The First Cretaceous Epyrine Wasp (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae): A New Genus and Species from Early Cenomanian Kachin Amber.

The Epyrinae are the second largest subfamily of Bethylidae and the most diverse in the fossil record. However, although six of the nine bethylid subfamilies are known during the Cretaceous (either as compression or amber fossils), the Epyrinae were hitherto unknown before the lower Eocene. In this contribution, we report the discovery of the oldest member of this group, based on a female specimen from the early Cenomanian amber of Kachin, Myanmar. We describe and illustrate a new genus and species, Hukawngepyris setosus gen. et sp. nov. The new genus is compared with the other epyrine genera and characterized by a unique combination of characters not known in the subfamily. Hukawngepyris setosus gen. et sp. nov. is especially unique in the configuration of the forewing venation, with a complete 2r-rs&Rs vein, curved towards the anterior wing margin, and the presence of three proximal and three distal hamuli. The key to the genera of Epyrinae is accommodated to include the newly erected genus.

DNA Barcoding Unveils New Species of the Sexually Dimorphic Genus Anteon Jurine (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from China.

Species of Anteon Jurine, 1807 are a large group of parasitoids attacking leafhoppers, which are important insect pests. Despite their great potential in pest biological control, the taxonomy and biology of these parasitoids are far from clear. Sexual dimorphism is extreme in Anteon species and has hampered the taxonomy of these parasitoids, resulting in many species described based on a single sex. In this paper, we employed an integrated taxonomic approach for delimitating species, combining morphological examinations with DNA barcoding, to investigate Anteon species from China. In total, 53 COI sequences representing 29 species of Anteon were obtained and analyzed. On the basis of both morphology and DNA barcoding, five new species of Anteon were discovered and described: A. clariclypeum sp. nov., A. maguanense sp. nov., A. parafidum sp. nov., A. shaanxianum sp. nov., and A. shandonganum sp. nov. The neotype of A. claricolle Kieffer is designated. The sexual association of six species was confirmed by DNA barcoding, which led to the synonymy of Anteon liui Xu, Olmi & He 2010, new syn., under Anteon meifenganum Olmi, 1991. Keys to species of Anteon from the Oriental and Eastern Palaearctic are updated to contain the five new species. Our study demonstrates that DNA barcoding is a potent tool for tackling the taxonomic challenges in parasitoids with extreme sexual dimorphism.

The genus Odontepyris/ Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China.

Ten new species of Odontepyris Kieffer from China are described and illustrated: O. angustus sp. nov., O. ecarinatus sp. nov., O. eminens sp. nov., O. flavipedis sp. nov., O. hirtus sp. nov., O. latifrontalis sp. nov., O. occiputalis sp. nov., O. xiaoi sp. nov., O. xui sp. nov., and O. yunnanensis sp. nov.. A key to the known Chinese species is provided.

Morphology of sting apparatus of Chrysidoidea (Hymenoptera, Aculeata).

The main synapomorphy for Aculeata is the sting apparatus, which allows the female to envenom potential prey or hosts. The sting is the modified ovipositor which is not used for laying eggs anymore. Here, we explore the morphology of the sting apparatus within the families of Chrysidoidea. 27 skeletal structures were recognized, including three (dp1vf, dorsal projection of first valvifer; ppa, projection of posterior area of the second valvifer; vl9, ventral lap of tergite 9) that have not been observed previously, and 13 pairs of muscles, including four (superior dorsal T9-2vf (M5); inferior dorsal T9-2vf (M6); postero-lateral T9-2vf/mbr (M9); anterolateral 2vf/bl-2vv/fu (M11)) that have not been observed previously. Very conserved morphological patterns were observed; character support in the sting apparatus was found at the subfamily level, and within three families at the genus level. In addition, we describe the variation within the sting apparatus structures and musculature, propose evolutionary hypotheses about the function and evolution of the structures, and summarize phylogenetic conclusions for Chrysidoidea.

Anteon hubeni a new species from Ecuador (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae).

