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The species of Plutothrix Förster, 1856 are reviewed. Plutothrix gribanovi, sp. nov., is described from Russia, P. longigaster, sp. nov., and P. zerovae, sp. nov., are described from Finland and Russia. The male of P. canariensis Hedqvist, 1974 is described for the first time. The species Plutothrix transdanuviana (Erdös, 1946), syn. nov., is synonymized under Seladerma antennatum (Walker, 1833). The following new records are reported: Plutothrix nudicoxa Graham, 1993 and P. perelegans Graham, 1993 from Finland, P. obtusiclava Graham, 1993 and P. zhangyieensis Yang, 1996 from Russia, and P. perelegans Graham, 1993 from Ukraine. An identification key to females of all Palaearctic species of Plutothrix is provided.

A new genus of Pteromalidae Neomegadicylus gen. nov., along with its type species Neomegadicylus gracileus sp. nov., is described from the Republic of Korea and Japan, and N. klarissae sp. nov., is described from the Republic of Korea. This genus can be distinguished from its putatively close relative Megadicylus Girault, 1929 by the following combination of characters – antennal clava with large micropilosity area, F1–F6 much longer than broad; clypeus smooth and shiny; notauli deep and incomplete and anterior part of propodeum strongly sloping in lateral view. An identification key to species of Neomegadicylus is provided, based on females.

The specimens of the pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea, Ptero-malidae) were caught using Malaise traps and sweeping net in Kerman province of Iran during March 2016 to August 2017. The genus Coelopisthia Förster, 1856 and the species: C. areolata Askew, 1980, Homoporus apharetus (Walker, 1839), Norbanus brevicornis Szelenyi, 1974, Pachyneuron gibbiscuta Thomson, 1878, and Sphegigaster pedunculiventris (Spinola, 1808) are recorded for the first time from Iran. The diagnostic characteristics and illustrations are given for the newly recorded species.

The genera Ischyroptyx Delucchi, 1956 and Novitzkyanus Boucek, 1961 are first recorded from Iran. They are represented by two species, Ischyroptyx ligusticus (Masi, 1922) and Novitzkyanus cryptogas...

Species of the genus Toxeuma Walker, 1833 from Russia are reviewed. A new species, Toxeuma leleji Tselikh, sp. nov., is described from the Russian Far East. Toxeuma fuscicorne Walker, 1833 and T. styliclava (Hedqvist, 1974) are recorded for the first time from Russia; Toxeuma acilius (Walker, 1848) – for the first time for Western and Eastern Siberia and the European part of Russia; Toxeuma paludum Graham, 1959 – for the first time for Western and Eastern Siberia; Toxeuma subtruncatum Graham, 1959 – for the first time for Primorskii Region. An identification key to females of all Palaearctic species of Toxeuma is provided.

En esta segunda parte, presentamos la subfamilia Pteromalinae en Marruecos, que incluye 86 especies pertenecientes a 50 géneros. Quince géneros y 37 especies se enumeran por primera vez en la fauna marroquí, de las cuales 9 han sido recientemente identificadas, 24 se han encontrado en la bibliografía y 4 están depositadas en museos de historia natural. Se proporciona una lista actualizada de especies marroquíes, incluida su distribución por regiones, su distribución general y sus huéspedes.

Gall induction is one of the main life strategies of endophagous insects, which serves to provide food and protection against natural enemies. It is proposed that gall size is one of the most important traits in the life history of the inducer insect, since a balance exists between the protection afforded by the gall and exposure to natural enemies. The aims of this study were first to describe the trophic interactions between E. xanthochaeta and its native parasitoids on a new host plant Lippia myriocephala, and then to assess the relationships between gall size, location on the plant architecture and parasitism rates. A community of seven native parasitoid morphospecies was found, representing 22.2% of the overall parasitism, highlighting two wasp species, Torymus sp. (Torymidae) and Pteromalinae (Pteromalidae) as the most abundant. Gall size exhibited significant variations related to their distribution within the plant architecture, with a gradual reduction in size found from the main stem toward the peripheral branches. Such differences were associated with an increase in parasitized pupae and smaller galls were found to be more susceptible to parasitoid attack. Parasitism rates revealed that Torymus sp. uses a broader gall size range than Pteromalinae, and we hypothesized that such variations may be related to certain morphological traits of the parasitoids such as ovipositor length, since the former presents an ovipositor nearly four times longer than the latter. Thus, we infer that growth of bigger galls reduced the likelihood of parasitism of the flies.

