A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelininae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa

Abstract

The genera of Aphelininae (Aphelinidae) are reviewed on a worldwide basis. Identification keys and a phylogenetic hypothesis are presented for 16 genera, of which four are new (Mashimaron.g., Neophytisn.g., Punkaphytisn.g., Saengellan.g.) and Paraphytis is resurrected. Newly described species are Mashimaro hawksin.sp., Mashimaro lasallein.sp., Neophytis myartsevaen.sp., Neophytis munroin.sp., Punkaphytis erwinin.sp. and Punkaphytis hayatin.sp. New combinations from Aphytis include Neophytis melanosticus (Compere) and N. dealbatus (Compere), and Paraphytis acutaspidis (Rosen & DeBach), P. angusta (Compere), P. anomala (Compere), P. argenticorpa (Rosen & DeBach), P. australiensis (DeBach & Rosen), P. benassyi (Fabres), P. breviclavata (Huang), P. capillata (Howard), P. ciliata (Dodd), P. cochereaui (DeBach & Rosen), P. costalimai (Gomes), P. densiciliata (Huang), P. fabresi (DeBach & Rosen), P. haywardi (De Santis), P. hyalinipennis (Rosen & DeBach), P. maculatipennis (Dozier), P. maculata (Shafee), P. mandalayensis Rosen & DeBach, P. nigripes (Compere), P. noumeaensis (Howard), P. obscura (DeBach & Rosen), P. peculiaris (Girault), P. perplexa (Rosen & DeBach), P. transversa (Huang), P. vittata (Compere) (revived status) and P. wallumbillae (Girault). A parsimony analysis of 50 morphological characters for 54 species in 21 genera, including four outgroups (Coccophagus, Eunotiscus, Euryishomyia and Eriaphytis), resulted in three equally parsimonious trees supporting monophyly of all genera except Neophytis. Neophytis was paraphyletic to a monophyletic Aphytini but is monophyletic in unpublished molecular analyses. Three tribes are recognised (Aphelinini, Aphytini and Eutrichosomellini). The questionable inclusion of Eretmocerus (Eretmocerini) within Aphelininae is discussed.