New genera of Afrotropical Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera: Cerocephalidae, Epichrysomallidae, Pirenidae and Pteromalidae).

As a preliminary step towards the development of a key to genera of several families of Afrotropical Chalcidoidea, seven new genera in four families are described: Cerocephalidae-Milokoa Mitroiu, gen. nov. (type species: Milokoa villemantae Mitroiu, sp. nov.); Epichrysomallidae-Delvareus Rasplus, Mitroiu & van Noort, gen. nov. (type species: Delvareus dicranostylae Rasplus, Mitroiu & van Noort, sp. nov.); Pirenidae-Afrothopus Mitroiu, gen. nov. (type species: Afrothopus georgei Mitroiu, sp. nov.); Pteromalidae-Kerangania Mitroiu, gen. nov. (type species: Kerangania nuda Mitroiu, sp. nov.), Pilosalis Mitroiu, Rasplus & van Noort, gen. nov. (type species: Pilosalis barbatulus Mitroiu, sp. nov.), Scrobesia Mitroiu & Rasplus, gen. nov. (type species: Scrobesia acutigaster Mitroiu & Rasplus, sp. nov.), and Spiniclava Mitroiu & Rasplus, gen. nov. (type species: Spiniclava baaiensis Mitroiu & Rasplus, sp. nov.). Additionally, the following new species are described: Pilosalis bouceki Mitroiu & Rasplus, sp. nov., Pilosalis eurys Mitroiu & van Noort, sp. nov., Pilosalis minutus Mitroiu, sp. nov., Pilosalis platyscapus Mitroiu, Rasplus & van Noort, sp. nov., Scrobesia pondo Mitroiu, sp. nov., and Spiniclava setosa Mitroiu, sp. nov. All taxa are illustrated and the relationships with similar taxa are discussed. For each non-monotypic genus a key to species is provided.

The Chalcidoidea bush of life: evolutionary history of a massive radiation of minute wasps.

Chalcidoidea are mostly parasitoid wasps that include as many as 500 000 estimated species. Capturing phylogenetic signal from such a massive radiation can be daunting. Chalcidoidea is an excellent example of a hyperdiverse group that has remained recalcitrant to phylogenetic resolution. We combined 1007 exons obtained with Anchored Hybrid Enrichment with 1048 ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) for 433 taxa including all extant families, >95% of all subfamilies, and 356 genera chosen to represent the vast diversity of the superfamily. Going back and forth between the molecular results and our collective knowledge of morphology and biology, we detected bias in the analyses that was driven by the saturation of nucleotide data. Our final results are based on a concatenated analysis of the least saturated exons and UCE datasets (2054 loci, 284 106 sites). Our analyses support an expected sister relationship with Mymarommatoidea. Seven previously recognized families were not monophyletic, so support for a new classification is discussed. Natural history in some cases would appear to be more informative than morphology, as illustrated by the elucidation of a clade of plant gall associates and a clade of taxa with planidial first-instar larvae. The phylogeny suggests a transition from smaller soft-bodied wasps to larger and more heavily sclerotized wasps, with egg parasitism as potentially ancestral for the entire superfamily. Deep divergences in Chalcidoidea coincide with an increase in insect families in the fossil record, and an early shift to phytophagy corresponds with the beginning of the "Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution". Our dating analyses suggest a middle Jurassic origin of 174 Ma (167.3-180.5 Ma) and a crown age of 162.2 Ma (153.9-169.8 Ma) for Chalcidoidea. During the Cretaceous, Chalcidoidea may have undergone a rapid radiation in southern Gondwana with subsequent dispersals to the Northern Hemisphere. This scenario is discussed with regard to knowledge about the host taxa of chalcid wasps, their fossil record and Earth's palaeogeographic history.

Out of the desert: Paleoclimatic changes drove the diversification of arid-adapted Ocymyrmex ants in southern Africa.