Parasitoid wasps of the genusPteromalusplay an important role in biological pest control, however, the genus includes a large number of cryptic species, which makes reliable identification difficult. The latest identification key dates back to Graham (1969) and since then many new species have been described and nomenclatural changes proposed.Here we present an interactive and fully illustrated identification key in Xper3 for 27 species of thePteromalusalbipennisspecies group as well as for 18 similar species. In addition to qualitative traits, a large set of body measurements is incorporated in the key. We also explored a new set of qualitative features on the propodeum and metasternum. During field work, a new species of theP.albipennisspecies group,P.capitoBaur sp. n., could be reared from flower heads of Asteraceae, which is described here. It looks very similar toP.albipennisandP.cingulipes, however, several qualitative characters and body ratios distinguish it clearly from the most similar species.

The subfamily Pteromalinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) was represented in South Korea as 46 species belonging to 30 genera. In this paper, 25 species and 13 genera are recorded for the first time from South Korea. A checklist of South Korean Pteromalinae, a key to species and genera, and illustrations of diagnosis are provided.

A new genus and species of a Pteromalinae Fusta gen. nov. (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) with Fusta wuhuica Xiao and Ye sp. nov. is described from China. This new genus is distinguished by its propodeum with subglobose, reticulate nucha and marginal vein longer than post-marginal. The type material is deposited with the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:28D51C5A-5EB7-467D-958E-0B3CEC35DB13.

A list of Pteromalidae wasps of the Kuril Islands includes 84 species belonging to 47 genera of 6 subfamilies. Four genera [Seladerma Walker (Miscogasterinae), Caenacis Foerster, Isocyrtus Walker, and Synedrus Graham (Pteromalinae)] and 36 species are recorded for the first time for the Russian fauna; 8 species are new to the Russian Far East. Seladerma leleji sp. n. and Synedrus kasparyani sp. n. are described. The males of Semiotellustakadai Kamijo and Isocyrtus reticulatus Xiao et Huang are described for the first time.

Eighteen species of ten genera of bark beetle parasitoids were found in the fauna of Russia and adjacent countries. Sixteen species of the parasitoids are recorded as new to the faunas of Belarus, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and regions of Russia. An annotated list of nineteen species of pteromalids, with data on the material examined, geographic distribution, and hosts is given. New hosts are reported for five species of the bark beetle ectoparasitoids. An original key to eighteen species and ten genera of Pteromalidae parasitizing bark beetles is provided.

A third species of Doddifoenus Bouček (Pteromalidae: Leptofoeninae), is described from Laos and Thailand. Doddifoenus wallacei sp. n. is the first species of the genus occurring west of Wallace’s Line, and with a body length of up to 4.2 cm it is among the longest known of any chalcidoid wasp. A differential key and distribution map for the world species of Doddifoenus are given. A detailed description of the mesosoma, including external and internal features, and molecular data (D2-D5 fragments of the 28S gene) are provided to facilitate future phylogenetic analyses. The phylogenetic placement of Leptofoeninae is briefly discussed, especially with respect to the pteromalid subfamilies Pteromalinae and Cleonyminae.

Two new species, Pteromalus briani sp. n. and Pteromalus janstai sp. n., with unusual characters are described from the Central Plateau and the Alps in Switzerland, respectively. Pteromalus briani sp. n. is remarkable in that it has the metatibia quite abruptly expanded before the middle. This type of modification of the hind tibia is unique within the Pteromalidae and probably also the entire Chalcidoidea. It is also very rare in other parasitic wasps, where it is suspected to be associated with pheromone glands. The species is a gregarious endoparasitoid of pupae of Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus) and Aglais urticae (Linnaeus), two common butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Europe. It is furthermore a koinobiont parasitoid ovipositing in an early larval stage of the host. The other species, Pteromalus janstai sp. n., shows a flattened mesosoma. A dorsoventrally depressed body is a unique feature within the genus Pteromalus, but known from a number species in unrelated genera and subfamilies. The two records demonstrate that it is possible to discover entirely new species with extraordinary characters even in one of the taxonomically most thoroughly explored parts of the world.

