Abstract
The Afrotropical Cynipoidea are represented by 306 described species and 54 genera in four families: Cynipidae, Figitidae, Liopteridae and Ibaliidae, the latter represented by a single introduced species. Seven of these genera are only represented by undescribed species in the region. Seven new genus-level synonymies, one genus resurrected from synonymy, 54 new combinations, one combination reinstated, and one new replacement name are presented. We provide identification keys to the families, subfamilies and genera of cynipoid wasps occurring in the Afrotropical region (Africa south of the Sahara, including Madagascar and southern Arabian Peninsula). Online interactive Lucid Phoenix and Lucid matrix keys are available at: http://www.waspweb.org/Cynipoidea/Keys/index.htm. An overview of the biology and checklists of species for each genus are provided. This paper constitutes the first contributory chapter to the book on Afrotropical Hymenoptera.
Highlights
Introduction e AfrotropicalCynipoidea are taxonomically and biologically poorly known, a situation typical for wasp taxa from this region. e lack of knowledge in cynipoid systematics is exempli ed by the recent revisions that have increased the number of described species (Pycnostigminae: Bu ngton and van Noort 2007; Anacharoides: Bu ngton and van Noort 2009; Stentorceps: Nielsen and Bu ngton 2011) as well as the description of a new genus (Bu ngton 2012)
Hyper-diverse insect groups provide a challenge for identi cation, from regions where they are poorly studied and where knowledge of generic and species diversity is wanting
Years of frustrated scrabbling through scattered historical literature to nd poorly illustrated and out of date keys to identify Afrotropical Hymenoptera led to the formulation of the Afrotropical Hymenoptera Initiative (AHI) to address this hiatus. is project will provide a sorely needed synthesised resource to enable the identi cation of Afrotropical Hymenoptera to generic level, with a summary of described species and biology and introduction to the relevant literature
Summary
Character states diagnostic of each taxon were discerned from material in extensive recent collections of African Hymenoptera housed at the Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town; California Academy of Arts and Science, San Francisco; National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution), Washington DC, and Natural History Museum, London. This subfamily is represented by two genera, Kie eriella and Paramblynotus, with the latter genus occurring in the Afrotropical region (Ronquist 1995a, Liu et al 2007, van Noort and Bu ngton 2012). Group shares the sculptural arrangement of the vertex (large ocelli with three distinct carina extending to or between the toruli) with the two aforementioned Oriental species groups, but the lack of an occipital carina in combination with an absence of a pronotal crest or tooth (uniquely the posterior pronotal margin is represented by a swollen rim), reduced sculpture on the mesoscutum and a unique scutellar foveal character state separate it from these two groups.
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