Systematics, Phylogeny, and Evolution of Braconid Wasps: 30 Years of Progress.

The parasitoid wasp family Braconidae is likely the second-most species-rich family in the animal kingdom. Braconid wasps are widely distributed and often encountered. They constitute one of the principal groups of natural enemies of phytophagous insects, of which many are serious pest species. The enormous biological diversification of braconid wasps has led to many homoplasies, which contributed widely to instabilities in historical classifications. Recent studies using combinations of genetic markers or total mitochondrial genomes allow for better founded groupings and will ultimately lead to a stable classification. We present the current status of the phylogenetics of the Braconidae in a historical perspective and our understanding of the effects on higher classification.

Review of the Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) from the territory of the former Yugoslavia, with three newly reported species.

The results of more than 120 years of investigation of the fauna of Gasteruptiidae for the territory of former Yugoslavia (including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia) are summarized. Results from recently collected material and from unidentified specimens in collections are combined with those of published records. The total number of valid species of the genus Gasteruption Latreille for the area of former Yugoslavia is 22, which is more than in any country represented in Fauna Europaea database. One species is firstly recorded for the mainland Europe (G. syriacum Szépligeti), two more species are newly recorded for the investigated area and there are 23 first country-records for the involved countries (based on 17 species).

Four new species of the genus Xynobius Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae) from South Korea.

Four new species, Xynobiusazoniussp. nov., X.brevifemorasp. nov., X.duoferussp. nov., and X.stipitoidessp. nov., are described and illustrated, and one species X.geniculatus (Thomson, 1895) is newly reported from South Korea. Xynobiusgeniculatus (Thomson, 1895) is redescribed and illustrated, and a new combination, Xynobius (Stigmatopoea) cubitalis (Fischer, 1959), comb. nov. is suggested. An identification key to the Xynobius species known from South Korea is provided.

Revisionary notes on the genus Aulacocentrum Brues (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Macrocentrinae) from Vietnam.

This paper contains descriptions and illustrations of five new species of the genus Aulacocentrum Brues, 1922, from Vietnam, viz. Aulacocentrumassitum Long & Pham, sp. nov.; A.glabrum Long, sp. nov.; A.imparum Long & van Achterberg, sp. nov.; A.intermedium Long & van Achterberg, sp. nov.; and A.simulatum Long, sp. nov. Additionally, Aulacocentrumseticella van Achterberg & He is newly recorded for Vietnam's braconid fauna. A checklist and a key to the Oriental and East Palaearctic Aulacocentrum species is provided and the in-country distribution of the Vietnamese species is given.

Revision of the Oriental species of Apsilocera Boucek (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae), with description of twelve new species.

The Oriental species of Apsilocera Boucek, 1956 (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) are revised and the limits of the genus are reevaluated. Bulolosa Boucek, 1990 and Kratinka Boucek, 1988 are treated as synonyms of Apsilocera, syn. n. Bulolosa bidens Boucek and Kratinka brevis Boucek are transferred to Apsilocera as A. bidens (Boucek) and A. brevis (Boucek) comb. n., respectively. Twelve new species (all Mitroiu & van Achterberg) are described in Apsilocera: A. acuticristata sp. n., A. bicristata sp. n., A. cornuta sp. n., A. dentata sp. n., A. dupla sp. n., A. elongata sp. n., A. fulvipennis sp. n., A. longicornis sp. n., A. maculata sp. n., A. obtusicristata sp. n., A. palliclava sp. n., and A. tuberculata sp. n. An illustrated key to the females and males of Oriental species is provided.

Illustrated key to the European genera of Opiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), with the description of two new Palaearctic genera and two new species.