Gollumiellinae is proposed as a new subfamily for the Indo-Pacific genera Gollumiella Hedqvist and Anorasema Bouc˘ ek based on analyses of three ribosomal transcript gene regions (28S-D2 and -D3, and 18S-E23; 1262 aligned base pairs) sequenced for twenty-eight genera and fifty-four species of Euchariti- dae, and twelve genera and nineteen species of Pteromalidae (Pteromalinae) and Perilampidae (Chrysolampinae and Perilampinae). Gollumiella and Anorasema have been treated as either a monophyletic or paraphyletic group within the Eucharitini (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae). The monophyly of the Eucharitidae and a sister-group relationship between Gollumiellinae and Oraseminae þ Eucharitinae are supported strongly in parsimony and Bayesian analyses. The molecular phylogeny contradicts previous morphological hypotheses, in which Gollumiella and Anorasema are within Eucharitini. The strength of the molecular hypothesis is explored through evaluations of data alignments that are eye optim- ized, CLUSTAL-X aligned, eye optimized but with gaps coded as a fifth base, and eye optimized and combined with morphological data. The oviposition behaviour and host associations of G. longipetiolata on tree ferns (Cyathea latebrosa, Cyathea- ceae), and the morphology of the planidium and pupa are newly described. Eggs are deposited vertically, with the base anchored into the leaf or petiolar surface. Unlike other Eucharitidae, the eggs are not stalked, but rather tipped with a secretion that may act as an attractant for their ant host, Paratrechina sp. (For- micidae: Formicinae). Various morphological character state optimizations and their implications for convergent morphology, behaviour and host associations are discussed. All results using gene regions treated separately or combined with the morphological data reach the same conclusion: Anorasema þ Gollumiella form the sister group of Oraseminae þ Eucharitinae, and thus deserve subfamily status. This suggests that very distinct traits such as the fusion of the pronotum and prepectus in adults and the fusion of the first two tergites of the planidia are convergent apomorphies. Molecular data, when strongly supported, can provide new information to unravel convergent from synapomorphic changes, resulting in more robust hypotheses of relationship.

Ten species of parasitoids were found in association with a large metapopulation of the Glanville fritillary Melitaea cinxia (L.) in a fragmented landscape in SW Finland. Two primary larval parasitoids, Cotesia melitaearum (Wilkinson) (Braconidae: Microgastrinae) and Hyposoter horticola (Gravenhorst) (Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) are considered to be specialists on M. cinxia in our study area (have no other host locally). These two primary parasitoids were recorded to be attacked by three generalist (presumed to have other hosts locally) hyperparasitoids: Gelis agilis (Fabricius) (Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae), G. acarorum (L.), G. ruficornis (Retzius) and one possibly specialist hyperparasitoid: Mesochorus sp. cf. stigmaticus Brischke (Ichneumonidae: Mesochorinae). Pupae were attacked by four generalist parasitoids: Ichneumon gracilicornis Gravenhorst (Icheumonidae: Ichneumoninae), Pteromalus apum (Retzius) (Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae), P. puparum (L.), Coelopisthia caledonica Askew (Pteromalidae: Pteromali...

