Illustrated key to the genera and catalogue of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera) in the Afrotropical region

Abstract

Separate identification keys for females, and for males where known, of the 40 genera of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) in the Afrotropical region are given. The subgenera of four genera are also included in the key to females. The genera are illustrated with over 300 photographs. The 122 named, valid species reported from the region are catalogued. Reliable host records are reported for 6 genera and 11 species from rearings undertaken in the region. An appendix lists the 27 species from northern Africa and offshore islands (Canary Islands, Madeira) but not recorded in the Afrotropical region as defined in this publication. Camptoptera (Zemicamptoptera) Ogloblin & Annecke, syn. n. is synonymized with Camptoptera (Camptoptera) Foerster. Eofoersteria Mathot, syn. n. is synonymized with Camptoptera Foerster and is treated as subgenus C. (Eofoersteria) Mathot, stat. n.; its type species Eofoersteria camptopteroides Mathot is transferred to Camptoptera as C. (Eofoersteria) camptopteroides (Mathot), comb. n. Polynema megacephala (Risbec) is transferred to Lymaenon as L. megacephala (Risbec), comb. n. Limacis opuntiae Risbec is transferred to Encarsia Foerster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) as E. opuntiae (Risbec), comb. n. A few corrections to Huber et al. (2020) are given.

Description of the males of the subgenus Eofoersteria Mathot, 1966 (Hym., Mymaridae, Camptoptera Foerster), with new distributional records in India

“…Anwar et al (2020) reported that it is an undetermined male of Eofoersteria Mathot based on four segmented tarsi. Huber et al (2021) synonymised Eofoersteria under Camptoptera and explained that loss of one funicle segment in females, and reduction of tarsal number due to fusion of the apical two segments were sufficient to keep it as a subgenus, but all other features place Eofoersteria in Camptoptera. At present following Huber et al (2021) we have placed the recorded species of Eofoersteria under the subgenus of Camptoptera and provided their brief diagnoses with illustrations.…”

“…Huber et al (2021) synonymised Eofoersteria under Camptoptera and explained that loss of one funicle segment in females, and reduction of tarsal number due to fusion of the apical two segments were sufficient to keep it as a subgenus, but all other features place Eofoersteria in Camptoptera. At present following Huber et al (2021) we have placed the recorded species of Eofoersteria under the subgenus of Camptoptera and provided their brief diagnoses with illustrations. Classification of Camptoptera is still unresolved and we strongly believe that an informal species-group placement would be rather useful to identify genus upto species.…”

“…Anwar et al (2020) reported that the male paratype of Camptoptera matcheta Subba Rao, 1989 is actually an undetermined male of Eofoersteria and this was the first report of the male. It is worth to note the above mentioned species were already classified within the genus Eofoersteria Mathot, 1966, which very recently has been placed in synonymy under Camptoptera, treating it as a subgenus (Huber et al, 2021). Our recent sampling in Tamil and Manipur led to the discovery of male specimens of Camptoptera (Eofoersteria) representing new distributional records.…”

Descriptions of Two New Species of Camptoptera Foerster, (1856) from India (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae)

“…More recently, Anwar et al (2021a) added three species of the genus from India (described one and recorded two known Taiwanese species). Huber et al (2021) synonymised the genus Eofoersteria Mathot (1966) under Camptoptera and treated it as a subgenus of Camptoptera and Anwar et al (2021b) provided the first ever description of the males of Camptoptera (Eofoersteria). The genus presently contains 33 species from Oriental region and 30 species from India (including two species described here as new) which makes it most diverse regions of the world in terms of Camptoptera species.…”