Review of the genera Breviterebra Kusigemati, Charops Holmgren and Scenocharops Uchida (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China, with description of three new species.

Species of the genera Breviterebra Kusigemati, 1982, Charops Holmgren, 1859 and Scenocharops Uchida, 1932 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China are revised. Of the 13 species recognized, three are described as new species: Breviterebra apicocrinis sp. nov., Charops mauroknemus sp. nov. and Scenocharops yunnanensis sp. nov. The genus Breviterebra Kusigemati and the species Scenocharps montanus Gupta Maheshwary, 1971 are recorded in China for the first time. The distribution area of C. brachypterus (Cameron), C. striatus (Uchida), S. flavipetiolus (Sonan) and S. parasae He in China are updated. DNA barcode fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene of B. apicocrinis sp. nov. is presented. Keys to Breviterebra, Charops and Scenocharops are provided.

A review of the subgenera Arichelonus, Megachelonus and Scabrichelonus of the genus Chelonus Panzer (Braconidae: Cheloninae) with description of five new species from China.

The subgenus Arichelonus Viereck, 1913 of genus Chelonus Panzer, 1806 is newly recorded from China and five new species belonging to three different subgenera are described and illustrated from China, i.e., Chelonus (Arichelonus) allokotosus sp. nov., Chelonus (Arichelonus) kenosetrus sp. nov., Chelonus (Megachelonus) irilaminatus sp. nov., Chelonus (Megachelonus) macrodontus sp. nov., and Chelonus (Scabrichelonus) nigrifemoratus sp. nov. Keys to the currently known species of the subgenera Arichelonus, Megachelonus and Scabrichelonus are provided.

Four rare genera of the subfamily Campopleginae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from China, with description of three new species.

Five species of four rare genera Dolophron Förster, 1869, Genotropis Townes, 1970, Leptocampoplex Horstman, 1970 and Philositus Townes, 1970 of the family Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) are found in China, among which three genera Dolophron, Leptocampoplex and Philositus are firstly reported from China. Three new species D. granulosa sp. nov., G. mauroknema sp. nov., and P. parva sp. nov. are described and illustrated. Redescriptions of Genotropis clara Townes, 1970 and Leptocampoplex cremastoides (Holmgren, 1860) are given. Keys to species of each genus and the distribution map of China are also provided.

Five new species of the genus Sinophorus Frster (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China.

Five new species of the genus Sinophorus Frster, 1869 (Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) are described and illustrated from China: S. dioryctriae sp. nov., S. latistrigis sp. nov., S. neimengensis sp. nov., S. petilidentis sp. nov. and S. spissus sp. nov. A key to the Chinese species of Sinophorus is provided.

The genus Campoplex Gravenhorst, 1829 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China.

The genus Campoplex Gravenhorst, 1829 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China is revised. Thirty-nine new species are proposed (C. absitus sp. nov., C. acarus sp. nov., C. adustantennalis sp. nov., C. angustaulacis sp. nov., C. apacicarinatus sp. nov., C. artivultus sp. nov., C. atricrus sp. nov., C. collucatus sp. nov., C. concretus sp. nov., C. confluentus sp. nov., C. cyclus sp. nov., C. densipunctatus sp. nov., C. exareola sp. nov., C. granalvus sp. nov., C. grandialphus sp. nov., C. grandicella sp. nov., C. granulosus sp. nov., C. galbipedis sp. nov., C. hei sp. nov., C. liuae sp. nov., C. lobatus sp. nov., C. longiclypeus sp. nov., C. maurotrochanter sp. nov., C. medicarinatus sp. nov., C. monochroma sp. nov., C. obtusoclypeus sp. nov., C. parassosae sp. nov., C. perpendicularis sp. nov., C. proportionis sp. nov., C. protenus sp. nov., C. plicopunctatus sp. nov., C. pseudocyclus sp. nov., C. pseudostrigatus sp. nov., C. shanxiensis sp. nov., C. strigatus sp. nov., C. taenius sp. nov., C. tanae sp. nov., C. xizangensis sp. nov., and C. xuthomelonus sp. nov.) and one species is recorded as new to Nepal (C. oriens Gupta Maheshwary). A key to Chinese species of Campoplex is provided.

New species and records of Venturia Schrottky (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from China and Nepal.