The limits of Lyrcus Walker (1842), Catolaccus Thomson (1878), Eurydinoteloides Girault (1913a), Trimeromicrus Gahan (1914), and Jaliscoa Bou c ek (1993) are re-evaluated and redefined to better reflect observed distribution of morphological features. Nine of 13 New World species of Catolaccus are transferred to other genera and photographs of the primary type specimens are given to assist future recognition. New features are provided to assist identification of the remaining four Nearctic species of Catolaccus and these are compared to European species, with the observation that C. kansensis (Girault 1917c) could be a junior synonym of C. crassiceps (Masi 1911). Trimeromicrus is removed from synonymy under Lyrcus for the single species T. maculatus Gahan (1914) rev. comb. Newly synonymized under Lyrcus is the Australasian genus Neocylus Bou c ek (1988) n. syn. Ten species are newly transferred to Lyrcus — L. nigraeneus (Girault 1915) n. comb. (from Neocylus ), L. helice (Walker 1843) n. comb. and L. cyaneus (Girault 1911) n. comb. (from Catolaccus ), and L. albiclavus (Girault 1917c) n. comb. , L. capitis (Burks 1955) n. comb. , L. chalcis (Burks 1955) n. comb. , L. coeliodis (Ashmead 1896) n. comb. , L. deuterus (Crawford 1911) n. comb. , L. nigroaeneus (Ashmead 1894a) n. comb. and L. rosaecolis (Burks 1955) n. comb. (from Zatropis Crawford 1908). Catolaccus pallipes Ashmead (1894b) is newly transferred to Pteromalus Swederus (1795) as Pteromalus pallipes (Ashmead) n. comb. and Catolaccus fragariae Rohwer (1934) to Lariophagus Crawford (1909) as Lariophagus fragariae (Rohwer) n. comb. Nine species are newly transferred to Eurydinoteloides—E. tepicensis (Ashmead 1895) n. comb. (from Catolaccus ), E. dymnus (Walker 1847) n. comb. , E. hermeas (Walker 1847) n. comb. , E. incerta (Ashmead 1893) n. comb. , E. orontas (Walker 1847) n. comb. , E. perdubia (Girault 1916) n. comb. , E. platensis (De Santis in De Santis et al. 1979) n. comb. and E. timaea (Walker 1847) n. comb. (from Lyrcus ), and E. eudubia (Ozdikmen 2011) n. comb. (from Spintherus Thomson 1878). Four species are newly transferred to Jaliscoa — J. grandis (Burks 1954) n. comb. and J. hunteri (Crawford 1908) n. comb. (from Catolaccus ), and J. townsendi (Crawford 1912) n. comb. and J. vulgaris (Ashmead 1894b) n. comb. (from Pteromalus ). The species of Jaliscoa are revised to include J. nudipennis Bou c ek 1993, J. bouceki n. sp. , J. hunteri and J. vulgaris. Re-established in synonymy under J. hunteri is J. townsendi n. comb. One new species of Pteromalus , P. grisselli n. sp. , is described as an egg predator in the egg sacs of Dictyna coloradensi Chamberlin (Araneae: Dictynidae) and compared to Catolaccus species and other pteromalids that are predators of spider eggs. Lectotypes are designated for Pteromalus helice Walker (1843), Catolaccus pallipes Ashmead (1894b) and Catolaccus vulgaris Ashmead (1894b). Diagnoses are given to differentiate Catolaccus , Eurydinoteloides , Jaliscoa , Lyrcus and Trimeromicrus from each other, and more extensive descriptions given to help differentiate these genera from other Pteromalinae. Morphological features are illustrated through macrophotography and scanning electron photomicrography.