A highly endemic ant fauna is found in the arid regions of southern Africa, including species in the genus Ocymyrmex. This genus of ants has higher species richness in the western arid regions of southern Africa compared to tropical and subtropical parts of the continent. The processes that have produced these patterns of diversity and distribution of arid adapted ants in southern Africa have never been investigated. The diversification of many other taxa in the region has been associated with past climate fluctuations that occurred during the Miocene epoch. In this study, the nature and timing of historical processes that may have led to the diversification within Ocymyrmex were assessed. We hypothesized that past climate oscillations, characterized by long periods of aridification, have driven the current distribution of Ocymyrmex species that resulted in the highest species richness of the genus in the Deserts & xeric shrublands biome in southern Africa. Ninety-four Ocymyrmex worker specimens from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, representing 21 currently described species and six morphospecies, were included in a phylogenomic analysis. Phylogenies for the genus, based on next generation sequencing data from ultraconserved elements, were inferred using Maximum Likelihood, and a dating analysis was performed using secondary age estimates as calibration points. A distribution database of Ocymyrmex records was used to assign species ranges, which were then coded according to major biomes in southern Africa and used as input for biogeographical analysis. We explored the phylogenomic relationships of Ocymyrmex and analysed these within a biogeographical and paleoclimatic framework to disentangle the potential processes responsible for diversification in this group. Dating analyses estimated that the crown age of Ocymyrmex dates to the Oligocene, around 32 Ma. Diversification within this group occurred between the mid-Miocene (∼12.5 Ma) and Pleistocene (∼2 Ma). Our biogeographic analyses suggest that Ocymyrmex species originated in the south-western region of southern Africa, which is now part of the Deserts & xeric shrublands biome and diversified into eastern subtropical areas during the Pliocene. Paleoclimatic changes resulting in increased aridity during the Miocene likely drove the diversification of the genus Ocymyrmex. It is most likely that the diversification of grasslands, because of historical climate change, facilitated the diversification of these ants to the eastern parts of southern Africa when open grasslands replaced forests during the early Miocene.

A taxonomic revision of the Old World genus Dichoteleas Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Scelionidae).

The genus Dichoteleas Kieffer (Scelionidae: Scelioninae) is known only from the Old World: Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa, Madagascar, southern India, the island of New Guinea, and eastern Australia. After revision, 10 species are recognized. Four species were previously recognized and are redescribed: D.ambositrae Risbec (Madagascar), D.indicus Saraswat (India: Kerala), D.rugosus Kieffer (Australia: Queensland), and D.subcoeruleus Dodd (Australia: Queensland). Six species are described as new: D.fulgidussp. nov. (Indonesia: Papua Barat), D.fuscussp. nov. (Papua New Guinea, Australia: Queensland), D.hamatussp. nov. (Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa)., D.rubyaesp. nov. (Madagascar), D.striatussp. nov. (Madagascar), and D.umbrasp. nov. (Tanzania). Dichoteleaspappi Szabó is treated as a junior synonym of D.rugosus. An identification key to species of the genus is provided.

Now you see me, now you don't: verifying the absence of alien invasive yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes in South Africa.

Anoplolepis gracilipes is an invasive species that is a major threat to native ecosystems worldwide. It has been listed as one of the top 100 worst invasive species in the world and is well known for its negative impact on native arthropods and some vertebrates. This study aimed to confirm the presence or absence of A. gracilipes in some major South African harbours. We did so by surveying four harbours in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, using pitfall trapping, yellow pan traps, and baiting. In addition, ant collections from Iziko Museums of South Africa (Cape Town, South Africa), University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg campus, South Africa), Iimbovane Outreach Project (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), and AfriBugs CC (Pretoria, South Africa) were examined for specimens of A. gracilipes. The invasive species A. gracilipes was not detected from any of the sampled harbours during this study, nor in the main ant collections in South Africa. The only, and potentially erroneous published record of A. gracilipes in South Africa, is from Durban harbour and subsequent possibly erroneous citizen science observations are from other coastal sites such as Gansbaai, Knysna, Table Bay, and Kalk Bay. This is a positive outcome for conservation authorities as this species is highly invasive and, if introduced, will likely outcompete native fauna and result in ecosystem collapse. Although A. gracilipes was not detected in the samples from this study, early detection and eradication of this species should be prioritised. This can be achieved through existing pest monitoring programs at harbours, and continued border biosecurity measures.