Four new species of Venturia Schrottky, 1902 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Campopleginae) from Oriental China and Nepal are described (V. contiguus sp. nov. and V. yunnanensis sp. nov. from China; V. liuae sp. nov. and V. levocarinata sp. nov. from Nepal). In addition, two species are reported from China (V. serpentina Maheshwary, 1977 and V. inclyta (Morley, 1923)) for the first time and all listed species are illustrated. A key to all species from China and Nepal is provided.

Comparative mitogenomics and phylogenetics of the stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata).

The stinging wasps (Hymenoptera: Aculeata) include diverse groups such as vespid wasps, ants and bees. Phylogenetic relationships among major lineages of stinging wasps have been inferred from molecular and morphological data. However, the genomic features of the mitochondrial genomes and their phylogenetic utility remain to be explored. In this study, we determined 23 mitochondrial genomes from the Aculeata. Four Mutillidae species showed relatively low A + T content compared to other species of the Aculeata (69.7%-77.4%). Eleven out of 44 species, mainly from the Chrysididae and the Pompilidae, showed reversals of GC skews. Gene rearrangements occurred across the species. Patterns of tRNA rearrangement were conserved in some groups, including the Chrysididae, Bethylidae, Pompilidae, Scolioidea and Vespoidea. Rearrangement of protein-coding genes were found in 12 out of 44 species of the Aculeata, including all four species from the Chrysididae, both species from the Bethylidae, one species from the Dryinidae, all three Scolioidea species and two Apoidea species. Phylogenetic inference showed a long branch in species with unusual genomic features, such as in the Mutillidae and Bethylidae. By excluding these species, we found paraphyly of the Chrysidoidea and a sister group relationship between the Formicoidea and Vespoidea. These results improve our understanding of the evolution of mitochondrial genomes in the Aculeata and, in general, the evolution across this subclade.

Corrigendum to "A new parasitoid wasp, Aphaereta vondelparkensis sp. n. (Braconidae, Alysiinae), from a city park in the centre of Amsterdam".

This corrigendum serves to recognise the contribution of Dr. Mark Lammers, who was erroneously not given authorship in the original version of the paper.

A new parasitoid wasp, Aphaereta vondelparkensis sp. n. (Braconidae, Alysiinae), from a city park in the centre of Amsterdam.

BACKGROUND: The parasitic wasp genus Aphaereta Foerster, 1863, belongs to the large subfamily Alysiinae Leach, 1815 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and contains solitary or gregarious endoparasitoids of larvae of cyclorrhaphous Diptera living in decaying organic matter. NEW INFORMATION: A new species, Aphaereta vondelparkensis sp. n. (Braconidae, Alysiinae, Alysiini), from a city park in the centre of Amsterdam (Vondelpark) is described and illustrated. The species was discovered on a so-called taxon expedition, in which experts and citizen scientists collaborate on taxonomic projects. The finding highlights the fact that new animal species can still be discovered today, even in the busiest park of the capital of one of the best studied European countries.

Two new species of the genus Ishigakia (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Acaenitinae) from Vietnam based on morphological and molecular evidence.

The genus Ishigakia is reported from Vietnam for the first time, and two new species (I. babeensis sp. nov. and I. duongi sp. nov.) are described from Northeast Vietnam using morphological and genetic data. These new species are also inserted in the key to world species of Ishigakia provided by Ito Maeto (2016).

Gene arrangement and sequence of mitochondrial genomes yield insights into the phylogeny and evolution of bees and sphecid wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoidea).

The Apoidea represent a large and common superfamily of the Hymenoptera including the bees and sphecid wasps. A robust phylogenetic tree is essential to understanding the diversity, taxonomy and evolution of the Apoidea. In this study, features of apoid mitochondrial genomes were used to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. Twelve apoid mitochondrial genomes were newly sequenced, representing six families and nine subfamilies. Gene rearrangement events have occurred in all apoid mitochondrial genomes sequenced to date. Sphecid wasps have both tRNA and protein-coding gene rearrangements in 5 of 8 species. In bees, the only rearranged genes are tRNAs; long-tongued bees (Apidae + Megachilidae) are characterized by movement of trnA to the trnI-trnQ-trnM tRNA cluster. Phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial gene sequences support the known paraphyly of sphecid wasps, with bees nested within this clade. The Ampulicidae is sister to the remaining Apoidea. Crabronidae is paraphyletic, split into Crabronidae s.s. and Philanthidae, with the latter group a sister clade to bees. The monophyletic bees are either classified into two clades, long-tongued bees (Apidae + Megachilidae) and short-tongued bees (Andrenidae + Halictidae + Colletidae + Melitidae), or three groups with the Melitidae sister to the other bees. Our study showed that both gene sequences and arrangements provide information on the phylogeny of apoid families.