Cladistics Cladistics 29 (2013) 466–542 10.1111/cla.12006 A phylogenetic analysis of the megadiverse Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) John M. Heraty a, *, Roger A. Burks a,b , Astrid Cruaud a,c , Gary A. P. Gibson d , Johan Liljeblad a,e , James Munro a,f , Jean-Yves Rasplus c , Gerard Delvare g , Peter Jansˇ ta h , Alex Gumovsky i , John Huber j , James B. Woolley k , Lars Krogmann l , Steve Heydon m , Andrew Polaszek n , Stefan Schmidt o , D. Chris Darling p,q , Michael W. Gates r , Jason Mottern a , Elizabeth Murray a , Ana Dal Molin k , Serguei Triapitsyn a , Hannes Baur s , John D. Pinto a,t , Simon van Noort u,v , Jeremiah George a and Matthew Yoder w a Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA; b Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; c INRA, UMR 1062 CBGP CS30016, F-34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France; d Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada; e Swedish Species Information Centre, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7007, SE-750 07, Uppsala, Sweden; f Institute for Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA; g Cirad, INRA, UMR 1062 CBGP CS30016, F-34988, Montferrier-sur-Lez, France; h Department of Zoology, Charles University, Vinicna 7, CZ-128 44, Praha 2, Czech Republic; i Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, 30 01601, Ukraine; j Natural Resources Canada, c/o Canadian National Collection of Insects, 960 Carling Ave, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada; k Department of Entomology, Texas AM l Department of Entomology, State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191, Stuttgart, Germany; m Bohart Museum of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; n Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK; o Staatliche Naturwissenschaftliche Sammlungen Bayerns, Zoologische Staatssammlung, M€ unchhausenstr. 21, 81247, Munich, Germany; p Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C6, Canada; q Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A1, Canada; r Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA, ARS, PSI, c/o National Museum of Natural History, Washington, DC, 20013, USA; s Abt. Wirbellose Tiere, Naturhistorisches Museum der Burgergemeinde Bern, Bernastrasse 15, 3005, Bern, Switzerland; t PO Box 2266, Waldport, OR, 97394, USA; u Natural History Department, Iziko South African Museum, PO Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa; v Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa; w Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA Accepted 19 September 2012 Abstract Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera) is extremely diverse with an estimated 500 000 species. We present the first phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily based on both morphological and molecular data. A web-based, systematics workbench mx was used to score 945 character states illustrated by 648 figures for 233 morphological characters for a total of 66 645 observations for 300 taxa. The matrix covers 22 chalcidoid families recognized herein and includes 268 genera within 78 of 83 subfamilies. Morphological data were analysed alone and in combination with molecular data from ribosomal 18S (2105 bp) and 28S D2–D5 expansion regions (1812 bp). Analyses were analysed alone and in combined datasets using implied-weights parsimony and likelihood. Proposed changes in higher classification resulting from the analyses include: (i) recognition of Eriaporidae, revised status; (ii) recognition of Cynipencyrtidae, revised status; (iii) recognition of Azotidae, revised status; (iv) inclusion of Sycophaginae in Agaonidae, revised sta- tus; (v) reclassification of Aphelinidae to include Aphelininae, Calesinae, Coccophaginae, Eretmocerinae and Eriaphytinae; (vi) inclusion of Cratominae and Panstenoninae within Pteromalinae (Pteromalidae), new synonymy; (vii) inclusion of Epichrysomalli- nae in Pteromalidae, revised status. At a higher level, Chalcidoidea was monophyletic, with Mymaridae the sister group of Rotoiti- dae plus the remaining Chalcidoidea. A eulophid lineage was recovered that included Aphelinidae, Azotidae, Eulophidae, Signiphoridae, Tetracampidae and Trichogrammatidae. Eucharitidae and Perilampidae were monophyletic if Eutrichosomatinae (Pteromalidae) was included, and Eupelmidae was monophyletic if Oodera (Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae) was included. Likelihood recovered a clade of Eupelmidae + (Tanaostigmatidae + (Cynipencyrtus + Encyrtidae). Support for other lineages and their impact on the classification of Chalcidoidea is discussed. Several life-history traits are mapped onto the new phylogeny. © The Willi Hennig Society 2013. © 2012 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Cladistics © The Willi Hennig Society 2013 Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

