A revised terminology for male genitalia in Hymenoptera (Insecta), with a special emphasis on Ichneumonoidea.

Applying consistent terminology for morphological traits across different taxa is a highly pertinent task in the study of morphology and evolution. Different terminologies for the same traits can generate bias in phylogeny and prevent correct homology assessments. This situation is exacerbated in the male genitalia of Hymenoptera, and specifically in Ichneumonoidea, in which the terminology is not standardized and has not been fully aligned with the rest of Hymenoptera. In the current contribution, we review the terms used to describe the skeletal features of the male genitalia in Hymenoptera, and provide a list of authors associated with previously used terminology. We propose a unified terminology for the male genitalia that can be utilized across the order and a list of recommended terms. Further, we review and discuss the genital musculature for the superfamily Ichneumonoidea based on previous literature and novel observations and align the terms used for muscles across the literature.

Eriogynapyretorum (Lepidoptera, Saturniidae) parasitoid species investigated in Fujian, China.

Eriogynapyretorum Westwood is a notorious defoliator of Camphoraofficinarum Nees that causes large economic and ecological losses in planted forests. To understand the importance of suppressing the population of E.pyretorum on natural parasitoids, a four-years investigation was conducted in the field. Four egg parasitoid species Ooencyrtuskuvanae Howard, Trichogrammachionis Ishii, Telenomus sp. and Anastatusdexingensis Sheng & Wang were captured in the wild. One of these is the dominant endoparasitoid species T.chionis, which has a quicker developmental time (8.33 d), more offspring (8.39/egg) and a greater parasitism rate (89.54%). With different elevation distributions, the parasitism rates for Kriechbaumerellalongiscutellaris Qian & He, Gregopimplahimalayensis (Cameron), Theroniadepressa (Gupta) and Xanthopimplakonowi (Krieger) were 17.29%, 2.10%, 4.23% and 0.83%, respectively. Female longevity (47.75 d), offspring (13.36/pupa) and sex ratio (1.16:1) were compared in four pupal parasitoids and K.longiscutellaris was the most abundant species of E.pyretorum in Fujian Province.

Age matters: variations in parasitoid diversity along a successional gradient in a dry semi-deciduous tropical forest.

Parasitoids are an important group of insects because their species number is among the highest. Multiple studies have addressed the relationships between forest successional age and insect diversity by focusing on herbivorous organisms, but changes in diversity of parasitoids are still poorly known. This work analyses the diversity of parasitoids in tropical forests representing three successional stages. A total of 30 traps were placed, ten in each forest successional stages. We estimated true diversity of Ichneumonidae species and guilds and explored the relationship between their diversity and the abundance of plant species using an Indicator Species Analysis; the relationship between parasitoid species and plant richness and abundance was tested using a Redundancy Analysis. A total of 1522 individuals and 168 morpho-species were captured in four months. Species richness showed no differences; however, parasitoid abundance was higher in young forest, while intermediate forest had the highest true diversity values (1D) with 71.6 effective species. According to insect guilds, richness, abundance, and diversity were similar in the three vegetation successional stages. This finding may be explained based on the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which postulates that moderate disturbance levels favor the highest diversity. In conclusion, successional age matters, i.e., diversity is the highest in intermediate stages, while the old forests harbors guilds unique to that successional stage, such as parasitoids of melitophagous larvae of bees. Other successional stages were characterized by a single species of parasitoid, belonging to the genera Eiphosoma and Anomalon, which may indicate altered and preserved forests, respectively.

Dietary Challenges for Parasitoid Wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea); Coping with Toxic Hosts, or Not?

