Revision of the Australian Stephanidae (Hymenoptera)

Abstract

The Australian Stephanidae (Hymenoptera) are revised and keyed. Three genera and 21 species (15 new) are recognised. The taxonomic importance of over 300 morphological characters, including 45 morphometric ratios, is assessed. The history of introduction and establishment of Schlettererius cinctipes in Australia is summarised. Stephanus crassicauda Morley is transferred to Megischus, the female is redescribed and the male is reported for the first time and compared with the female. Occurrence of the Neotropical genus Hemistephanus in Australia is refuted and M. giganteus (Girault) is synonymised with M. crassicauda (Morley). The groundplan of Australian Parastephanellus is described in detail and a new character set is proposed for taxonomic studies and descriptions of its species, P. albiceps Elliott is proposed as a junior synonym of P. damellicus (Westwood) and P. picticeps Roman is placed as species inquirendum. New taxa are Megischus ceneonatrix, Parastephanellus albigenuis, P. adiazetos, P. brevis, P. callidictyon, P. denotatus, P. isoglyptos, P. laevigatus, P. maculatus, P. platyceratus, P. squamatus, P. strigosus, P. tanytarsus, P. trifasciatus and P. vertipictus. Other valid species from Australia are P. caudatus Elliott and P. rufoornatus (Cameron).