BACKGROUND: Anteon is a speciose genus widespread in all zoogeographical regions, except Antarctica. NEW INFORMATION: A new species, Anteon hubeni sp. n., is described below from Ecuador, Pichincha Province. The new species is similar to Anteon oliveirai Olmi, known from Brazil, Minas Gerais. The main difference between these two species concerns the sculpture of the frons: in A. oliveirai, the frons shows two lateral keels around the orbits directed towards the antennal toruli, whereas in A. hubeni, these keels are not present. The key to the Neotropical species of Anteon is modified to include the new species.

First Bocchus Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) from Upper Eocene Rovno amber: B. schmalhauseni sp. nov.

A new species of pincer wasps, Bocchus schmalhauseni sp. nov. (Dryinidae) is described from Rovno amber (Ukraine). The amber piece was collected in the Vladimirets District in the north-west of the Rovno region. Taking into account this new record, a total of five species of Dryinidae are registered from Rovno amber. A key to the fossil species of Bocchus Ashmead is presented. The possible reasons for the different distribution of Dryinus species on both coasts of Subparathetys are discussed.

Taxonomy of Iranian Gonatopodinae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae), with description of a new species.

Gonatopodinae (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea, Dryinidae) of Iran, were taxonomically reviewed. A recent sampling in South-Eastern Iran has led to the identification of eight species belonging to three different genera, Echthrodelphax Perkins (one species), Gonatopus Ljungh (six species), and Haplogonatopus Perkins (one species). A new species, Gonatopus opsiicida Rakhshani Olmi sp. nov. is described and Illustrated. It was found  in association with leafhoppers on Tamarix stricta Boiss., in Hamoon international wetlands (Sistan, Iran). Two species, E. tauricus Ponomarenko and G. lunatus Klug, are recorded for the first time from Iran A description was also provided for the previously recorded species. The key for identification and distribution maps are also provided for the known species of Gonatopodinae in Iran.

Discovery of a new Nearctic species of Bocchus (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae).

Bocchus pratti sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae: Bocchinae) is described from California, USA. The key to the males of the Nearctic species of the genus Bocchus Ashmead, is modified to include the new species.

Application of DNA barcoding confirms the host of Gonatopus viet Olmi, 1986 (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae).

Gonatopus viet Olmi, 1986 was originally described from Vietnam based on a single female. No further distribution records or hosts have been documented since its original discovery. In the present study, this species is newly recorded from China and its host is confirmed as Stirellus capitatus (Distant, 1918) using DNA barcoding techniques. The utility of DNA barcoding to discover host-Dryinidae associations is discussed.

Revision of the world Apenesia Westwood (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae).

The world species of Apenesia are revised. Twenty-seven previously described species of Pristocerinae are addressed to Apenesia: A. amoena Evans, A. bicolor Vargas Terayama, A. chontalica Westwood, A. conradti Kieffer, A. delicata Evans, A. dominica Evans, A. flavipes Cameron, A. formosa Vargas Terayama, A. laevigata (Evans), A. levis Kieffer, A. leytensis (Terayama), A. makiharai (Sawada, Terayama Mita), A. malaitensis Brues, A. miki (Terayama), A. modesta (Smith), A. nigra Kieffer, A. parasitica (Smith), A. perlonga Corrêa Azevedo, A. proxima Kieffer, A. punctata Kieffer, A. sahyadrica Azevedo Waichert, A. singularis Lanes Azevedo, A. sjostedti (Tullgren), A. substriata Kieffer, A. unicolor Kieffer, and A. vaurieorum Evans. Additionally, 21 new species are described and illustrated: Apenesia amenula sp. nov.; A. aniela sp. nov.; A. azeda sp. nov.; A. beliella sp. nov.; A. berela sp. nov.; A. bifiela sp. nov.; A. celiela sp. nov.; A. chandela sp. nov.; A. cila sp. nov.; A. colombela sp. nov.; A. elela sp. nov.; A. esila sp. nov.; A. eura sp. nov.; A. farela sp. nov.; A. gabela sp. nov.; A. girena sp. nov.; A. goela sp. nov.; A. itoiela sp. nov.; A. joela sp. nov.; A. juliela sp. nov. and A. kelsiela sp. nov. The sexual association of A. celiela and A. azeda was possible due to biological data information. A key to species based on males is presented. The genus Apenesia is a parasitiod of beetles that live in galleries in dead wood or seeds.

