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As insect decline threatens the fauna of Central Europe, “dark taxa” present an obstacle to understanding biodiversity loss. The superfamily Platygastroidea is a dark taxon, with many superficial descriptions requiring examination of type material to characterize and revise species and genera. The Natural History Museum Vienna (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien) is arguably the most important historical collection of Platygastroidea in Central Europe. Type specimens from 85 species in 21 genera and three families are here catalogued and photographically illustrated, including previously undocumented types described by Förster, Kieffer, Nees von Esenbeck, and Ratzeburg. Lectotypes are designated for Anteris bicolor Kieffer, Anteris simulans Kieffer, Hadronotus laticeps Kieffer, Leptacis foersteri Kieffer, Plastogryon investis Kieffer, Plastogryon sagax Kieffer, Prophanurus mayri Kieffer, and Telenomus laeviceps Förster. Trissolcus schimitsheki (Szelényi) syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of Trissolcus scutellaris (Thomson) and Telenomus nomas Förster syn. nov. is treated as a junior synonym of Trissolcus semistriatus (Nees). Baeus maculatus (Förster) comb. nov. is transferred from Telenomus. Historical, taxonomic, and curatorial remarks are included, providing an essential foundation for revisionary work on the Platygastroidea of Central Europe and beyond.
The number of currently described species of Afrotropical parasitoid wasps does not reflect the true species diversity. One of the most severely understudied parasitoid wasp groups is Ceraphronoidea. In this first study on Afrotropical mainland Ceraphronoidea in more than 20 years, which is also the first ever taxonomic monograph focusing on Ceraphronidae, we describe 88 new species of Ceraphronidae (85 new species) and Megaspilidae (3 new species) from Kakamega Forest (Kenya), Mt. Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Ivindo NP (Gabon): Aphanogmus abaluhya sp. nov., A. ashitakai sp. nov., A. idakho sp. nov., A. ikhongamurwi sp. nov., A. isiukhu sp. nov., A. kakamegaensis sp. nov., A. lateritorum sp. nov., A. mangimelii sp. nov., A. mariae sp. nov., A. mashariki sp. nov., A. nehbergi sp. nov., A. njia sp. nov., A. vestrii sp. nov., A. yala sp. nov. (all clavicornis species group), A. dimidiatus sp. nov., A. fraterculus sp. nov., A. guenteri sp. nov., A. kakakili sp. nov., A. kisiwa sp. nov., A. maua sp. nov., A. morriconei sp. nov., A. ndefu sp. nov., A. ngai sp. nov., A. nikii sp. nov., A. pilosicoxa sp. nov., A. rafikii sp. nov., A. robustus sp. nov., A. simbai sp. nov., A. taji sp. nov., A. ukanda sp. nov. (all fumipennis species group), A. campanula sp. nov., A. kikuyu sp. nov., A. pagoda sp. nov. (all tenuicornis species group), Ceraphron banda sp. nov., C. brashi sp. nov., C. breviharpis sp. nov., C. breviscapus sp. nov., C. buyangu sp. nov., C. chemositi sp. nov., C. cingulum sp. nov., C. clavatumeris sp. nov., C. digiti sp. nov., C. eaerendili sp. nov., C. ekero sp. nov., C. ellae sp. nov., C. eulbergi sp. nov., C. herreni sp. nov., C. hitagarciai sp. nov., C. insolitus sp. nov., C. isecheno sp. nov., C. isukha sp. nov., C. ivindoensis sp. nov., C. kaharabu sp. nov., C. kaimosiensis sp. nov., C. kakamegaensis sp. nov., C. kidole sp. nov., C. kimathii sp. nov., C. lirhanda sp. nov., C. longiharpis sp. nov., C. longisetae sp. nov., C. longumerunus sp. nov., C. maathaiae sp. nov., C. malava sp. nov., C. mamamutere sp. nov., C. metapleuralis sp. nov., C. mikoi sp. nov., C. mwekaensis sp. nov., C. nandi sp. nov., C. nzoia sp. nov., C. onesimusi sp. nov., C. pilosiharpis sp. nov., C. pleurosulcus sp. nov., C. reinholdi sp. nov., C. salazar sp. nov., C. sataoi sp. nov., C. semira sp. nov., C. sungura sp. nov., C. tenuimeris sp. nov., C. tiriki sp. nov., C. trietschae sp. nov., Cyoceraphron dhahabudorsalis sp. nov., C. harpe sp. nov., C. invisibilis sp. nov., C. kahawia sp. nov., C. njano sp. nov. (all Ceraphronidae), Conostigmus kijiko sp. nov., C. koleo sp. nov., and Dendrocerus wachagga sp. nov. (all Megaspilidae). In addition, we describe four species of Aphanogmus and five species of Ceraphron without formal naming. A neotype is designated for Dendrocerus anneckei Dessart, 1985 (Megaspilidae). With these new species we more than double the number described from the Afrotropical mainland (65 vs 153). The species numbers found allow us to estimate the real worldwide species number of Ceraphronoidea as being roughly 12 000–21 000, i.e., 16–29 times the number of the currently described species (~730, including the species described herein). This study is meant to highlight that it is necessary and also possible to study the parasitoid wasps of tropical regions and provide momentum for exploring the diversity of small and diverse insect groups in the Afrotropics and elsewhere while also providing the basic knowledge that is much needed for protecting biodiversity and understanding evolution and the networks of life on earth. All described species are diagnosed and illustrated, with focus on the male genitalia. Furthermore, we provide an identification key to males of Afrotropical Ceraphronidae.