Revision of the endemic African genus Dinapsis (Dinapsini, Megalyridae, Hymenoptera) with description of seven new species.

The endemic Afrotropical genus Dinapsis is revised, and seven new species are described and illustrated: D.bicolor van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.gamka van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.igneus van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.spinitibia van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.taita van Noort & Shaw, sp. nov., D.tricolor Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov., D.zulu Shaw & van Noort, sp. nov. The distribution of the Central African Republican species D.centralis Shaw & van Noort, 2009 is extended to include Cameroon, Kenya and Uganda. Dinapsisturneri Waterston, 1922, previously only known from the poorly preserved holotype female, is redescribed based on newly collected specimens. The distribution of this Western Cape species is extended to include the Eastern and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa. Four distinct species groups within the genus are proposed and diagnosed. An illustrated identification key to all described species of Dinapsis is provided. Online interactive Lucid keys to Afrotropical megalyrid genera and Dinapsis species are available at http://www.waspweb.org.

Species Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Olive Lace Bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae) Found in South Africa.

Olive lace bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae) are small sap-sucking insects that feed on wild and cultivated Olea europaea. The diversity of olive lace bug species in South Africa, the most important olive producer on the continent, has been incompletely surveyed. Adult specimens were collected in the Western Cape province for morphological and DNA-based species identification, and sequencing of complete mitogenomes. Cysteochila lineata, Plerochila australis, Neoplerochila paliatseasi and Neoplerochila sp. were found at 12 sites. Intra- and interspecific genetic divergences and phylogenetic clustering in 30 species in 18 genera of Tingidae using new and publicly available DNA barcodes showed high levels of congruity between taxonomic and genetic data. The phylogenetic position of the four species found in South Africa was inferred using new and available mitogenomes of Tingidae. Notably, olive lace bugs formed a cluster of closely related species. However, Cysteochila was non-monophyletic as C. lineata was recovered as a sister species to P. australis whereas Cysteochila chiniana, the other representative of the genus, was grouped with Trachypeplus jacobsoni and Tingis cardui in a different cluster. This result suggests that feeding on O. europaea may have a common origin in Tingidae and warrants future research on potential evolutionary adaptations of olive lace bugs to this plant host.

Ultra-Conserved Elements and morphology reciprocally illuminate conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses in Chalcididae (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea).

Recent technical advances combined with novel computational approaches have promised the acceleration of our understanding of the tree of life. However, when it comes to hyperdiverse and poorly known groups of invertebrates, studies are still scarce. As published phylogenies will be rarely challenged by future taxonomists, careful attention must be paid to potential analytical bias. We present the first molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the family Chalcididae, a group of parasitoid wasps, with a representative sampling (144 ingroups and seven outgroups) that covers all described subfamilies and tribes, and 82% of the known genera. Analyses of 538 Ultra-Conserved Elements (UCEs) with supermatrix (RAxML and IQTREE) and gene tree reconciliation approaches (ASTRAL, ASTRID) resulted in highly supported topologies in overall agreement with morphology but reveal conflicting topologies for some of the deepest nodes. To resolve these conflicts, we explored the phylogenetic tree space with clustering and gene genealogy interrogation methods, analyzed marker and taxon properties that could bias inferences and performed a thorough morphological analysis (130 characters encoded for 40 taxa representative of the diversity). This joint analysis reveals that UCEs enable attainment of resolution between ancestry and convergent/divergent evolution when morphology is not informative enough, but also shows that a systematic exploration of bias with different analytical methods and a careful analysis of morphological features is required to prevent publication of artifactual results. We highlight a GC content bias for maximum-likelihood approaches, an artifactual mid-point rooting of the ASTRAL tree and a deleterious effect of high percentage of missing data (>85% missing UCEs) on gene tree reconciliation methods. Based on the results we propose a new classification of the family into eight subfamilies and ten tribes that lay the foundation for future studies on the evolutionary history of Chalcididae.