Discovery of a new species of Embolemus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Embolemidae) from New Caledonia.

Embolemus villemantae sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Embolemidae) is described from New Caledonia. The key to the males of the Australasian species of Embolemus is modified to include the new species.

Biodiversity of the aculeate wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) of the Arabian Peninsula: Overview.

The current knowledge of the distribution and diversity of extant aculeate wasps (Aculeata excluding ants and bees) in the Arabian Peninsula (and Socotra) is reviewed. The number of species (1096 of which about 28% are apparently endemic) represents about 3% of the world fauna, with Crabronidae the most diverse family (about 35% of Arabian species). Most species (46%) are Afrotropical, 37% are Palaearctic, and 17% are Indo-Malayan (Oriental).

Discovery of the transantarctic distribution of the genus Metanteon Olmi (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae), with description of a new species from New Caledonia.

Metanteon poirieri sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae: Anteoninae) is described from New Caledonia. The genus Metanteon Olmi, 1984, was known only from the southern region of Argentina and Chile. The unique species attributed previously to this genus is M. aerias (Walker, 1839), collected in Chile by Charles Darwin during his famous trip on the HMS Beagle. M. aerias is associated only with leafhoppers feeding on Southern Beeches (Nothofagus spp.), a genus of Nothofagaceae including species of trees and shrubs native to the southern Hemisphere in southern South America (Argentina, Chile) and Australasia (east and southeast Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and New Caledonia). Like Nothofagus, Metanteon is a transantarctic organism.

An updated checklist of the extant Western Palaearctic Dryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae).

A checklist of 20 extant species of Dryininae (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from the Western Palaearctic subregion is presented.

A new species of the genus Dryinus Latreille (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from the USA.

A new species of Dryinus Latreille, 1804, is described from Georgia (USA). D. georgianus sp. nov. is morphologically similar to D. mexicanus (Perkins, 1907) and D. splendidus Guglielmino and Olmi, 2013, but is distinguished by the lateral ocelli not touching the occipital carina (in the other two species, the lateral ocelli touch the occipital carina). The key to the females of the Nearctic species of Dryinus group 1 is modified to include the new taxon.

Gonatopusjaliscanus sp. n., a new Pincer wasp from Jalisco, Mexico (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae).

A new species of Gonatopus Ljungh, 1810, G.jaliscanus sp. n., from Jalisco, Mexico, is described and illustrated. In the Neotropical region, G.jaliscanus is similar to G.forestalis Olmi, 1998, but it is distinguished by the black mesosoma (except prothorax, mesoscutum, and mesoscutellum that are yellow), and the metapostnotum being granulated and not rugose; in G.forestalis the mesosoma is completely black and the metapostnotum is granulated and strongly rugose. In the Nearctic region, the new species is morphologically similar to G.curriei Krombein, 1962, but it is distinguished by the dull and granulated metapostonotum; in G.curriei the metapostnotum is shiny and unsculptured. The new species belongs to Gonatopus group 7. The keys to the females of the Nearctic and Neotropical species of this group are modified to include the new taxon.

Global guide of the flat wasps (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae).

