Synopsis of Australasian Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera : Braconidae), with a key to genera and description of new taxa

Abstract

The genera of microgastrine braconid wasps present in the Australasian region (defined as Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Solomon Is, Fiji Is, Samoan Is, Cook Is, but not French Polynesia) are reviewed. An illustrated key to genera, comments on their taxonomy, and information on the distribution and host relationships of species are provided. Following examination of holotypes, the generic placement of all species recorded from the region is reassessed since a recent generic reclassification of the subfamily left most of the Australasian species incorrectly placed. Parapanteles Ashmead (N.T.), Fornicia Brullé (Qld) and Deuterixys Mason (Qld) are recorded from Australasia for the first time, while Buluka De Seager, Parenion Nixon, Snellenius Westwood and Wilkinsonellus Mason, previously known from Australasia, are recorded from mainland Australia for the first time. The genus Austrocotesia is described as new [with A. exigua, sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea) as the type species], along with the following 14 species: Austrocotesia delicata, sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea, Qld), A. paradoxa, sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea), Buluka collessi, sp. nov. (Qld), Deuterixys anica, sp. nov. (Vic., N.S. W., Qld), Fornicia commoni, sp. nov. (Qld), Glyptapanteles deliasa, sp. nov. (S.A.), Microgaster nixoni, sp. nov. (Tas., N.S.W.), Parapanteles masoni, sp. nov. (N.T.), Parenion beelaronga, sp. nov. (Qld), P. bootha, sp. nov. (Qld), Sathon albicoxa, sp. nov. (Tas., Vic., N.S.W.), S. naryciae, sp. nov. (Vic.), Wilkinsonellus amplus, sp. nov. (Qld, N.T.) and W. tomi, sp. nov. (Papua New Guinea, New Britain, Qld). Glyptapanteles guyanensis (Cameron), comb. nov. is excluded from the Australasian fauna; the name Glyptapanteles fullawayi, nom. nov. (Samoa) is proposed for Apanteles opercuiinae var. polita Fullaway; lectotypes are designated for Cotesia deliadis (Bingham), comb. nov. (Qld), C. philoeampa (Cameron), comb. nov. (N.S.W) and C. rufiventris (Bingham), comb. nov. (Qld); Glyptapanteles operculinae (Fullaway), comb. nov. (Samoa), Microgaster kuchingensis Wilkinson (Papua New Guinea) and Sathon moratus (Wilkinson), comb. nov. (Vic., S.A., W.A.) are redescribed; and 41 additional new combinations are proposed.