WOS: 000264951200004, Eight junior homonyms that were described by hymenopterologist Z. Boucek were found among the hymenopteran genus group names. Thus, the following replacement names are proposed as follows: In Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae; Neobabina nom. nov. for Babina Boucek, 1993 (nec Thompson, 1912), Austrobriania nom. nov. for Briania Boucek, 1988 (nec Chasen & Kloss, 1930), Noyesiella nom. nov. for Duartea Boucek, 1993 (nec Mendes, 1959), and Neocairnsia nom. nov. for Cairnsia Boucek, 1988 (nec Blackburn, 1895); in Pteromalidae: Ormocerinae; Boucekocerna nom. nov. for Cerna Boucek, 1988 (nec Klimaszewski, 1974) and Neoedgaria nom. nov. for Edgaria Boucek, 1988 (nec Klimaszewski, 1974); in Pteromalidae: Miscogasterinae; Neosusteraia nom. nov. for Susteraia Boucek, 1972 (nec Bechyne, 1950), and; in Agaonidae: Sycoryctinae; Hymenotenka nom. nov. for Tenka Boucek, 1988 (nec Barrande, 1881). Accordingly, new combinations are herein proposed for the species currently included in these genus group names, respectively: Neobabina gracilis (Boucek, 1993) comb. nov. from Babina gracilis Boucek, 1993; Austrobriania kukensis (Boucek, 1988) comb. nov. from Briania kukensis Boucek, 1988; Noyesiella daphne (Girault, 1917) comb. nov. from Duartea daphne (Girault, 1917); Neocairnsia stylifera (Boucek, 1988) comb. nov. from Cairnsia stylifera Boucek, 1988; Boucekocerna kohouti (Boucek, 1988) comb. nov. from Cerna kohouti Boucek, 1988; Neoedgaria blackburni (Girault, 1928) comb. nov. from Edgaria blackburni (Girault, 1928); Neosusteraia acerina (Boucek, 1972) comb. nov. from Susteraia acerina (Boucek, 1972) and Hymenotenka percaudata (Boucek, 1988) comb. nov. from Tenka percaudata Boucek, 1988.

A morphological phylogenetic analysis of the world genera of Diparinae (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) is provided, and the generic classification is revised. A hypothesized phylogeny is given based on 73 characters, primarily from adult females. The diparines are supported as monophyletic in all analyses based on 4–6 synapomorphies depending on their sister-group, including the presence of a cercal brush which is synapomorphic in all analyses. The cercal brush, in combination with the absence of a smooth, convex dorsellum, is diagnostic for Diparinae. Liepara Bou…ek (Pteromalidae: subfamily inquirenda) and Bohpa Darling (Pteromalidae: Ceinae) both appear as sister-group to Diparinae in different analyses. In the proposed classification scheme, Diparinae consists of 116 species in 14 genera. Nine genera are removed from Diparinae, two of which are placed in synonymy: Calolelaps Timberlake, Dinarmolaelaps Masi, Mesolelaps Ashmead, Neolelaps Ashmead, and Stictolelaps Timberlake are placed in Pteromalinae (Pteromalidae), while Seyrigina Risbec is placed in Eulophinae (Eulophidae); Diparisca Hedqvist is synonymized under Spalangiopelta Masi (Pteromalidae: Ceinae); Bekiliella Risbec is synonymized under Notanisus Walker (Pteromalidae: Cleonyminae); and Liepara Bou…ek and the tribe Lieparini Bou…ek are placed in Pteromalidae without a subfamily association. Fifteen new generic synonyms are proposed: Afrolelaps Hedqvist, Alloterra Kieffer and Marshall, Diparomorpha Hedqvist, Emersonia Girault, Grahamisia Delucchi, Parurios Girault, Pondia Hedqvist, Pseudipara Girault, Trimicrops Kieffer, and Uriolelaps Girault under Dipara Walker; Spalangiolelaps Girault under Lelaps Walker; Australolaelaps Girault under Neapterolelaps Girault; Dolichodipara Hedqvist under Myrmicolelaps Hedqvist; and Dipareta Bou…ek and Malinka Bou…ek under Pseudoceraphron Dodd. Three genera are described as new: Cerodipara, Dozodipara, and Chimaerolelaps. Fourteen new species are described: Cerodipara sabensis, Chimaerolelaps villosa, Conophorisca littoriticus, C. grisselli, Dozodipara insularis, Lelaps noortii, Myrmicolelaps iridius, M. aurantius, Neapterolelaps viridescens, N. mitteri, Nosodipara ferrana, Pseudoceraphron regieri, P. burwelli, and P. fijensis. A key to the genera of Diparinae is provided. The species of each genus are cataloged, and species-level keys are provided for most genera in which new species are described. New biological information shows that diparine host range is not restricted to Curculionidae as previously thought; one species of Myrmicolelaps was reared from mantid oothecae and a second from a tsetse fly puparium (Glossinidae: Glossina).

