Celso O. Azevedo

Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Sclerodermini (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae, Epyrinae)

Sclerodermini are a small tribe of parasitoid wasps, with 13 genera worldwide. Its phylogeny has already been investigated, but doubts still exist about the taxonomic classification of the tribe and its genera. The phylogenetic relationships of Sclerodermini are inferred from a cladistic analysis based on 72 female characters. The dataset was analyzed under equal weights parsimony and implied weighting. To assess the monophyly of the Sclerodermini, representatives of Cephalonomiini were also included in the taxon sample. The Cephalonomiini were retrieved as monophyletic and nested well within Sclerodermini, indicating the paraphyly of the latter tribe. The genus Discleroderma Kieffer, 1904 is polyphyletic, and we transfer Discleroderma yakushimensis Terayama, 1999 and D. undulatum Krombein, 1996 to Sclerodermus Latreille, 1809. Lepidosternopsis sulcata Azevedo, 1999 and L. brasiliensis (Evans, 1973) do not belong to Lepidosternopsis Ogloblin, 1953; we propose to reinstate the genus Nothepyris Evans, 1973 to accommodate these two species. The genus Glenosema Kieffer, 1905 is polyphyletic and we transfer Glenosema viduatus (Turner, 1928) to Epyris Westwood, 1832. In addition, Discleroderma yemenensis Lanes & Azevedo sp. n., Discleroderma indiensis Lanes & Azevedo sp. n., Glenosema denteata Lanes & Azevedo sp. n., Glenosema elevata Lanes & Azevedo sp. n., Platepyris sepalus Lanes & Azevedo gen. n., sp. n., and Tuberepyris basibrevis Lanes & Azevedo gen. n., sp. n. are described and illustrated.

Insecta, Hymenoptera, Bethylidae: range extension and filling gaps in Madagascar

Bethylidae are cosmopolitan wasps, with about 100 valid genera and about 2,400 valid species around the world, with 39 genera recorded from the Afrotropical region. This study aimed to determine the genera of Bethylidae occurring in Madagascar. The specimens were collected in Madagascar with several traps. A total of 18,915 specimens were obtained and 27 genera recognized. Nine of them are already recorded from Madagascar: Epyris , Glenosema , Goniozus Laelius , Pilomesitius Pristocera , Rhabdepyris , Sclerodermus , Sulcomesitius , and 18 genera are recorded for the first time: Alloplastanoxus , Apenesia , Bethylus , Cephalonomia , Diepyris , Dissomphalus , Formosiepyris , Heterocoelia , Holepyris , Kathepyris , Odontepyris , Parascleroderma , Plastanoxus , Prorops , Prosapenesia , Pseudisobrachium , Trachepyris and Tuberepyris . The only genus not founded was Messoria .

Taxonomia de Apenesia (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) na Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas, Espírito Santo, Brasil

The new species Apenesia stricta,A. concavata,A. unipilosa,A. distincta and A. fusilis, from Reserva Biologica de Duas Bocas, Espirito Santo, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Additional specimens of A. transversa Evans, 1963 are examined, species variation analyzed and new distribution data added.

New species of Apenesia (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from the Parque Nacional da Serra do Divisor, Acre, Brazil

Ten new species of Apenesia Westwood, 1874, from Brazil, Acre, are described and illustrated. They belong, respectively, to the following species-groups: nitida group, Apenesia lobata sp. nov., A. serrulata sp. nov. and A. subangulata sp. nov.; laevigata group, A. ocullata sp. nov. and A. rostrum sp. nov.; columbana group, A. apicilata sp. nov.; mexicana group, A. triapicalis sp. nov.; brasiliensis group, A. megaventris sp. nov., A. ventosa sp. nov. and A. triangula sp. nov. New geographical records and some morphological data on A. funebris Evans, 1963, A. nitida (Kieffer, 1910) and A. truncaticeps (Kieffer, 1910) are added.

A new fossil subfamily of Bethylidae (Hymenoptera) from the Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber and its phylogenetic position

A new subfamily, a new genus and a new species of Bethylidae are described and illustrated from a single individual in Early Cretaceous amber from central Lebanon. Lancepyrinae subfam. nov. represented by Lancepyris opertus gen. and sp. nov. present a mosaic of features common among several bethylid subfamilies. The new taxon is easily distinguished from related taxa mainly by the forewing venation, which has an unusual combination of closed lanceolate marginal cell, Rs+M tubular and well pigmented and M+RS angled. Phylogenetic analysis including indicates that Lancepyris opertus gen. and sp. nov. is a sister group of all subfamilies that have Coleoptera as hosts. A checklist of the 45 known fossil bethylid species is provided.

Additional notes on systematic of Neotropical Dissomphalus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae)

Diagnosis and genitalia description and illustration of Dissomphalus bicavatusEvans, 1979;D. bispinulatusEvans, 1969;D. brasiliensisKieffer, 1910;Z). caviclypeus Evans, 1969; D. cornutus Evans 1964; D. dumosus, Evans, 1966; D. fungosus Evans, 1979; D. gilvipes Evans, 1979; D. incomptus Evans, 1964; D. infissus Evans, 1969; D. mendicus Evans, 1969; D. microstictus Evans, 1969; D. mirabilis Evans, 1966; D. nanellus Evans, 1969; D. napo Evans, 1979; D. plaumanni Evans, 1964; D. punctatus (Kieffer, 1910); D. puteolus Evans, 1969; D. rufipalpis Kieffer, 1910; D. xanthopus Ashmead, 1893 are provided. Female of D. mirabilis is first described. Five synonymies are proposed: D. connubialis Evans, 1966 of D. brasiliensis, D. montanus Kieffer, 1910 of D. punctatus, D. obliquus Evans, 1979 of D. rufipalpis, D. teren Evans, 1969 of D. cornutus and D. hastatus Evans, 1979 of D. bispinulatus. D. microtuberculatus sp.n. from Northern Argentina is described and illustrated.