Revision of the endemic Afrotropical genus Tetractenion (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with an identification key to genera of Banchinae for the region.

The Afrotropical banchine fauna comprises 12 genera: Apophua Morley, Atropha Kriechbaumer, Cryptopimpla Taschenberg, Exetastes Gravenhorst, Glyptopimpla Morley, Himertosoma Schmiedeknecht, Lissonota Gravenhorst, Sjostedtiella Szépligeti, Spilopimpla Cameron, Syzeuctus Förster, Tetractenion Seyrig, and Tossinola Viktorov. A well-illustrated revised key to the genera using high definition images is provided, and the endemic Afrotropical genus Tetractenion is revised, previously represented by two described species. Four new species are described: T.ibayaensis sp. nov., T.pascali sp. nov., T.pseudolutea sp. nov., and T.rosei sp. nov. The first species-level identification key is provided for this rare genus. Based on morphological attributes the hypothesis is presented that the species in this genus are probably nocturnal. All images and online interactive Lucid keys are available at: www.waspweb.org and the associated underlying data is made available as Suppl. materials 1, 2 LIF3 files to this paper for inter-exchange with other key production software.

Review of Afrotropical Glenosema Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) with description of 13 new species.

The Afrotropical species of Glenosema are reviewed. Seventeen species are recognized, four previously described species, G. niloticum (Kieffer), G. durum Barbosa, Kawada Azevedo, G. denteatum Lanes Azevedo and G. elevatum Lanes Azevedo, and thirteen species described and illustrated as new: G. qaqambile sp. nov., G. deki sp. nov., G. ebazileyo sp. nov., G. tyaba sp. nov., G. umphanda sp. nov., G. banzi sp. nov., G. bubanzi sp. nov., G. ahlukileyo sp. nov., G. icephe sp. nov., G. mxinwa sp. nov., G. lingana sp. nov., G. uphahla sp. nov. and G. tyheli sp. nov. A key to the Afrotropical species is presented. We highlight potential character suites that may be phylogenetically significant and consider evolutionary scenarios that may have led to the present distribution pattern associated with semi-arid areas on the African continent.

Dryinidae of the Afrotropical region (Hymenoptera, Chrysidoidea).