Many insects defend themselves against predation by being distasteful or toxic. The chemicals involved may be sequestered from their diet or synthesized de novo in the insects' body tissues. Parasitoid wasps are a diverse group of insects that play a critical role in regulating their host insect populations such as lepidopteran caterpillars. The successful parasitization of caterpillars by parasitoid wasps is contingent upon their aptitude for locating and selecting suitable hosts, thereby determining their efficacy in parasitism. However, some hosts can be toxic to parasitoid wasps, which can pose challenges to their survival and reproduction. Caterpillars employ a varied array of defensive mechanisms to safeguard themselves against natural predators, particularly parasitoid wasps. These defenses are deployed pre-emptively, concurrently, or subsequently during encounters with such natural enemies. Caterpillars utilize a range of strategies to evade detection or deter and evade attackers. These tactics encompass both measures to prevent being noticed and mechanisms aimed at repelling or eluding potential threats. Post-attack strategies aim to eliminate or incapacitate the eggs or larvae of parasitoids. In this review, we investigate the dietary challenges faced by parasitoid wasps when encountering toxic hosts. We first summarize the known mechanisms through which insect hosts can be toxic to parasitoids and which protect caterpillars from parasitization. We then discuss the dietary adaptations and physiological mechanisms that parasitoid wasps have evolved to overcome these challenges, such as changes in feeding behavior, detoxification enzymes, and immune responses. We present new analyses of all published parasitoid-host records for the Ichneumonoidea that attack Lepidoptera caterpillars and show that classically toxic host groups are indeed hosts to significantly fewer species of parasitoid than most other lepidopteran groups.

Online citizen sciences reveal natural enemies and new occurrence data of Meteorusstellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae).

Background: Citizen science is a research approach that involves collaboration between professional scientists and non-professional volunteers. The utilisation of recent online citizen-science platforms (e.g. social networking services) has greatly revolutionised the accessibility of biodiversity data by providing opportunities for connecting professional and citizen scientists worldwide. Meteorusstellatus Fujie, Shimizu & Maeto, 2021 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Euphorinae) has been recorded from the Oriental Islands of Japan and known to be a gregarious endoparasitoid of two macro-sized sphingid moths of Macroglossum, Ma.passalus (Drury) and Ma.pyrrhosticta Butler. It constructs characteristic star-shaped communal cocoons, suspended by a long cable. Although M.stellatus has been reported only from the Oriental Islands of Japan, the authors recognise its occurrence and ecological data from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Island of Japan through posts on online citizen-science groups about Taiwanese Insects on Facebook and an article on a Japanese citizen-scientist's website. New information: Through collaboration between professional and citizen scientists via social media (Facebook groups) and websites, the following new biodiversity and ecological data associated with M.stellatus are provided: Meteorusstellatus is recorded for the first time from Taiwan and the Palaearctic Region (Yakushima Is., Japan).Cechetraminor (Butler, 1875), Hippotioncelerio (Linnaeus, 1758) and Macroglossumsitiene (Walker, 1856) (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) are recorded for the first time as hosts of M.stellatus and two of which (C.minor and H.celerio) represent the first genus-level host records for M.stellatus.Mesochorus sp. (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), indeterminate species of Pteromalidae and Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera), are recognised as hyperparasitoid wasps of M.stellatus.Parapolybiavaria (Fabricius, 1787) (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is reported as a predator of pendulous communal cocoons of M.stellatus. The nature of suspended large-sized communal cocoons of M.stellatus and the importance and limitations of digital occurrence data and online citizen science are briefly discussed.

Back to the Middle Ages: Entomological and Botanical Elements Reveal New Aspects of the Burial of Saint Davino of Armenia.

The natural mummy of Saint Davino Armeno (11th century) is preserved in the church of Saint Michele in Foro in the city of Lucca (Tuscany, Central Italy). The body of Davino is one of the oldest Italian mummies of a Saint, and his paleopathological study was performed in 2018. In the present research, we investigated the arthropod fragments and botanical remains collected from the body, coffin, and fabrics of Saint Davino. Entomological analyses outlined the presence of 192 arthropod fragments. Among these, Diptera, Muscidae (Hydrotaea capensis and Muscina sp.), and Phoridae (Conicera sp.) puparia were the most abundant. Regarding Coleoptera, Ptinidae (Anobium punctatum) were the most frequent, followed by Cleridae (Necrobia sp.), Trogidae (Trox scaber), Curculionidae (Sitophilus granarius), and Histeridae (Gnathoncus). Cocoons of Tineidae and Pyralidae moths were found, along with a propodeum joined to the petiole and a mesopleuron of an Ichneumoninae parasitoid. Numerous metamera of Julida and three scorpion fragments were also found. Botanical samples indicated the presence of a quite broad botanical community, including gramineous species, olives, evergreen oaks, and grapevine. Overall, entomological data allow us to argue that Saint Davino was first buried into the soil, probably in a wooden coffin, thus supporting the historical-hagiographic tradition according to which he was buried sub divo in the cemetery of Saint Michele. The preservation of the body as a natural mummy may have been facilitated by burial in a coffin that prevented direct contact of the corpse with the earth. Botanical remains offer confirmation of a late medieval urban environment rich in horticultural areas and trees, giving us a landscape that is very different from the current Tuscan city.