Evolution of Metapostnotum in Flat Wasps (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae): Implications for Homology Assessments in Chrysidoidea

Some authors in the past based their conclusions about the limits of the metapostnotum of Chrysidoidea based on the position of the mesophragmo-metaphragmal muscle, rather than aspects of the skeleton and musculature associated with the metapectal-propodeal complex. The latter character system suggests another interpretation of the metapostnotum delimitation. Given this scenario, the main goal of this work is to present a new perspective on the metapostnotum in Chrysidoidea, especially Bethylidae, helping to resolve questions related to the evolution of the metapostnotum. This is based on homologies established by associating of insertion points of ph2-ph3 and ph3-T2 muscles with the delimitation of the respective sclerite the muscles insert into. Our results indicate that, according the position of the metaphragmal muscles, the metapostnotum in Bethylidae is medially expanded in the propodeal disc and has different forms of configuration. Internally, the limits of the metapostnotum can be tracked by the shape of the mesopostnotum, and vice versa. Thus, the anteromedian area of the propodeal disc sensu Evans was reinterpreted in the current study as the metapostnotum. In conjunction with associated structures, we provide evidence to clarify the relationships between the families within Chrysidoidea, although certain families like Embolemidae, Dryinidae and Chrysididae exhibit extreme modifications of the condition found in Aculeata, as observed in Bethylidae. We review the terminology used to describe anatomical features on the metapectal-propodeal complex in Bethylidae in general, and provide a list of recommended terms in accordance with the online Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology. The morphology of the studied subfamilies are illustrated. Studies that focus on a single structure, across a larger number of taxa, are more insightful and present specific questions that can contribute to broader issues, thus providing a better understanding of the morphology and evolution of insects.

Phylogeny and reclassification of Pristocera Klug (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae)

The current classification of Pristocera does not have taxonomic or cladistic support, which results in mistakes during the allocation of its species, especially within the genera Dicrogenium, Kathepyris, Neodicrogenium and Diepyris. This study aimed to verify the monophyly and to present a cladistic hypothesis for the genus. The analyses were based on 147 characters of 50 terminal taxa. Parsimony analyses under both equal and implied weightings were performed. All cladograms obtained by the implied weighting recovered Pristocera and all four related genera as polyphyletic. A monophyletic group with Pristocera and the other genera of the inner group was formed. This group was supported by 13 synapomorphies, with one of them exclusive, as follows: the presence of a hypopygium that was divided into two parts. Based on our results, the following new genus-group synonyms were established: Dicrogenium, Kathepyris, Neodicrogenium and Diepyris syn.n. for Pristocera, and their 39 species were combined with the latter. The following new names are proposed to avoid homonyms: Pristocera zata nom.n. for Dicrogenium bequaerti Benoit, Pristocera zela nom.n. for Kathepyris katangensis Benoit, Pristocera zintica nom.n. for Kathepyris uelensis Benoit, Pristocera zonta nom.n. for Neodicrogenium bequaerti Benoit and Pristocera zuncra nom.n. for Neodicrogenium tuberculatum (Turner). Therefore, Pristocera now comprises 124 species from the Old World.

Phylogeny and reclassification of Laelius (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) and description of four new species

As currently recognised, Laelius Ashmead contains 47 known species worldwide and is found on all continents except Australia (until this study). In this paper, we examined the taxonomic limits of this genus and tested whether species of the genera Laelius and Prolaelius Kieffer constitute a monophyletic group. We also tested whether the junior synonyms Allepyris Kieffer and Paralaelius Kieffer are supported by cladistic analyses. Our initial analysis indicated that these genera form a single clade. Cladistic analyses were based on 108 female structural characters. The data set was analyzed under equal-weights parsimony and implied weighting. In both analyses, Laelius was retrieved as a polyphyletic group because Prolaelius Kieffer was always nested within Laelius and Allepyris berlandi Benoit always remained in the outgroup and was retrieved as the sister group of Disepyris sp. Based on our analyses, we propose nine nomenclatural acts and recognise 52 valid species of Laelius. The following four new species are described: Laelius haplos sp.n. and L. quadrangulus sp.n. from Australia and L. ogmos sp.n. and L. titanokkos sp.n. from ailand. The following new generic synonym is proposed: Prolaelius Kieffer syn.n. of Laelius Ashmead. The following three new combinations are proposed: Disepyris berlandi (Benoit) comb.n. from Laelius, Laelius firmipennis (Cameron) comb.n. and Laelius glossinae (Turner & Waterston) comb.n. from Prolaelius. Additionally, a lectotype is designated for Laelius fulvipes Kieffer.

Taxonomia de Pseudisobrachium (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) da Mata Atlântica Brasileira

Pseudisobrachium is a poorly studied Neotropical bethylid genus, although it is one of the most abundant in field collections and museums. Hitherto, there are 19 species of Pseudisobrachium recorded from the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. Material of 45 sites from Brazilian Atlantic rain forest was examined. A total of 134 characters was investigated. Forty eight species were recognized, 17 previously known (P. amplum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. apenesoides Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. castaneiceps Evans, 1966; P. corvinum Evans, 1969; P. cuspidatum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. filum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. formosum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. intentum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. latum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. magnum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. opimum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. optimum Evans, 1964; P. plaumanni Evans, 1964; P. rotundum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004; P. steinbachi Evans, 1966; P. triacutum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004 and P. ventriosum Waichert & Azevedo, 2004) and 31 were described as new to science.