An updated revision of Afrotropical Dryinidae is presented. Nine subfamilies, 23 genera and 430 species (including 60 new species) are treated. Six new species-level synonymies and three new combinations are proposed. Descriptions, geographic distribution, known hosts, natural enemies and type material of each species are presented, together with illustrations of the main morphological characters and keys to the subfamilies, genera and species. A complete list of references concerning the Afrotropical Dryinidae and their hosts is provided. The following new species are described: Anteon ambrense, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon beankanum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon elongatum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon hoekense, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon mabibiense, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon majunganum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon malagasy, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon musmani, sp. nov. (Kenya), Anteon nigropictum, sp. nov. (South Africa), Anteon nimbense, sp. nov. (Guinea), Anteon pseudohova, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon sakalavense, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Anteon tulearense, sp. nov. (Kenya, Madagascar), Aphelopus sequeirai, sp. nov. (Kenya), Apoaphelopus fisheri, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Apoaphelopus wallacei, sp. nov. (Kenya), Bocchus forestalis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus granulatus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Bocchus harinhalai, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus nigroflavus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus parkeri, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Bocchus ruvidus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Conganteon hawleyi, sp. nov. (Kenya), Conganteon sensitivum, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Crovettia afra, sp. nov. (Kenya, Madagascar), Deinodryinus ambrensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Deinodryinus granulatus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Deinodryinus nigropictus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Deinodryinus piceus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus bellicosus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus dentatiforceps, sp. nov. (South Africa), Dryinus erenianus, sp. nov. (Ivory Coast), Dryinus milleri, sp. nov. (Kenya), Dryinus mobotensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus nigrithorax, sp. nov. (Ivory Coast), Dryinus teres, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus tulearensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Dryinus whittleorum, sp. nov. (Kenya), Gonatopus avontuurensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus bellicosus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus comorensis, sp. nov. (Union of the Comoros), Gonatopus costalis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus flavotestaceus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus gumovskyi, sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gonatopus hantamensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus harinhalai, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus karooensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus koebergensis, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus marojejyanus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus minutus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus nigropictus, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus ranomafanensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Gonatopus robertsoni, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus rugithorax, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus scholtzi, sp. nov. (South Africa), Gonatopus wikstrandae, sp. nov. (Kenya), Lonchodryinus madagascolus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Madecadryinus ranomafanensis, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Neodryinus bimaculatus, sp. nov. (Madagascar), Neodryinus keleboensis, sp. nov. (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The ♀ of Deinodryinus danielssoni Olmi, 1998, is described for the first time. The following new synonymies are presented: Anteon fiorii Olmi, 1984 (=A. proteicolum Olmi, 2006, syn. nov.); Anteon madagascolum (Benoit, 1954) (=Anteon brooksi Olmi, 2003, syn. nov.); Anteon zairense Benoit, 1951 (=A. terminale Olmi, 2007, syn. nov.); Aphelopus incisus Olmi, 1984 (=A. himyarita Olmi van Harten, 2006, syn. nov.); Bocchus watshami Olmi, 1987 (=Bocchus simoni Olmi, 2005, syn. nov.); Dryinus ugandanus Olmi, 1984 (=Dryinus constantiae Olmi, 2006, syn. nov.). The following new combinations are presented: Dryinus luweli (Benoit, 1951) new comb. in place of Lestodryinus luweli Benoit, 1951; Gonatopus africanus (Benoit, 1951) new comb. in place of Aphelopus africanus Benoit, 1951; Gonatopus ghanensis (Olmi, 1987) new comb. in place of Pseudogonatopus ghanensis Olmi, 1987. Gynander specimens of Deinodryinus rusticus Olmi, 2004 and Deinodryinus steineri Olmi, 1994 are described (first gynander specimens of Dryinidae from the Afrotropical region). The authors provide well-illustrated identification keys to all species of Afrotropical Dryinidae. Online Lucid Phoenix and Lucid matrix interactive keys are provided at http://www.waspweb.org.

Extensive sampling and thorough taxonomic assessment of Afrotropical Rhyssinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) reveals two new species and demonstrates the limitations of previous sampling efforts.

Tropical forest invertebrates, such as the parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, are poorly known. This work reports some of the first results of an extensive survey implemented in Kibale National Park, Uganda. A total of 456 individuals was caught of the subfamily Rhyssinae Morley, 1913, which in the Afrotropical region was previously known from only 30 specimens. Here, the six species found at the site are described and the Afrotropical Rhyssinae are reviewed. Two new species, Epirhyssa johanna Hopkins, sp. nov. and E. quagga sp. nov., are described and a key, diagnostic characters, and descriptions for all 13 known Afrotropical species are provided, including the first description of the male of Epirhyssa overlaeti Seyrig, 1937. Epirhyssa gavinbroadi Rousse & van Noort, 2014, syn. nov. is proposed to be a synonym of E. uelensis Benoit, 1951. Extensive sampling with Malaise traps gave an unprecedented sample size, and the method is recommended for other poorly known tropical areas.

Barcoding of parasitoid wasps (Braconidae and Chalcidoidea) associated with wild and cultivated olives in the Western Cape of South Africa 1.