Taxonomic changes in Ichneumonoidea (Hymenoptera), and notes on certain type specimens.

The following new synonymies are established: Acrodactyla iliensis Sheng Bian 1996 = Acrodactyla lachryma Pham, Broad, Matsumoto Böhme 2012, syn. nov.; Euceros Gravenhorst 1829 = Lentocerus Dong Naito 1999, syn. nov.; Euceros pruinosus (Gravenhorst 1829) = Lentocerus dentatus Dong Naito 1999, syn. nov.; Euceros sensibus Uchida 1930 = Lentocerus lijiangensis Dong Naito 1999, syn. nov.; Gyroneuron Kokujev 1901 = Cyclophatnus Cameron 1910, syn. nov.; Gyroneuron flavum (Cameron 1910) = Gyroneuron testaceator Watanabe 1934, syn. nov.; Liotryphon strobilellae (Linnaeus 1758) = Townesia qinghaiensis He 1996, syn. nov. The following are new combinations: Aleiodes insignis (Brues 1926), Aleiodes lateralis (Cameron 1905), Aleiodes maculicornis (Brues 1926), Aleiodes siccitesta (Morley 1937), Cyclophatnus flavum (Cameron 1910), Rhaconotus striatulus (Cameron 1909), Tolonus cingulatorius (Morley 1912), Zatypota tropica (Morley 1912). Netelia morleyi Townes, Townes Gupta 1961 is transferred from the subgenus Netelia Gray 1860 to the subgenus Paropheltes Cameron 1907. One new replacement name is proposed: Aleiodes philippinensis nom. nov. for Rhogas lateralis Baker 1917, nec Troporhogas lateralis Cameron 1905. Lectotypes are designated for Antrusa persimilis Nixon 1954, Rhyssalus striatulus Cameron 1909, Troporhogas trimaculata Cameron 1905, Hemiteles cingulatorius Morley 1912, Paniscus ferrugineus Cameron 1889 and for Xanthojoppa inermis Morley 1917. Some previously overlooked type specimens are interpreted and illustrated and some errors in the literature corrected. Hosts are recorded for two genera of Ichneumoninae for the first time: Catadelphops nasutus (Heinrich 1962) was reared from Proserpinus terlooii (Edwards 1875) (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae) in the USA, and Aethianoplis excavata (Roman 1910) was reared from Precis octavia (Cramer 1777) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Uganda.

Review of Venoms of Non-Polydnavirus Carrying Ichneumonoid Wasps.

Parasitoids are predominantly insects that develop as larvae on or inside their host, also usually another insect, ultimately killing it after various periods of parasitism when both parasitoid larva and host are alive. The very large wasp superfamily Ichneumonoidea is composed of parasitoids of other insects and comprises a minimum of 100,000 species. The superfamily is dominated by two similarly sized families, Braconidae and Ichneumonidae, which are collectively divided into approximately 80 subfamilies. Of these, six have been shown to release DNA-containing virus-like particles, encoded within the wasp genome, classified in the virus family Polydnaviridae. Polydnaviruses infect and have profound effects on host physiology in conjunction with various venom and ovarial secretions, and have attracted an immense amount of research interest. Physiological interactions between the remaining ichneumonoids and their hosts result from adult venom gland secretions and in some cases, ovarian or larval secretions. Here we review the literature on the relatively few studies on the effects and chemistry of these ichneumonoid venoms and make suggestions for interesting future research areas. In particular, we highlight relatively or potentially easily culturable systems with features largely lacking in currently studied systems and whose study may lead to new insights into the roles of venom chemistry in host-parasitoid relationships as well as their evolution.

Phylogenomics of Ichneumonoidea (Hymenoptera) and implications for evolution of mode of parasitism and viral endogenization.