An illustrated key to the European genera of the subfamily Opiinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) is presented and two new genera are described and illustrated: Cavopiusgen. nov. (type species: Opius (Agnopius) daghoides Zaykov & Fischer, 1983) from West and East Palaearctic regions and Pseudosteresgen. nov. (type species: Biosteresadanaensis Fischer & Beyarslan, 2005) from West Palaearctic region. Two new species are described and illustrated: Cephaloplitesgijswijtisp. nov. from Greece and Cavopiusdepressoriussp. nov. from S. Korea. Opius (Hypocynodus) kilisanus Fischer & Beyarslan, 2005 is a new synonym of Cephaloplitesmocsaryi Szépligeti, 1897. The following new combinations are proposed: Cavopiusdaghestanicus (Telenga, 1950), comb. nov., C.daghoides (Zaykov & Fischer, 1983), comb. nov., Pseudosteresadanaensis (Fischer & Beyarslan, 2005), comb. nov., P.arenaceus (Jakimavicius, 1986), comb. nov., P.christenseni (Papp, 1982), comb. nov., P.pseudarenaceus (Fischer & Beyarslan, 2005), comb. nov., and P.riphaeus (Tobias, 1986), comb. nov. Keys to species are provided for Cavopiusgen. nov., Cephaloplites Szépligeti, 1897, and Pseudosteresgen. nov.

Review of the European Eumenes Latreille (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) using morphology and DNA barcodes, with an illustrated key to species.

The European species of the potter wasp genus Eumenes Latreille, 1802 (Vespidae, Eumeninae) are illustrated and a new illustrated key to the 13 recognised species is presented. Eumenesmediterraneusaemilianus Guiglia, 1951 is synonymised with E.papillarius (Christ, 1791) (syn. nov.), E.obscurus André, 1884 and E.andrei Dalla Torre, 1894 with E.pedunculatus (Panzer, 1799) (syn. nov.) and E.crimensis Blüthgen, 1938 with E.sareptanus André, 1884 (syn. nov.).

Dyscrituluseuropaeus sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Aphidiinae): description of a new aphid parasitoid species with an identification key for species of the genus.

The braconid genus Dyscritulus Hincks is a small member of the subfamily Aphidiinae, distributed in Europe and Central Asia. All its species are highly specialized parasitoids of aphids of the genera Drepanosiphum Koch and, probably, Periphyllus van der Hoeven which are mostly associated with maple and sycamore trees (genus Acer). Upon examination of specimens from the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Leiden, we unexpectedly noted unusual variability in morphological characters compared to other known Dyscritulus species. Further inspection of other material previously identified as Dyscritulusplaniceps Marshall, 1896 revealed additional specimens with the same morphological variability. Here we describe a new species of the genus, Dyscrituluseuropaeussp. nov., associated with Drepanosiphum aphids on Acer.

Two new Palaearctic species of Xynobius Foerster (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Opiinae).

Two new and very similar species of the genus Xynobius Foerster, 1863 are described and illustrated, X.subparallelus Han & van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Japan (Honshu) and X.setosiscutum van Achterberg, sp. nov. from Norway. Three species are newly reported from Norway: Xynobiusaciculatus (Thomson, 1895), X.comatus (Wesmael, 1835), and X.polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835). X.polyzonius (Wesmael, 1835) and X.sapporanus (Fischer, 1963) are new combinations. Identification keys to the Xynobius species known from Norway and Japan are added.

Review of the Indian species of the genus Eurymeros Bhat (Braconidae: Alysiinae) with some nomenclatural changes.

The genus Eurymeros Bhat (Braconidae, Alysiinae) is reviewed from India and three species E. gibbosa Sharma 1983, E. mangifera Sharma 1983, and E. namkumensis Sharma Naqvi 1993, are transferred to the genus Euscelinus Westwood 1882 (comb. nov.; Braconidae, Doryctinae) and synonymized with the type species (Euscelinus sarawacus Westwood 1882; syn. nov.). The type species and only known species E. tumespiraculum Bhat is redescribed.

Atree, a remarkable new genus of the subfamily Brachistinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and the first report of the tribe Diospilini from India.