Wild and cultivated olives harbor and share a diversity of insects, some of which are considered agricultural pests, such as the olive fruit fly. The assemblage of olive-associated parasitoids and seed wasps is rich and specialized in sub-Saharan Africa, with native species possibly coevolving with their hosts. Although historical entomological surveys reported on the diversity of olive wasp species in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, no comprehensive study has been performed in the region in the molecular era. In this study, a dual approach combining morphological and DNA-based methods was used for the identification of adult specimens reared from olive fruits. Four species of Braconidae and six species of Chalcidoidea were identified, and DNA barcoding methodologies were used to investigate conspecificity among individuals, based on randomly selected representative specimens. Morphological identifications were congruent with DNA data, as NJ and ML trees correctly placed the sequences for each species either at the genus or species level, depending on the available taxa coverage, and genetic distances strongly supported conspecificity. No clear evidence of cryptic diversity was found. Overall seed infestation and parasitism rates were higher in wild olives compared to cultivated olives, and highest for Eupelmus spermophilus and Utetes africanus. These results can be used for early DNA-based detection of wasp larvae in olives and to further investigate the biology and ecology of these species.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Bactrocera biguttula (Bezzi) (Diptera: Tephritidae) and phylogenetic relationships with other Dacini.

Bactrocera biguttula is an African olive fruit fly that does not attack cultivated olives but rather develops in the fruits of wild species of Olea and Noronhia. The complete mitochondrial genome of an individual specimen was characterized in comparison to other Bactrocera. The phylogenetic relationships of B. biguttula with other Dacini were investigated, with special focus on B. oleae, an agricultural pest known to attack cultivated and wild olives. The sequence had a total length of 15,829 bp, and included the typical features of insect mitogenomes, similarly to the other Bactrocera analysed. Start codons included ATG, ATC, ATT, and TCG (in COI). The majority of stop codons (TAA) were fully encoded, whereas in some cases only TA or T were present. The complete sequence was biased towards A + T, with a positive AT-skew and a negative GC-skew. The predicted cloverleaf structure of tRNASer1 showed absence of the DHU arm, a common feature in insects and other Metazoans. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that B. biguttula and B. oleae are sister species, having diverged from a common ancestor < 10 Myr ago. This result warrants future genomic comparisons between these two closely related species for investigating the specific adaptations to the different hosts.

Revision of the Polynemadikobraz species-group with description of a remarkable new species from South Africa (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Mymaridae).

A new Afrotropical species of Polynema Haliday, 1833 (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), Polynema (Polynema) sagittaria van Noort & Triapitsyn, sp. n., is described and illustrated based on specimens collected in the Cape Floral region in south-western South Africa. This species is morphologically closely related to the recently described Polynema (Polynema) dikobraz Triapitsyn, 2017 from Madagascar, both species possessing enlarged spine-like microtrichia on the fore wing disc that are unique among all the known world fairyflies. This new species belongs to the informal dikobraz species-group of the nominate subgenus of Polynema, which previously was only known from Madagascar. In addition, P.sagittaria has the ovipositor extending ventrally under the mesosoma to well in front of the head, in a bow-like curve, and housed in a narrow, anterior elongation of the metasoma, the basal sac. Occurrence and possible significance of such a bizarre ovipositor in other Mymaridae is discussed. All images and online keys are available on www.waspweb.org.

Transcriptome sequence-based phylogeny of chalcidoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) reveals a history of rapid radiations, convergence, and evolutionary success.