Based on recently collected Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), 13 species were identified from genera of Pteromalinae that are characterized in part by the female clava being distinctly acuminate or apically bearing a narrow spicula. Included are two species of Callitula Spinola, three species of Homoporus Thomson, seven species of Norbanus Walker, and one species of Rhaphitelus Walker. One new species, Norbanus rasplusi n. sp., is described and six species are newly recorded from Iran: Homoporus subniger (Walker), Norbanus calabrus (Masi), N. cerasiops (Masi), N. meridionalis (Masi), N. obscurus (Masi) and N. scabriculus (Nees).

Some neglected genera of Palearctic Eulophidae and Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea) are reviewed as part of ongoing preparation of keys to identification of world genera of these families. Some of these genera are represented by distinctive species which properly belong to larger genera, and some were described based on misinterpreted morphological characters. Bryopezus Erdos syn. nov. is synonymized under Deutereulophus Schulz, Danuviella Erdos syn. nov. under Diglyphus Walker, Cleolophus Mercet syn. nov. and Parpholema Szelenyi syn. nov. under Hemiptarsenus Westwood, Dubiostalon Szelenyi syn. nov. under Neotrichoporoides Girault, and Dudichilla Szelenyi syn. nov. under Syntomopus Walker. Deutereulophus brevipennis (Erdos) comb. nov., Diglyphus subplanus (Erdos) comb. nov., Hemiptarsenus autonomus (Mercet) comb. nov., Hemiptarsenus virescens (Storozheva) comb. nov., Neotrichoporoides inusitatus (Szelenyi) comb. nov., Mesopolobus fuscus (Szelenyi) comb. nov., Syntomopus crassicornis (Szelenyi) comb. nov. are new combinations resulting from these changes. Two species are transferred to their proper genera: the brachypterous species Necremnus collaris (Szelenyi) comb. nov. from Microlycus Thomson, and Mesopolobus fuscus (Szelenyi) comb. nov. from Tricolas Boucek. Neanica Erdos is discussed as a distinct and valid genus within Pteromalinae, with comparison to other genera. The replacement name Hemiptarsenus collapsus nom. nov. is chosen for Parpholema collaris Szelenyi, which becomes a junior homonym of Hemiptarsenus collaris (Ashmead). Reasons for taxonomic changes are discussed with reference to distinctive features shared with species in other genera. One newly discovered morphological feature is discussed, the prepectal bulge found in some Sphegigastrini (Pteromalidae). Photographs of type specimens are provided to facilitate future recognition of these species.

Results from a comparative anatomical study of the mesosomal skeleton of Chalcidoidea are presented. External and internal features are described and illustrated for 39 chalcidoid taxa, representing 16 families and 29 subfamilies. This is the most comprehensive morphological study ever conducted for the superfamily. The mesosoma was dissected, macerated and investigated using scanning electron microscopy. The mesothorax and metathorax contributed most of the phylogenetically relevant information. The metafurca is highly variable within Chalcidoidea but seems to be relatively constant at the subfamily level. One hundred and fifty-four morphological characters were scored and analysed cladistically. Outgroup species were chosen from six apocritan superfamilies: Stephanoidea, Ceraphronoidea, Cynipoidea, Platygastroidea, Proctotrupoidea and Mymarommatoidea. Some previously suggested chalcidoid relationships were retrieved: (1) Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae + Miscogasterinae + Panstenoninae; (2) Perilampidae + Eucharitidae; (3) Chalcididae + Leucospidae + Eurytomidae; (4) Eulophidae: Eulophinae + Tetrastichinae + Entedoninae; and (5) Eupelmidae + Encyrtidae. Mymarommatoidea renders Chalcidoidea paraphyletic in our analyses; however, the taxon sample is too restricted to provide a robust hypothesis. Three previously unreported putative autapomorphies of Chalcidoidea were revealed: (1) presence of an exposed, triangular or diamond-shaped prosternum; (2) presence of a percurrent mesopleural sulcus anteriorly terminating in the acropleuron; and (3) presence of paired metapectal plates lateral to the metafurca.

