Abstract
A rare fairyfly (Hymenoptera, Mymaridae) genus, Ganomymar De Santis, 1972, is revised and rediagnosed based on both sexes; its males were previously unknown. This genus, which has remarkable structures on the propodeum and peculiar fore wings in females, is known only from Madagascar in the Afrotropical region. Its type species, Ganomymar dessarti De Santis, 1972, is redescribed and illustrated based on a non-type female specimen. Three new species of Ganomymar are described: G. caslot sp. nov., G. libertatium sp. nov., and G. zuparkoi sp. nov. The species are placed in two distinct species groups. A key to females of the four species is provided.
Highlights
The fauna of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), commonly known as fairyflies, of Madagascar is interesting and diverse
The peculiar fore wings of females of species of Ganomymar, some of which are at least somewhat reduced (Figs 7C, 9A) or having characteristic numerous round ‘cells’ beyond venation (Figs 3A, 9A, 14E), possibly have something to do with the habitats of their unknown hosts that may lay eggs in leaf litter in montane and other reinforests in Madagascar
Squeezing through leaf litter and wood debris while searching for host eggs with large, normal wings could lead to their damage in females
Summary
The fauna of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), commonly known as fairyflies, of Madagascar is interesting and diverse. Most of them are still undescribed, but one, a rare genus Ganomymar De Santis, 1972, was previously known from a single female specimen, the holotype of its type species Ganomymar dessarti De Santis, 1972. Ganomymar appears to be quite rare: despite the more recent collection of thousands of fairyfly specimens from Madagascar, only a few were found among the 95% ethanol-preserved samples of Mymaridae sorted to family by Robert L. I identified one female G. dessarti and three previously unknown species, which are described. Two of these new species are represented by both sexes; the previously unknown males of Ganomymar are described and illustrated, displaying a remarkable sexual dimorphism in one of them. A key to females of the four species is given
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