Chalcidoidea are a megadiverse group of mostly parasitoid wasps of major ecological and economical importance that are omnipresent in almost all extant terrestrial habitats. The timing and pattern of chalcidoid diversification is so far poorly understood and has left many important questions on the evolutionary history of Chalcidoidea unanswered. In this study, we infer the early divergence events within Chalcidoidea and address the question of whether or not ancestral chalcidoids were small egg parasitoids. We also trace the evolution of some key traits: jumping ability, development of enlarged hind femora, and associations with figs. Our phylogenetic inference is based on the analysis of 3,239 single-copy genes across 48 chalcidoid wasps and outgroups representatives. We applied an innovative a posteriori evaluation approach to molecular clock-dating based on nine carefully validated fossils, resulting in the first molecular clock-based estimation of deep Chalcidoidea divergence times. Our results suggest a late Jurassic origin of Chalcidoidea, with a first divergence of morphologically and biologically distinct groups in the early to mid Cretaceous, between 129 and 81 million years ago (mya). Diversification of most extant lineages happened rapidly after the Cretaceous in the early Paleogene, between 75 and 53 mya. The inferred Chalcidoidea tree suggests a transition from ancestral minute egg parasitoids to larger-bodied parasitoids of other host stages during the early history of chalcidoid evolution. The ability to jump evolved independently at least three times, namely in Eupelmidae, Encyrtidae, and Tanaostigmatidae. Furthermore, the large-bodied strongly sclerotized species with enlarged hind femora in Chalcididae and Leucospidae are not closely related. Finally, the close association of some chalcidoid wasps with figs, either as pollinators, or as inquilines/gallers or as parasitoids, likely evolved at least twice independently: in the Eocene, giving rise to fig pollinators, and in the Oligocene or Miocene, resulting in non-pollinating fig-wasps, including gallers and parasitoids. The origins of very speciose lineages (e.g., Mymaridae, Eulophidae, Pteromalinae) are evenly spread across the period of chalcidoid evolution from early Cretaceous to the late Eocene. Several shifts in biology and morphology (e.g., in host exploitation, body shape and size, life history), each followed by rapid radiations, have likely enabled the evolutionary success of Chalcidoidea.

Review of the genus Genaemirum Heinrich (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae) with interactive identification keys to species.

We describe Genaemirum phagocossorum Rousse, Broad & van Noort, sp. n., a new ichneumonine parasitoid wasp reared from Eucalyptus nitens logs infested by the cossid moth Coryphodema tristis, which is considered a major pest of forestry and food crops in South Africa. This is the first plausible host association for the genus, and fits with the host association predictions of Heinrich. Two further undescribed species were found in the collections of the Natural History Museum in London and are described as Genaemirum phacochoerus Broad, Rousse & van Noort, sp. n. and Genaemirum fumosum Broad, Rousse & van Noort, sp. n. An identification key to the eight known species and a diagnosis for each species are provided, including photographs of all the primary type specimens. Online Lucid interactive identification keys are available at: http://www.waspweb.org.

Contribution to the knowledge of Afrotropical Dryinidae, Embolemidae and Sclerogibbidae (Hymenoptera), with description of new species from Central African Republic and Uganda.

