A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelininae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa

Systematic Entomology (2012), 37, 497–549 A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelininae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa J U N G - W O O K K I M and J O H N H E R A T Y Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, U.S.A. Abstract. The genera of Aphelininae (Aphelinidae) are reviewed on a worldwide basis. Identification keys and a phylogenetic hypothesis are presented for 16 genera, of which four are new (Mashimaro n.g., Neophytis n.g., Punkaphytis n.g., Saen- gella n.g.) and Paraphytis is resurrected. Newly described species are Mashimaro hawksi n.sp., Mashimaro lasallei n.sp., Neophytis myartsevae n.sp., Neophytis munroi n.sp., Punkaphytis erwini n.sp. and Punkaphytis hayati n.sp. New combi- nations from Aphytis include Neophytis melanosticus (Compere) and N. dealbatus (Compere), and Paraphytis acutaspidis (Rosen & DeBach), P. angusta (Com- pere), P. anomala (Compere), P. argenticorpa (Rosen & DeBach), P. australiensis (DeBach & Rosen), P. benassyi (Fabres), P. breviclavata (Huang), P. capillata (Howard), P. ciliata (Dodd), P. cochereaui (DeBach & Rosen), P. costalimai (Gomes), P. densiciliata (Huang), P. fabresi (DeBach & Rosen), P. haywardi (De Santis), P. hyalinipennis (Rosen & DeBach), P. maculatipennis (Dozier), P. maculata (Shafee), P. mandalayensis Rosen & DeBach, P. nigripes (Compere), P. noumeaensis (Howard), P. obscura (DeBach & Rosen), P. peculiaris (Girault), P. perplexa (Rosen & DeBach), P. transversa (Huang), P. vittata (Compere) (revived status) and P. wallumbillae (Girault). A parsimony analysis of 50 morphological characters for 54 species in 21 genera, including four outgroups (Coccophagus, Eunotiscus, Eury- ishomyia and Eriaphytis), resulted in three equally parsimonious trees supporting monophyly of all genera except Neophytis. Neophytis was paraphyletic to a mono- phyletic Aphytini but is monophyletic in unpublished molecular analyses. Three tribes are recognised (Aphelinini, Aphytini and Eutrichosomellini). The questionable inclu- sion of Eretmocerus (Eretmocerini) within Aphelininae is discussed. Introduction Aphelinidae is a diverse group of small-sized (1–2 mm) chal- cidoids (Hymenoptera). The World fauna consists of 1156 described species in 32 genera (Noyes, 2011). The number and definitions of some genera have been revised fairly recently (Hayat, 1998). However, the phylogenetic relationships of Correspondence: John Heraty, Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A. E-mail: john. heraty@ucr.edu ∗ Present address: Structural Pest Control & Pesticides Division, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, North Carolina, Raleigh, NC 27699-1631, U.S.A. © 2012 The Authors Systematic Entomology © 2012 The Royal Entomological Society the family or subfamilies have not been assessed within a cladistic framework. Monophyly of Aphelinidae is still an open question (Yasnosh, 1976; Woolley, 1988; Gibson, 1989; Heraty et al., 1997; Hayat, 1998; Heraty & Schauff, 1998; Gib- son et al., 1999). Gibson (1989) considered Aphelinidae s.s. (excluding Eriaporinae) as paraphyletic with respect to Sig- niphoridae based on the anterior extension of the metasternum between the mesocoxae. The possible close relationships of Azotinae (Aphelinidae) and Signiphoridae potentially render Aphelinidae paraphyletic with respect to Signiphoridae (Wool- ley, 1988). Consequently, no single character defines the family Aphelinidae without excluding other families of Chalcidoidea. In addition, molecular data have not supported any higher level groupings in the family, with Aphelininae (excluding