Taxonomic history and review of the Förster genera of Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea)
(2023)
Platygastridae is a ʻdark taxonʼ, with many genera and species in dire need of professional attention. The taxonomic impediment is especially severe in the Palearctic Platygastrinae due to the abundance of names with vague concepts. Historical descriptions and their associated type material must be examined and clarified before further revisionary work can occur. Arnold Förster described 18 genera of Platygastridae, most of which represent distinct and recognizable lineages. The present study reviews their taxonomic history, providing diagnostic remarks, English translations, and illustrations of important specimens from the Förster collection in the Natural History Museum Vienna. The collection also includes original exemplar specimens of European species whose types have been lost. Neotypes and lectotypes are designated from this material to improve nomenclatural stability in the group. Neotypes are designated for Amblyaspis forticornis (Nees, 1834), Isocybus grandis (Nees, 1834), Platygaster striolata Nees, 1834, and Trichacis tristis (Nees, 1834). Lectotypes are designated for Leptacis spinigera (Nees, 1834) comb. nov. and for Platygaster corvina Förster, 1861, with Platygaster henkvlugi Buhl, 1996 treated as a junior synonym. Platygaster mutica Nees, 1834 stat. rev., nomen dubium, is transferred from Synopeas.
Platystasius transversus (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) is a rarely collected egg parasitoid of Leptura aurulenta Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Four female specimens were found in Germany, a new country record for the genus and species. Illustrations, DNA barcodes, and an updated distribution are provided. We review its taxonomic history, biology, and ecological associations.
The majority of Ceraphronoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera) species were described in the late 1800s and early 1900s, with most of these early descriptions relying on text alone. Few type specimens have been illustrated and even fewer have been photographed, posing a challenge to taxonomists working on the group today. Here, we attempt to remove the barriers obstructing Ceraphronoidea research by creating a photographic catalog of the type specimens present at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (MNHN) in Paris, France. We discuss the history of the ceraphronoid specimens present in the collection and provide comments on unpublished species notes from former Ceraphronoidea taxonomist Paul Dessart. We synonymize Ceraphron myrmecophilus Kieffer, 1913 syn. nov. with Aphanogmus abdominalis (Thomson, 1858) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) based on the male genitalia morphology, body shape and presence of foveae on the median length of the mesoscutellum. We also report the discovery of the missing male holotype of Ceraphron testaceus (Risbec, 1953) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae) and several potential types of Aphangomus aphidi (Risbec, 1955) (Hymenoptera: Ceraphronidae).
Nanium Townes, 1967 is a small New World parasitoid wasp genus in the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae Förster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae). Previously, it comprised five species: one from North America and four from Costa Rica. The current study reviews the Neotropical species of the genus, and includes descriptions of two new species, N. medianum Reshchikov & Sääksjärvi sp. nov. from Ecuador and N. atitlanensis Reshchikov & Sääksjärvi sp. nov. from Guatemala. A key to the species is provided.
The genus Rhinotorus Förster, 1869 is revised. Thirteen species are recognized including 3 species that are new to science (R. jussilai sp. nov., R. campester sp. nov., R. tarsilatus sp. nov.). Saotis brachycerus (Kasparyan & Kopelke, 2009) comb. nov. is considered to be a member of the genus Saotis. Rhinotorus similis (Brischke, 1892) is tentatively recorded from Austria and Sweden for the first time. A number of new host records are also provided: Cladius pectinicornis (Geoffroy, 1785) for R. leucostomus (Gravenhorst, 1829), Nematus lucidus (Panzer, 1801) for R. nasutus (Gravenhorst, 1829) and N. papillosus (Retzius, 1783) for R. jussilai sp. nov.
The New World Clistopyga chaconi species group is revised. Eleven species are described as new: C. amazonica sp. nov., C. cinnamoptera sp. nov., C. cuscoensis sp. nov., C. hayesiana sp. nov., C. melanoptera sp. nov., C. misionensis sp. nov., C. mocaguae sp. nov., C. orellanae sp. nov., C. porteri sp. nov., C. rondoniae sp. nov. and C. yabuquensis sp. nov. Additional morphological data are provided for the previously known species, C. caramba Castillo & Sääksjärvi and C. chaconi Gauld. An illustrated identification key to all species of the group is provided. The Clistopyga chaconi species group appears to be most diverse at the Andean and Amazonian interface in western South America.