Revision of the West Palaearctic Polistes Latreille, with the descriptions of two species - an integrative approach using morphology and DNA barcodes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

The genus Polistes is revised for the West Palaearctic region based on morphology and DNA barcodes. The revision includes all known West Palaearctic species, raising the number of species in Europe to 14 and to 17 for the West Palaearctic realm. DNA barcodes were recovered from 15 species, 14 of which belong to the subgenus Polistes, and one, P. wattii, to the subgenus Gyrostoma. An integrative taxonomic approach combining morphology and molecular data (DNA barcoding) was employed to resolve longstanding taxonomic problems in this group. Two species, P. austroccidentalis van Achterberg & Neumeyer, sp. n. (= P. semenowi auctt.) from W and SW Europe and P. maroccanus Schmid-Egger, sp. n. from Morocco are described as new. Polistes bucharensis Erichson, 1849, and P. foederatus Kohl, 1898, were restored from synonymy. The following new synonyms are proposed: P. sulcifer Zimmermann, 1930, and Pseudopolistes sulcifer var. similator Zirngiebl, 1955, under P. semenowi Morawitz, 1889, syn. n.; Polistes iranus Guiglia, 1976, Polistes gallica var. ornata Weyrauch, 1938 and Polistes gallicus muchei Gusenleitner, 1976, under P. bucharensis Erichson, 1849, syn. n.; Polistes omissus var. ordubadensis Zirngiebl, 1955, and P. hellenicus Arens, 2011, under Polistes mongolicus du Buysson, 1911, syn. n. An illustrated key includes all species and additionally three species from the subgenera Aphanilopterus Meunier, 1888 and Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (including a Nearctic species recently introduced to Spain and two species occurring in Egypt, the Arabian Peninsula, and SW Asia). A phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference provides insights into phylogenetic relationships within the genus Polistes.

Fauna Europaea: Hymenoptera - Symphyta & Ichneumonoidea.

Fauna Europaea provides a public web-service with an index of scientific names (including important synonyms) of all extant European terrestrial and freshwater animals, their geographical distribution at the level of countries and major islands (west of the Urals and excluding the Caucasus region), and some additional information. The Fauna Europaea project comprises about 230,000 taxonomic names, including 130,000 accepted species and 14,000 accepted subspecies, which is much more than the originally projected number of 100,000 species. Fauna Europaea represents a huge effort by more than 400 contributing specialists throughout Europe and is a unique (standard) reference suitable for many users in science, government, industry, nature conservation and education. For the Hymenoptera, taxonomic data from one grade (Symphyta) and one Superfamily (Ichneumonoidea), including 15 families and 10,717 species, are included. Ichneumonoidea is the largest superfamily of Hymenoptera and consisting of two extant families, Ichneumonidae and Braconidae. The costal cell of the fore wing is absent, the fore wing has at least two closed cells, the constriction between the mesosoma (thorax + first abdominal segment or propodeum) and the metasoma (remainder of abdomen) is distinct and the parasitoid larvae usually spin a silken cocoon. Also, the metasoma is ventrally partly desclerotized in the vast majority of ichneumonoids.

A key to the East Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Rhysipolis Foerster, and the first host records of Rhysipolis longicaudatus Belokobylskij (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rhysipolinae).

BACKGROUND: A key to the East Palaearctic and northern Oriental species of Rhysipolis Foerster, 1862 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rhysipolinae) is presented. Rhysipolis longicaudatus Belokobylskij, 1994 (stat. nov.) is redescribed, the first host records are given and it is reported new for China. NEW INFORMATION: Rhysipolis longicaudatus was reared from Taleporia sp. (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and from Bazaria turensis Ragonot (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Qinghai Province.