Ichneumonoidea is one of the most diverse lineages of animals on the planet with >48,000 described species and many more undescribed. Parasitoid wasps of this superfamily are mostly beneficial insects that attack and kill other arthropods and are important for understanding diversification and the evolution of life history strategies related to parasitoidism. Further, some lineages of parasitoids within Ichneumonoidea have acquired endogenous virus elements (EVEs) that are permanently a part of the wasp's genome and benefit the wasp through host immune disruption and behavioral control. Unfortunately, understanding the evolution of viral acquisition, parasitism strategies, diversification, and host immune disruption mechanisms, is deeply limited by the lack of a robust phylogenetic framework for Ichneumonoidea. Here we design probes targeting 541 genes across 91 taxa to test phylogenetic relationships, the evolution of parasitoid strategies, and the utility of probes to capture polydnavirus genes across a diverse array of taxa. Phylogenetic relationships among Ichneumonoidea were largely well resolved with most higher-level relationships maximally supported. We noted codon use biases between the outgroups, Braconidae, and Ichneumonidae and within Pimplinae, which were largely solved through analyses of amino acids rather than nucleotide data. These biases may impact phylogenetic reconstruction and caution for outgroup selection is recommended. Ancestral state reconstructions were variable for Braconidae across analyses, but consistent for reconstruction of idiobiosis/koinobiosis in Ichneumonidae. The data suggest many transitions between parasitoid life history traits across the whole superfamily. The two subfamilies within Ichneumonidae that have polydnaviruses are supported as distantly related, providing strong evidence for two independent acquisitions of ichnoviruses. Polydnavirus capture using our designed probes was only partially successful and suggests that more targeted approaches would be needed for this strategy to be effective for surveying taxa for these viral genes. In total, these data provide a robust framework for the evolution of Ichneumonoidea.

Revision of parasitoids of Massicus raddei (Blessig Solsky) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) in China, with one new species and genus.

Fifteen parasitoids of Massicus raddei (Blessig Solsky) (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) are revised. The host is a serious pest of Quercus liaotungensis Koidz. and Q. mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb. in NE China. All the parasitoids were reared from larvae of M. raddei. Pseudocyanopterus gen. nov. raddeivorus sp. nov., a new braconid wasp is described, and Cyanopterus tricolor (Ivanov) and Eubazus (E.) pallipes are new records for the Chinese fauna. An identification key to the parasitoids of M. raddei in China is provided. Detailed photographs of the parasitoids are provided.

A new species of Phytodietus Gravenhorst, 1829 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tryphoninae) from China.

A new species in the genus Phytodietus Gravenhorst, 1829, P. xui Kostro-Ambroziak Reshchikov sp. n. is described from the Yunnan Province of China. An identification key for the eight species of Phytodietus currently recorded in Mainland China is provided. P. longicauda (Uchida, 1931) is recorded for the first time in China and P. spinipes (Cameron, 1905) is recorded in Guangdong and Hunan Provinces.

First record of Epirhyssa Cresson, 1865 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Rhyssinae) from Kenya.

The ichneumonid parasitoid wasps of the subfamily Rhyssinae are distributed worldwide with the highest species richness focused in the Oriental region (Yu et al. 2016). The total number of species in the subfamily exceeds 450 species. Nevertheless, the Afrotropical region remains poorly studied, numbering only 13 known species, almost a half of which were described recently (Rousse and van Noort 2014; Hopkins et al. 2019). The majority of the Afrotropical rhyssines belong to the genus Epirhyssa Cresson, 1865. The species of the genus are mostly known from the humid part of Equatorial Africa: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. Since 2011 an extensive Malaise trap collecting programme has been conducted throughout Kenya by Robert Copeland and coordinated by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology in Nairobi. The present paper provides one of first results from the programme: a description of a new Epirhyssa species from Kenya and, thus expanding the distribution of the genus in Equatorial part of the Afrotropical region eastward (Fig. 1).

A pilot study of the Carpathian ichneumonine parasitoids (Hymenopera, Ichneumonidae: Ichneumoninae) reveals eighty-eight new records for Ukraine.