The braconid tribe Diospilini (subfamily Brachistinae) is reported for the first time from India with the description of a new genus, Atree, along with the description of a new species A. rajathae from south India. The newly described genus belongs to the Aspigonus genus group showing the presence of a wide, deep sculptured groove on the propleuron. Based on morphological affinities, two species reported from Taiwan which were earlier included in the genus Diospilus have been transferred to the new genus, as A. improcerus (Chou Hsu, 1998) comb. nov. and A. validus (Chou Hsu, 1998) comb. nov. A key to the Indomalayan and Palaearctic genera of Diospilini is provided along with the key to the species of Atree gen. nov.

The Genus Schizoprymnus Förster, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China, with Descriptions of Seven New Species.

The species of the genus Schizoprymnus Förster, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Brachistinae) from China are revised. Seven new species, namely S. carinatus Yan and Chen, sp. nov., S. glabratus Yan and Chen, sp. nov., S. liui Yan and Chen, sp. nov., S. parvidentatus Yan and van Achterberg, sp. nov., S. punctiscutellaris Yan and Chen, sp. nov., S. septentrionalis Yan and Chen, sp. nov., and S. subspinosus Yan and Chen, sp. nov. are described and illustrated. In addition, S. telengai Tobias, 1976 is reported for the first time from China. An updated key to the Chinese species of the genus Schizoprymnus is included.

Two new species of the genera Leiophron Nees and Paroligoneurus Muesebeck (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from northern India.

Two new species of parasitoid wasps, Leiophron indefinita Gupta van Achterberg sp. nov. (Braconidae, Euphorinae) and Paroligoneurus indicus Gupta van Achterberg sp. nov. (Braconidae, Ichneutinae) are described and illustrated from northern India.

On the occurrence of a Palaearctic species of the genus Aphaereta Foerster (Braconidae, Alysiinae) and description of a new species of the genus Leiophron Nees (Braconidae, Euphorinae) from central India.

A new species of parasitoid wasp, Leiophron crassivena Gupta & van Achterberg sp. nov. (Braconidae, Euphorinae), is described and illustrated from central India along with first report of the Palaearctic species Aphaereta vondelparkensis van Achterberg et al. (Braconidae, Alysiinae) from India.

Mitochondrial Genomes Yield Insights into the Basal Lineages of Ichneumonid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).

We obtained four mitochondrial genomes of Odontocolon sp., Xorides funiuensis, Euceros kiushuensis and Euceros serricornis, which represent the first two representatives from subfamily Eucerotinae and Xoridinae (Ichneumonidae), respectively. All of the 4 newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes contain 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) and most 24 RNA genes. Furthermore, they all have novel tRNA rearrangement patterns comparing with published mitogenomes in Ichneumonidae. For the tRNA cluster trnI-trnQ-trnM, X. funiuensis is shuffled as trnM-trnI-trnQ with trnQ inversed, while Odontocolon sp. with a remote translocation of trnK, shuffling as trnI-trnM-trnQ. E. kiushuensis and E. serricornis shared the same cluster trnQ-trnY-trnW-trnC. Finally, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships among the sequenced subfamilies of Ichneumonidae based on nucleotides and amino acids sequences of 13 PCGs in mitochondrial genomes, and the results of both the maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses highly support that Eucerotinae is the basal ichneumonid lineage rather than Xoridinae.

Comparative Mitochondrial Genomics of 104 Darwin Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) and Its Implication for Phylogeny.

Ichneumonidae is one of the largest families of insects with a mega-diversity of specialized morphological and biological characteristics. We newly sequenced 92 mitochondrial genomes of ichneumonid wasps and found that they have a conserved base composition and a lower evolutionary rate than that of other families of parasitic Hymenoptera. There are 38 types of gene order in the ichneumonid mitochondrial genome, with 30 novel types identified in 104 ichneumonids. We also found that the rearrangement events occur more frequently in Ophioniformes than in Ichneumoniformes and Pimpliformes. Furthermore, the higher Ophioniformes and their relative lineages shared the transposition of trnL2 to trnI-trnQ-trnM tRNA cluster. We confirmed five higher-level groupings of Ichneumonidae: Brachycyrtiformes, Ichneumoniformes, Ophioniformes, Pimpliformes and Xoridiformes. Two formerly unplaced subfamilies, Eucerotinae and Microleptinae, were placed in Brachycyrtiformes and Ichneumoniformes, respectively. The results will improve our understanding of the diversity and evolution of Ichneumonidae.