The flat wasp family Bethylidae Haliday lacks global scale literature on their alpha taxonomy. The only world revision for the family was by Kieffer in 1914 and is fully out of date and somewhat useless; the only catalog for the family was made by Gordh Móczár in 1990 and does not include hundreds of changes made since then; and the most recent world genera keys were proposed by Terayama in 2003, but do not reflect the current knowledge we have for the family. Given this scenario, we present a global guide of Bethylidae with diagnoses, taxonomic evaluation, keys, and a checklist of all their extant genera and subfamilies. We visited the main collections around the world, analyzed about 2,000 holotypes, and examined at least 400,000 specimens. To eliminate homonymies, we add the prefix "neo" to the original specific epithet when possible. The family is now composed by 2,920 species allocated in 96 genera distributed in eight subfamilies: Bethylinae, Pristocerinae, Epyrinae, Mesitiinae, Scleroderminae, Lancepyrinae, Holopsenellinae and Protopristocerinae. The latter three are extinct. One new family-group synonym is proposed: Fushunochrysidae Hong syn. nov. of Bethylidae. Two incertae sedis genera are allocated into Bethylinae: Cretobethylellus Rasnytsyn and Omaloderus Walker. One new genus-group synonym is revalidated: Pristepyris Kieffer stat. rev. from Acrepyris Kieffer. Sixteen new genus-group synonyms are proposed: Fushunochrysites Hong syn. nov. and Sinibethylus Hong syn. nov. of Eupsenella Westwood; Messoria Meunier syn. nov. of Goniozus Förster; Acrepyris Kieffer syn. nov. of Pristepyris Kieffer; Apristocera Kieffer syn. nov. and Parapristocera Brues syn. nov. of Pristocera Klug; Usakosia Kieffer syn. nov. of Prosapenesia Kieffer; Isobrachium Förster syn. nov., Leptepyris Kieffer syn. nov., Neodisepyris Kurian syn. nov., Rhabdepyris Kieffer syn. nov. of Epyris Westwood; Codorcas Nagy syn. nov., Hamusmus Argaman syn. nov. and Ukayakos Argaman syn. nov. of Heterocoelia Dahlbom; Domonkos Argaman syn. nov. of Incertosulcus Móczár; Ateleopterus Förster syn. nov. of Sclerodermus Latreille. One new genus-group synonym is revalidated: Topcobius Nagy syn. rev. of Sulcomesitius Móczár. One new genus-group revalidation is proposed: Incertosulcus Móczár stat. rev. from Anaylax Móczár. The following species-group nomenclatural acts are established: 153 new or revalidated combinations, 16 new names to avoid secondary homonyms, 11 species with revalidated status, and one synonym. Keys to the subfamilies and genera are provided. The text is supported by 599 illustrations organized onto 92 plates.

Discovery of the first pincer wasp (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from Rovno amber.

Dryinidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) are recorded for the first time from Rovno amber (Ukraine), following the discovery of one female of Dryinus janzeni Olmi. Holotypes of D. balticus (Olmi) and D. bruesi (Olmi) previously assigned to the Baltic amber, were actually collected on the coast of Denmark, so that they have to be recorded as specimens in Scandinavian (Danish) amber. As a result, true records of Dryinus species of group 3 (Olmi 1993) in Baltic amber are three: D. janzeni, D. bruesi, because of a second specimen found in true Baltic amber, and D. velteni Olmi. Dryinidae are the 33th hymenopteran family known from Rovno amber. Three species, D. janzeni, D. bruesi and D. balticus are known from understudied Rovno and Scandinavian amber originated from the warmer south coast of the Subparathetys. Dryinus janzeni is the 115th hymenopteran species known from Rovno amber and the first Dryinus record from Ukraine.

A new species of the genus Gonatopus Ljungh from the USA (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae).

A new species of Gonatopus Ljungh, 1810 is described from the USA, Florida: G. jackisp. n. Morphologically, the new species is similar to G. ashmeadi Kieffer, 1905 and G. agropyrus Fenton, 1921, but it is distinguished by the different shape of the mesoscutum (very slender in G. jacki; broader in G. ashmeadi and G. agropyrus). Published identification keys to the Nearctic species of Gonatopus are modified to include the new species.

Discovery of the first species of Dryinus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) from Burmese amber.

Dryinus maderai sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Dryinidae) is described from Upper Cretaceous Lower Cenomanian, Burmese amber (Myanmar). It is the first species of Dryinus Latreille found in this amber.