Data on the subfamily Ichneumoninae Latreille, 1802 (Hymenopera: Ichneumonidae) from the Ukrainian Carpathians is summarized, with 196 species from eight tribes, of which 88 species are recorded from Ukraine for the first time. The new Ukrainian records belong to four tribes, Heresiarchini Ashmead, 1900, Ichneumonini Latreille, 1802, Phaeogenini Förster, 1869, and Platylabini Berthoumieu, 1904. Phaeogenini is the most poorly studied with 75% of species recorded for the country for the first time. High-altitude zone distribution is discussed: oak forest zone is the most species-rich (125 species), while the subalpine zone is the most poorly studied (57% of species found only in this zone are new records for Ukraine). The flying adults of Ichneumoninae were found from April until October, with a maximum number of species and genera collected in July, and with most specimens collected in May. Stenobarichneumon ridibitor Aubert, 1994 is transferred to the genus Baranisobas Heinrich, 1972 (comb. nov.).

Description of the male of Misetus strumiai Di Giovanni, Scaramozzino amp; Diller, 2018 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Ichneumoninae, Phaeogenini) from Italy.

The genus Misetus Wesmael, 1845 is a small taxon of the subfamily Ichneumoninae, tribe Phaeogenini. The genus can be distinguished from other genera of the tribe by having mandible with two teeth, clypeus with more or less developed median apical tooth, genae short and sublinearly narrowed behind eyes in dorsal view; males are characterized by thyridia large and placed far off the base of metasomal tergite II; females are easily recognized by metasoma elongate and compressed apically, apical margin of last metasomal tergite more or less concave and ovipositor short and bent upwards (Selfa Diller 1994, 1995, Di Giovanni et al. 2018). Misetus includes seven known species, six of which occur in Europe (Wesmael 1845, Kusigemati 1974, Kolarov 1985, Selfa Diller 1995, Di Giovanni et al. 2018) and one in Japan and South Korea (Kwon et al. 2011; Yu et al. 2012). Misetus strumiai Di Giovanni, Scaramozzino Diller, 2018 was described recently from females known only from the island of Montecristo (Italy, Tuscany) (Di Giovanni et al. 2018, Di Giovanni Scaramozzino 2019). Here we described the male of this species and provide a comparative diagnosis with other known males of European members of the genus.

Hydrocarbon Signatures of the Ectoparasitoid Sphecophaga vesparum Shows Wasp Host Dependency.

Sphecophaga vesparum often parasitizes nests of vespid wasps such as Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. Inside the colonies, the ectoparasitic larvae feed on the immature forms of the wasps. There are two adult forms of S. vesparum. The large, winged adults emerge from either rigid yellow cocoons or the orange cocoons used for overwintering. The small, brachypterous females emerge from soft, white cocoons. The species is facultative deuterotokous, producing mostly parthenogenic females and infrequently producing males. Here, we describe the production of chemical compounds related to the different developmental forms of the parasitoid S. vesparum (larvae, pupae and adults). We also compare the chemical profiles of the parasitoid wasp adults to those of their two main host species, Vespula vulgaris and Vespula germanica. The results show differences in hydrocarbon composition of larvae, pupae and adults of S. vesparum. Our results also suggest a partial mimicry of each of the two host species, mostly relating to linear alkanes present in both parasitoids and the host vespid wasp species. This matching is likely due to the recycling of the prey's hydrocarbons, as has been found in other species of parasitoids.

Wing-fanning frequency as a releaser boosting male mating success-High-speed video analysis of courtship behavior in Campoplex capitator, a parasitoid of Lobesia botrana.

Campoplex capitator is an ichneumonid parasitoid with a narrow host range, comprising grapevine moth pests. Despite being considered one of the possible candidates for biocontrol of Lobesia botrana, knowledge about its biology is limited and mass-rearing for commercial purposes is still lacking. This research provides a quantitative analysis of the C. capitator courtship and mating behavior. C. capitator mating sequence was analyzed by high-speed video recordings. Main behavioral parameters, with special reference to male wing fanning and antennal tapping, were quantified and linked with mating success. Furthermore, we analyzed the occurrence of population-level behavioral asymmetries during C. capitator sexual interactions and their impact on male success. Results showed that male wing fanning was crucial to successfully approach the female. Males achieving higher mating success performed wing-fanning at higher frequencies over unsuccessful ones. After wing fanning, most of males palpated the female's body with their antennae, before attempting copulation. The overall mating success was >70%, with a rather long copula duration (254.76 ± 14.21 s). Male wing-fanning was lateralized on the left at population level, while antennal tapping displays were right-biased. Side-biased male displays do not differ in terms of frequency and duration of their main features. This research adds basic knowledge to the C. capitator behavioral ecology. Since rearing protocols for C. capitator are being developed, male wing fanning frequency may represent a useful benchmark for monitoring mate quality over time, tackling mating success reductions due to prolonged mass-rearing.