A new genus Anamalysia van Achterberg (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae), six new species, and two new combinations from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A new genus of the tribe Alysiini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) is described with specimens from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, and six new species are described: Anamalysiaidiastimorpha sp. nov. (type species), A.knekosoma sp. nov., A.mellipes sp. nov., A.transversator sp. nov., A.vandervechti sp. nov., and A.vanhengstumi sp. nov.. We transfer one species from Coelalysia to Anamalysia: A.urbana (Papp, 1967) comb. nov. from Singapore and one species from Alysiasta to Anamalysia: A.triangulum (Fischer, 2006) comb. nov. from Malaysia, Laos, Indonesia and Vietnam. A key to the genus of Anamalysia is included.

A new species of the genus Separatatus Chen & Wu (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Alysiinae) from South Korea.

Separatatusmegagnathus sp. nov. is recorded as new to science from South Korea. Due to this record, the genus Separatatus Chen & Wu, 1994 (Braconidae: Alysiinae) is recognized for the first time from South Korea. The genus and species are described and illustrated herein plus an identification key including the Korean new species is provided. In addition, the DNA barcode region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) has been analyzed for the new species.

Phaenospila gen. nov. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae) and three new species from Thailand.

A new braconid genus belonging to the tribe Alysiini. Phaenospila van Achterberg & Yao, gen. nov. (type species: Phaenospila signator Yao, sp. nov.), is described. The genus is identified with morphological characters and a phylogenetic analysis of COI sequence data; GenBank accession numbers of fifty generated sequences from the three species are included. Three new species are described and illustrated, Phaenospila brevicarinata van Achterberg & Yao sp. nov., Phaenospila areolator Yao & van Achterberg sp. nov., Phaenospila signator Yao sp. nov. A key to the species of the genus Phaenospila is included.

The tribe Phanerotomini (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cheloninae) of the Arabian Peninsula, with special reference to the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

For the first time the tribe Phanerotomini (Braconidae, Cheloninae) of the Arabian Peninsula is revised, illustrated by colour photographs and keyed. It resulted in twenty-one new species (of which 20 species belong to the genus Phanerotoma and representing 75% of the reported species): Phanerotomella yemenitica sp. nov., Phanerotoma angusticrus sp. nov., P. artocornuta sp. nov., P. aspidiota sp. nov., P. brunneivena sp. nov., P. caudatoides sp. nov., P. glabritemporalis sp. nov., P. granulata sp. nov., P. ejuncida sp. nov., P. hellyeri sp. nov., P. latifemorata sp. nov., P. lepta sp. nov., P. longivena sp. nov., P. mesocellata sp. nov., P. microdonta sp. nov., P. micrommata sp. nov., P. sculptilis sp. nov., P. signifera sp. nov., P. spuriserrata sp. nov., P. stenochora sp. nov., and P. vanharteni sp. nov. Reported as new for United Arab Emirates and Yemen are Phanerotoma graciloides van Achterberg, 1990, P. masiana Fahringer, 1934, and P. leucobasis Kriechbaumer, 1894 (the latter also for Saudi Arabia), for United Arab Emirates P. ocularis Kohl, 1906, and P. robusta Zettel, 1988, and for Yemen P. bilinea Lyle, 1924, P. flavivena Edmardash & Gadallah, 2019, and P. permixtellae Fischer, 1968. Phanerotoma caboverdensis Hedqvist, 1965, syn. nov. is synonymised with P. leucobasis Kriechbaumer, 1894.