Two new species of Pteromalinae, and a new species of the torymid genus Pseuderimerus are described from Californian and Mexican material. Additional notes are provided concerning the identification of the genera involved. Chlorocytus analis is transferred from Pteromalus (Habrocy- tus) and redescribed, with discussion of the accuracy of its published host record. New taxa: Meximalus skinnerensis n. sp., Euteloida basalis n. sp., Pseuderimerus burgeri n. sp.

Dorcatomophaga (Nearctomophaga) jonesi n. subgen., n. sp. is described. Subgeneric characters are compared between the Nearctic and Palearctic forms. Representatives of the genus have not previously been recorded from North America.

The courtship of Meraporus graminicola Walker is described and compared with that of other Pteromalinae. The sequence of courtship movements is characteristic of each species, and in all species studied the male's mating attempt is made not during a sequence of courtship movements but at the end of the sequence. Then the male extends its mouthparts, an action common to all species, and if there is no contact with the female's antennae a mating attempt follows.

Arthrolytus (Anadolytus) oezbeki n. subgen., n, sp. is described from Western North America. Some biological aspects of the species are discussed.

In the evolutionary history of the Pteromalidae, the position of the courting male has moved from the rear (the area where copulation will take place) to the front (the area where an exchange of stimuli between partners may occur most efficiently). The shift of position is related to a number of other developments, one of which is the antennal receptivity signal by the female. The effect of this signal is that the male stops courting, leaves the frontal position by backing up on the female, and establishes a genital contact (VAN DEN ASSEM, 1974). In the present paper I have argued that, once a frontal position for courtship has been realised, and female receptivity can be perceived by the male at the front, a further reduction of the size of the male seems advantageous. Small males are found in many groups of Chalcidoidea including the Pteromalinae. In several species of this subfamily the size differences between the sexes are considerable. In a gregarious parasite, small males take a smaller share of the host which leaves more food for their sisters whose average reproductive success seems to be proportional to their longivity (which, within limits, is proportional to body size as adult). Small-sized males are likewise advantageous in solitary parasites: a small host (e.g. a young instar) may be insufficient as a food source for a female offspring, to complete its development, but sufficient for a male. A discriminative parasite will lay unfertilised eggs on small hosts and fertilised eggs on large hosts. In this way the number of hosts available in a certain area to a parasitising parent becomes greater and hence searching for hosts more successful. (It is true that a small instar will become larger with time, if left undisturbed, but a delay of egg-laying will certainly result in losses due to the competitive activity of other parasites, conspecifics or otherwise). Additional advantages of small males are the more rapid development, which ensures a timely presence where females come to emerge a little later. Further, a smaller body size had no effect on the duration of a courtship sequence required to induce receptivity in virgin females. The reduction of male body size also has negative effects: a limitation of the number of possible inseminations, a reduction of longivity, and an increased vulnerability to competing conspecific males (who may "steal" a copulation) are the most obvious ones. The advantages and disadvantages of size reduction were discussed. Courtship behaviour of Pteromalus venustus was described and two other species, Pteromalus puparum and Muscidifurax uniraptor were dealt with in detail because of their peculiarities. In P. puparum the antennal movements made by the receptive female no longer seem to serve a signal function (although they are completely identical to those of other Pteromalinae). I argued that this ineffectiveness is a secondary phenomenon, due to the peculiar behaviour of the male which may be an adaptation to oppose strong competition for females. In M. uniraptor males are extremely rare, and they no longer serve a reproductive function. Virgin females lay diploid eggs which produce female offspring exclusively. Morever, males (who may arise as progeny of females who were exposed to high temperatures during oviposition) appear to have retained a normal courtship. Conspecific females, however, were never seen to respond to it, but females of a related species (M. raptorellus) did signal receptivity when courted by uniraptor males. Fertilisation did not occur because uniraptor-mated raptorellus females produced only male offspring. A few courtship repertoires of Encyrtidae were described. To all appearances the evolution of courtship behaviour of Pteromalidae, Encyrtidae, and Eulophidae exhibits parallel developments.

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