An updated checklist of Dryinidae, Embolemidae and Sclerogibbidae from Central African Republic and Uganda is presented. The following new species of Dryinidae are described: from Central African Republic: Anteon dzanganum sp. n. (Anteoninae); from Uganda: Anteon granulatum sp. n., Anteon kibalense sp. n., Anteon makererense sp. n., Anteon mubfs sp. n. (Anteoninae); Bocchus kibalensis sp. n. (Bocchinae); Dryinus kibalus sp. n. (Dryininae); Gonatopus kanyawarus sp. n. (Gonatopodinae). The following species have been recorded for the first time from Central African Republic: Embolemidae: Ampulicomorpha madecassa Olmi, 1999a; Embolemus capensis Olmi, 1997; Dryinidae: Aphelopus mediocarinatus (Benoit, 1951d), Aphelopus testaceus Olmi, 1991, Aphelopus wittei Benoit, 1951c (Aphelopinae); Anteon cautum Olmi, 1994a, Anteon evertsi Olmi, 1989, Anteon gutturnium (Benoit, 1951b), Anteon inflatrix Benoit, 1951b, Anteon kivuanum (Benoit, 1951c), Anteon semajanna Olmi, Copeland & Guglielmino, 2015, Anteon zairense Benoit, 1951d (Anteoninae); Pseudodryinus townesi (Olmi, 1984) (Dryininae); Echthrodelphax tauricus Ponomarenko, 1970, Gonatopus camerounensis Olmi, 2011, Gonatopus kolyadai Olmi, 2007b, Neodryinus antiquus Benoit, 1954, Neodryinus tussaci Olmi, 2004b (Gonatopodinae); Sclerogibbidae: Probethylus callani Richards, 1939b; Sclerogibba algerica Benoit, 1963, Sclerogibba rapax Olmi, 2005a. The following species have been recorded for the first time from Uganda: Embolemidae: Ampulicomorpha magna Olmi, 1996; Dryinidae: Anteon cautum Olmi, 1994a, Anteon fisheri Olmi, 2003, Anteon hoyoi Olmi, 1984, Anteon kivuanum (Benoit, 1951c), Anteon townesi Olmi, 1984, Anteon zairense Benoit, 1951d (Anteoninae); Bocchus bini Olmi, 1984 (Bocchinae); Dryinus saussurei (Ceballos, 1936) (Dryininae); Echthrodelphax migratorius Benoit, 1954, Neodryinus tussaci Olmi, 2004b (Gonatopodinae). The following further species has been recorded for the first time from Mali: Sclerogibba algerica Benoit, 1963 (Sclerogibbidae); from Ivory Coast: Adryinus oweni Olmi, 1984 (Gonatopodinae); from Cameroon and South Africa: Gonatopus operosus Olmi, 1993 (Gonatopodinae); from Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia: Neodryinus antiquus Benoit, 1954 (Gonatopodinae); from South Africa: Anteon striatum Olmi, 2005b (Anteoninae). Including the above new records, 23 species of Dryinidae (previously six), two species of Embolemidae (previously none) and three species of Sclerogibbidae (previously two) are now known from Central African Republic. For Uganda, 39 species of Dryinidae (previously 23), one species of Embolemidae (previously none) and four species of Sclerogibbidae (previously four) are now known. Additional new faunistic records are provided for Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Mali, South Africa and Zambia.

Review of Afrotropical Cryptopimpla Taschenberg (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Banchinae), with description of nine new species.

The Afrotropical banchine fauna (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) comprises 12 genera. One of these, Cryptopimpla Taschenberg, 1863, is a predominately northern hemisphere genus represented by 47 described species of which only one is known from the Afrotropical region. We describe nine new species of this rare Afrotropical genus: Cryptopimpla elongatussp. n., Cryptopimpla fernkloofensissp. n., Cryptopimpla gocisp. n., Cryptopimpla hantamisp. n., Cryptopimpla kogelbergensissp. n., Cryptopimpla neilisp. n., Cryptopimpla onyxisp. n., Cryptopimpla parslactissp. n., and Cryptopimpla zwartisp. n. All the Afrotropical species are only known from South Africa. Online interactive Lucid keys to the nine Cryptopimpla species are available at: http://www.waspweb.org.

New distribution records for the rare genus Afrotremex Pasteels (Siricidae: Hymenoptera) and provision of interactive Lucid identification keys to species.

BACKGROUND: Afrotremex Pasteels, 1951 is a rare genus of wasps endemic to the Afrotropical region, containing 6 species represented by 14 specimens. Specimens were previously only recorded from central Africa: Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Uganda. NEW INFORMATION: Here we record two additional specimens housed in the Natural History Museum in London (BMNH), one of which is a male of A. xylophagus Goulet, 2014 collected in Ghana (previously Gold Coast). This record extends the known distribution of the genus into west Africa, and represents the second known male specimen for the genus. The other BMNH specimen is a female paratype of A. violaceus Pasteels, 1951 collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We provide high quality photographs of these additional two specimens. Images of all six known species are openly available online on WaspWeb. In addition we have developed interactive online Lucid Matrix and Lucid Phoenix identification keys to the species, which are openly available on WaspWeb at: http://www.waspweb.org/Siricoidea/Siricidae/Keys/index.htm.