Ichnoverruca nom. nov., a replacement name for the genus Verruca Sheng amp; Sun, 2018 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) non Schumacher, 1817.

The name Verruca was proposed for a new genus of wasps described by Sheng Sun (2018) with the type species Verruca dentia Sheng Sun, 2018 in the family Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera). However, it cannot be used as a valid generic name due to homonymy as the genus Verruca was established by Schumacher (1817) in the barnacle family Verrucidae (Cirripedia, Verrucomorpha). Verruca Schumacher is a valid generic name in Verrucomorpha.

Braconid and ichneumonid (Hymenoptera) parasitoid wasps of Lepidoptera from the Maltese Islands.

Fourteen species of Ichneumonidae are here recorded from the Maltese Islands. Of these, all were reared from Lepidoptera hosts with the exception of Netelia (Paropheltes) inedita (Kokujev) which was collected from a malaise trap. Of these, the following species (or genera) are here reported for the first time from the Maltese Islands: Chirotica meridionalis Horstmann, Gelis carbonarius (de Stefani), G. exareolatus (FÓ§rster), G. seyrigi Ceballos, Glypta sp., Meloboris sp., Netelia (Paropheltes) inedita (Kokujev), Ophion obscuratus Fabricius and Orthizema sp. Twenty-five species of Braconidae are also here reported from Lepidoptera hosts with the exception of Homolobus (Phylacter) meridionalis van Achterberg which was collected from a malaise trap. Of these, the following species (or genera) represent new records for the Maltese Islands: Apanteles metacarpalis (Thomson), Ascogaster sp., Clinocentrus excubitor (Haliday) [previously misidentified as C. exsertor (Nees) by Papp (2015)], Cotesia vestalis (Haliday) [previously misidentified as C. ruficrus (Haliday) by Papp (2015)], Dolichogenidea britannica (Wilkinson), Homolobus (Phylacter) meridionalis van Achterberg, Iconella ? meruloides (Nixon), Lysitermus tritoma (Boucek), Lysitermus suecius (Hedqvist), Microgaster messoria Haliday, Meteorus pulchricornis (Wesmael), Pholetesor circumscriptus (Nees) [previously misidentified as P. bicolor (Nees) by Papp (2015)] and Spathius pedestris Wesmael. Thus previous records of Clinocentrus exsertor and Pholetesor bicolor from Malta were found to be based on misidentifications and are here excluded from the braconid fauna of Malta. Maltese records of Cotesia abjecta (Marshall) and Cotesia jucunda (Marshall) by Papp (2015) were found to be misidentifications and should both refer to C. glomerata (Linnaeus). Thus, both Cotesia abjecta and Cotesia jucunda are also here removed from the braconid fauna of Malta. The record of Cotesia tibialis (Curtis) by Papp (2015) was also based on a misidentification and should be attributed to C. ruficrus (Haliday). Thus, C. tibialis is also removed from the braconid fauna of Malta.

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.

Extensive sampling reveals the phenology and habitat use of Afrotropical parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Rhyssinae).

Tropical invertebrates, such as the ichneumonids of tropical forests, are poorly known. Here, we report the first results of extensive sampling at Kibale National Park, Uganda, by providing some of the first tropical ecological data for the ichneumonid subfamily Rhyssinae. We sampled ichneumonids with 34 Malaise traps for a year in 10 sites, in habitats ranging from primary forest to farmland. We also gathered weather and vegetation data. The total sampling effort was 373 trap months and we caught 444 rhyssines in six species. We caught the most rhyssines in dry weather, and towards the end of the sampling year. The rhyssines showed a clear preference for decaying logs and for primary forest. We fitted a model which can be used to predict future catches at the site, and draw conclusions on when rhyssines emerge and on their adult lifespan. Sampling extensively gave us a wealth of ecological data on a poorly known parasitoid wasp subfamily. We recommend that future tropical sampling collect ecological data, and that existing data from previous large-scale surveys be used for ecological analyses.