John T. Jennings

Phylogeny and generic concepts of the parasitoid wasp family Aulacidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea)

The results of the first phylogenetic investigation of members of the Aulacidae of the world are presented. The main objective was to test the monophyly of the currently recognised genera. In total, 79 morphological characters were scored for a substantial sample of the extant aulacid fauna, including 72 species, as well as 12 outgroup taxa belonging to Evaniidae, Gasteruptiidae, Megalyridae, Trigonalidae, Braconidae and Stephanidae. All zoogeographic regions were represented. The dataset was analysed under different conditions (ordered, unordered, equal and implied weighting). The results under different weighting conditions are not fully congruent and many relationships remain unresolved. However, the analyses demonstrate that the current generic classification of the Aulacidae is not a natural one. There is support for a very large, monophyletic clade which includes all Pristaulacus Kieffer spp. + Panaulix Benoit spp. This suggests a wider generic concept for Pristaulacus, which is redefined and rediagnosed here. As a consequence, Panaulix becomes a junior synonym of Pristaulacus (syn. nov.), and the two described species of Panaulix are transferred to Pristaulacus: Pristaulacus rex (Benoit, 1984), comb. nov., and Pristaulacus irenae (Madl, 1990), comb. nov. The genus Aulacus Jurine was consistently paraphyletic and is not valid as currently defined. Furthermore, we failed to retrieve a consistent topology among the different clades of Aulacus. A satisfactory reclassification of Aulacus, however, requires a much more comprehensive taxon sample and/or additional character data.

Systematics and distribution of world hyptiogastrine wasps (Hymenoptera : Gasteruptiidae)

This study examines the phylogeny, taxonomy, distribution and biology of the gasteruptiid subfamily Hyptiogastrinae and, at the same time, presents an overview of the family. Following a cladistic analysis of 35 discrete morphological characters, two monophyletic genera are recognised, Hyptiogaster Kieffer and Pseudofoenus s. l. Kieffer. As a consequence, the genera Aulacofoenus Kieffer, Crassifoenus Crosskey, and Eufoenus Szepligeti are synonymised with Pseudofoenus. A total of 88 species are recognised for the subfamily, 10 species of Hyptiogaster, which are restricted to mainland Australia, and 78 species of Pseudofoenus, 40 of which are described as new. Pseudofoenus has a restricted Gondwanan distribution and is found in Australia including Tasmania (65 spp.), New Guinea and New Britain (5 spp.), the south-west Pacific (New Caledonia, New Hebrides and Fiji – 2 spp.), New Zealand (4 spp.) and South America (2 spp.). No new species have been recorded from either New Zealand or South America. For Pseudofoenus, information on the distribution of each species, their biology (if known) and an identification key are presented. Following a taxonomic revision, the following new species are described: P. baileyi, sp. nov., P. baitetaensis, sp. nov., P. beverlyae, sp. nov., P. caperatus, sp. nov., P. cardaleae, sp. nov., P. carrabinensis, sp. nov., P. claireae, sp. nov., P. collessi, sp. nov., P. coorowensis, sp. nov., P. crosskeyi, sp. nov., P. douglasorum, sp. nov., P. eliseae, sp. nov., P. ericae, sp. nov., P. eustonensis, sp. nov., P. feckneri, sp. nov., P. gressitti, sp. nov., P. gullanae, sp. nov., P. hackeri, sp. nov., P. imbricatus, sp. nov., P. iqbali, sp. nov., P. kadowi, sp. nov., P. karimuiensis, sp. nov., P. kelleri, sp. nov., P. leinsterensis, sp. nov., P. macdonaldi, sp. nov., P. malkini, sp. nov., P. marshalli, sp. nov., P. masneri, sp. nov., P. mitchellae, sp. nov., P. morganensis, sp. nov., P. nalbarraensis, sp. nov., P. pumilis, sp. nov., P. schmidti, sp. nov., P. stevensi, sp. nov., P. tasmaniensis, sp. nov., P. taylori, sp. nov., P. umboiensis, sp. nov., P. walkeri, sp. nov. and P. zborowskii, sp. nov. The synonymy of Aulacofoenus, Crassifoenus and Eufoenus with Pseudofoenus result in the following new combinations: from Aulacofoenus: P. bungeyi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. deletangi (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. fallax (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. fletcheri (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. goonooensis (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. infumatus (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. kurmondi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. loxleyi (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. marionae (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. perenjorii (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. swani (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. thoracicus (Guerin Meneville), comb. nov., P. whiani (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov. and P. wubinensis (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov.; from Crassifoenus: P. houstoni (Jennings & Austin), comb. nov., P. grossitarsis (Kieffer), comb. nov and P. macronyx (Schletterer), comb. nov.; and from Eufoenus: P. antennalis (Schletterer), comb. nov., P. australis (Westwood), comb. nov., P. crassitarsis (Kieffer), comb. nov., P. darwini (Westwood), comb. nov., P. extraneus (Turner), comb. nov., P. ferrugineus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. floricolus (Turner), comb. nov., P. inaequalis (Turner), comb. nov., P. melanopleurus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. minimus (Turner), comb. nov., P. nitidiusculus (Turner), comb. nov., P. patellatus (Westwood), comb. nov., P. pilosus (Kieffer), comb. nov., P. reticulatus (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. rieki (Crosskey), comb. nov., P. ritae (Cheesman), comb. nov. and P. spinitarsis (Westwood), comb. nov. Pseudofoenus microcephalus (Crosskey), comb. nov. is transferred from Hyptiogaster and Eufoenus flavinervis (Kieffer) remains incertae sedis.

