probaryconus maridris Kozlov & Lê, syn. n. and Probaryconus varinus Kozlov & Lê, syn. n. are treated as junior synonyms of Probaryconus cauverycus Saraswat. A key to the most common species of Paridris in SE Asia is provided.

The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), has been proposed as a biocontrol agent against brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB), due to its ability to parasitize and kill BMSB eggs. However, the wasps’ small size makes it challenging for those untrained in morphological identification to determine the wasps’ species. To circumvent this problem, a molecular method was created to identify T. japonicus. The method uses species-specific primers, designed in this study, which target the variable region of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) locus. After confirming successful DNA extraction from samples, the PCR amplification using our primers produced 227-bp PCR products for all T. japonicus specimens and no amplification in other microhymenoptera candidates. Additionally, DNA from BMSB-parasitized eggs gave positive PCR amplification, while the control BMSB samples showed no amplification. This indicates that PCR with our primers specifically and sensitively differentiates T. japonicus specimens from other similar wasp species and discriminates between T. japonicus-parasitized and non-parasitized BMSB eggs. Finally, an in silico analysis of CO1 sequences demonstrated that our primers match the sequences of four different haplotypes of T. japonicus, indicating that our diagnostic method could potentially be applied to analyze T. japonicus populations throughout North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.

Trissolcus japonicus, an important egg parasitoid of Halyomorpha halys in Asia, was first detected in the USA in 2014. To evaluate the effect of habitat and the seasonality of T. japonicus detections in the USA, yellow sticky traps were placed in the canopy of Ailanthus altissima growing at the edge of isolated patches of trees, windbreaks, and woodlots in northern Virginia in 2018 and 2019. In both years, captures occurred from May to September, and peaked in July and August. While T. japonicus was detected in all habitats, there was not a consistent effect of habitat type on capture frequency. To evaluate tree species effects on T. japonicus captures, in 2017 and 2018, yellow sticky traps deployed in the canopy of A. altissima bordering apple orchards were paired with a nearby trap in one of several wild tree species along a common woods edge. In 2019, these traps were deployed in A. altissima, black walnut, and black locust growing in the same windbreaks. No consistent association between captures of T. japonicus or native parasitoids of H. halys and the tree species sampled was observed among years. Results are discussed in relation to the ecology and sampling optimization of T. japonicus.

The eggs parasitoids Myartsevaia chrysopae (Crawford) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), Telenomus lobatus Johnson, Telenomus tridentatus Johnson (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Trichogramma atopovirilia Oatman and Platner (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) are reported for the first time or in new localities in Mexico. Their occurrence was first discovered in 2018 during a survey of parasitism on chrysopid eggs, conducted on Sorghum bicolor L. Moench (Poales: Poaceae) and Zea mays L. (Poales: Poaceae) in different locations in Sinaloa, Mexico. The identity of the parasitoids was determined by morphology and for both species of Telenomus the barcode region of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene (CO1) was generated to facilitate molecular diagnosis of these species in future studies.

Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) and T. cultratus (Mayr), comb. rev. are under study as classical biological agents to control the brown marmorated stink bug Halyomorpha halys (Stål) in North America. Here we present diagnoses for all Nearctic species of Trissolcus, including T. japonicus and T. cultratus comb. rev., and identification keys to enable separation of these species from the existing fauna. Trissolcus cultratus comb. rev. is removed from synonymy with T. flavipes. Two new species are described, Trissolcus valkyria sp. n. and T. zakotos sp. n. A neotype is designated for T. brochymenae and a lectotype is designated for T. basalis.

Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead) is an Asian egg parasitoid of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål). It has been under study in U.S. quarantine facilities since 2007 to evaluate its efficacy as a candidate classical biological control agent and its host specificity with regard to the pentatomid fauna native to the United States. A survey of resident egg parasitoids conducted in 2014 with sentinel egg masses of H. halys revealed that T. japonicus was already present in the wild in Beltsville, MD. Seven parasitized egg masses were recovered, of which six yielded live T. japonicus adults. All of these were in a wooded habitat, whereas egg masses placed in nearby soybean fields and an abandoned apple orchard showed no T. japonicus parasitism. How T. japonicus came to that site is unknown and presumed accidental.

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