Systematics of Australian and New Guinean Microplitis Foerster and Snellenius Westwood (Hymenoptera : Braconidae : Microgastrinae), with a review of their biology and host relationships

Abstract

The Australian and New Guinean species of the genera Microplitis Foerster and Snellenius Westwood are revised. Twenty species of Microplitis and three species of Snellenius are described as new, while Microplitis basalis (Bingham), M. demolitor Wilkinson, M. manilae Ashmead, M. perelegans (Bingham), Snellenius maculipennis (Szepligeti), S. philippinensis (Ashmead) and S. vollenhovii Westwood are redescribed. The genus Glabromicroplitis Papp (type species, Glabromicroplitis mahunkai Papp) is placed into synonymy with Microplitis. Information on the distribution of each species, host relationships where known, and taxonomic relationships are provided, along with an illustrated key to species. Aspects of the biology and host relationships of both genera are critically reviewed.