Revision of the Australian endemic genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), with descriptions of seven new species

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revised. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily distinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kiefferi sp. nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. weowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kieffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.

Revision of Aulacofoenus Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae), hyptiogastrine wasps with a restricted Gondwanic distribution

Aulacofoenus Kieffer, which can be readily distinguished from other hyptiogastrine genera by having a short hidden ovipositor, the first flagellomere much longer than the second, a groove on the hind trochanter, and two discal cells in the fore wing, is revised. Fourteen species (10 new) are recognised; twelve of these [A. fallax (Schletterer), A. thoracicus (Guerin Meneville), comb. nov., A. bungeyi, sp. nov., A. fletcheri, sp. nov., A. goonooensis, sp. nov., A. kurmondi, sp. nov., A. loxleyi, sp. nov., A. marionae, sp. nov., A. perenjorii, sp. nov., A. swani, sp. nov., A. whiani, sp. nov., andA. wubinensis, sp. nov.] are recorded from Australia, and two [A. deletangi(Schletterer) and A. infumatus (Schletterer)] from South America. Two synonymies are proposed: A. asymmetricus (Turner) with A. thoracicus, comb. nov. and A. szepligetiiKieffer with A. deletangi. Relationships among genera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Aulacofoenus are discussed, as is the restricted Gondwanic (amphinotic) distribution of the genus. A key to species is also presented.

Cretevania bechlyi sp. nov., from Cretaceous Burmese amber (Hymenoptera: Evaniidae)

The fossil evaniid wasp Cretevania bechlyi sp. nov., is described based on a well preserved female specimen from Cretaceous Burmese amber. The new species is placed in the genus Cretevania Rasnitsyn, 1975 based on the elongation of the mid and hind trochantellus, the fore wing venation (e.g. first marginal cell triangular and broad, 2m-cu absent, second sub-marginal cell separated from first discal cell), the shape of the petiole (subcylindrical with distal extension) and other distinct morphological features. Cretevania bechlyi sp. nov. differs from all previously described species in having just 10 flagellomeres (11 in other members of the genus) and in the presence of notauli (absent in other species). The new species represents the first species of Cretevania from Burmese amber and significantly expands the known morphological diversity of Mesozoic Evaniidae.

Hyptiogastrites electrinus Cockerell, 1917, from Myanmar (Burmese) amber: Redescription and its placement within the Evanioidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Synopsis The wasp Hyptiogastrites electrinus Cockerell, 1917, from the Lower Cretaceous (Upper Albian) Myanmar (Burmese) amber is redescribed from the well‐preserved holotype and its relationship with extant Aulacidae and Gasteruptiidae (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea) evaluated. Although the wing venation is identical to the majority of extant Hyptiogastrinae (Gasteruptiidae), phylogen‐etic analysis places H. electrinus as sister taxon to the Aulacidae s.str., (i.e. Aulacus + Pristaulacus). Thus, Hyptiogastrinae is confirmed as having a restricted Southern Hemisphere distribution (i.e. Australasia and South America). Consistent with this result, H. electrinus is included within a slightly more broadly defined Aulacidae rather than being placed in a new monotypic family. Characters that align this species with the Aulacidae include: having small circular eyes, percurrent Y‐shaped notauli, pyramidal shape of the propodeum and the presence of a groove or ovipositor guide on the hind coxae.

A new species of Pristaulacus Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) from Baltic amber

Fossil species of Pristaulacus are uncommon, with just two known species, P. mandibularis Brues and P. praevolans Brues from Baltic amber, and three species, P. bradleyi (Brues), P. rohweri Brues and P. secundus (Cockerell), from the Florissant fossil beds, Colorado, USA. Here we provide a detailed description of Pristaulacus velteni sp.n., the third fossil species known from Baltic amber.

Review of the hymenopteran fauna of New Caledonia with a checklist of species

The hymenopteran fauna of New Caledonia is reviewed and compared with that of Australia and New Zealand, as well as other islands in the south-west Pacific. In conclusion, several different scenarios (e.g., recent dispersal events and radiations) can be used to explain the extant distribution of New Caledonian Hymenoptera. A detailed checklist of 409 species and subspecies of Hymenoptera of New Caledonia is provided, along with estimates of the undescribed fauna, and a summary of the general biology of the families represented in the region.

A new species of the endemic Australian genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae)

Hyptiogaster arafura sp. nov. is described from Arafura Swamp, Northern Territory, Australia, as the eleventh species of Hyptiogaster Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Gasteruptiidae). A revised diagnosis of Hyptiogaster is given based on the new species.

The gasteruptiid wasp fauna of New Caledonia, with description of three new species of Gasteruption (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae)

The rarely collected gasteruptiid wasp fauna (Evanioidea: Gasteruptiidae) of New Caledonia is reviewed. Previously only two species of Pseudofoenus (Hyptiogastrinae) were known. Here, we record the subfamily Gasteruptiinae from New Caledonia for the first time and describe three new species of Gasteruption: G. lacoulee Jennings, Krogmann & Parslow, sp. nov., G. maquis Jennings, Krogmann & Parslow, sp. nov., and G. sarramea Jennings, Krogmann & Parslow, sp. nov. An identification key to the Gasteruptiidae of New Caledonia is provided.