Review of the Palaearctic (and Oriental) Allurus (Braconidae, Euphorinae) based on material from Sweden.

BACKGROUND: The tribe Centistini includes three genera, Allurus, Centistes and Centistoides (Stigenberg et al. 2015). They are solitary endoparasitoids of adults and final instar larvae of beetles from the family Curculionidae (Jackson 1920, Aeschlimann 1980, Tobias 1986). NEW INFORMATION: In this paper we present a key, molecular data (standard DNA barcode, CO1) and images of the two species of Allurus occurring in the Western Palaearctic. A third Oriental species described from China (Taiwan) is also included in the key. Allurus is a Holarctic genus with three known species (A. choui, A. lituratus, A. muricatus). Our sequence data confirms that A. muricatus and A. lituratus are two distinct and separate species and this paper points out good and easy characters to separate them.

Rearrangement of the nad1 gene in Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola) (Hymenoptera: Evanioidea: Aulacidae) mitochondrial genome.

The mitochondrial genome of the Pristaulacus compressus (Spinola, 1808) (Hymenoptera: Aulacidae) (GenBank accession No. KF500406) is reported in this study. This is the first sequenced mitochondrial genome from the family Aulacidae of the order Hymenoptera. The length of this mitochondrial genome is 15,563 bp with an A + T content of 84%, including 13 protein-coding, 2 rRNA and 22 tRNA gene, and an A + T-rich region (Table 1). Three tRNA and one protein-coding genes were rearranged in the P. compressus mitochondrial genome, in which, the trnY was inverted, while the trnQ was shuffled to the downstream of tRNA cluster trnI-trnQ-trnM. The trnS1 was translocated to the downstream of the A + T-rich region together with the protein-coding gene nad1. The gene arrangement pattern of this mitochondrial genome is new to the Hymenoptera. All protein-coding genes start with ATN start codon. Ten protein-coding genes stop with termination codon TAA, whereas one protein-coding gene uses incomplete stop codon TA and two use T. The A + T-region is located between rrnS and trnS1 with a length of 780 bp.

Review of the genus Metopheltes Uchida, 1932 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) with description of a new species from Vietnam.

A new species of the genus Metopheltes Uchida (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae, Ctenopelmatinae), Metopheltesclypeoarmatus sp. n. is described from Vietnam. Metopheltespetiolaris Uchida, 1932 is recorded for the first time from the Russian Far East. The other previously described species are also illustrated and discussed.

An illustrated key to the species of subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae, Polistinae) from China, with discovery of Polistes (Gyrostoma) tenuispunctia Kim, 2001.

The Chinese species of the subgenus Gyrostoma Kirby, 1828 of the polistine genus Polistes are reviewed. An illustrated key to the seven species of the subgenus known from China is given. New synonymy are proposed for Polistes rothneyi Cameron, 1900 =P. rothneyi grahami van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. hainanensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. iwatai van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. gressitti van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. tibetanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; = P. r. yayeyamae Matsumura, 1908, syn. nov.; =P. r. koreanus van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.; =P. r. sikkimensis van der Vecht, 1968, syn. nov.. P. (Gyrostoma) tenuispuntia Kim, 2001 is newly recorded from China. Its nest is described for the first time. Compared with the sympatric and similar species P. rothneyi f. grahami the nest is concealed in a hollow space instead of having the nest directly exposed under an eave as in P. rothneyi. The differences in nest architecture are briefly discussed.

Two mitochondrial genomes from the families Bethylidae and Mutillidae: independent rearrangement of protein-coding genes and higher-level phylogeny of the Hymenoptera.

In animal mitochondrial genomes, gene arrangements are usually conserved across major lineages but might be rearranged within derived groups, and might provide valuable phylogenetic characters. Here, we sequenced the mitochondrial genomes of Cephalonomia gallicola (Chrysidoidea: Bethylidae) and Wallacidia oculata (Vespoidea: Mutillidae). In Cephalonomia at least 11 tRNA and 2 protein-coding genes were rearranged, which is the first report of protein-coding gene rearrangements in the Aculeata. In the Hymenoptera, three types of protein-coding gene rearrangement events occur, i.e. reversal, transposition and reverse transposition. Venturia (Ichneumonidae) had the greatest number of common intervals with the ancestral gene arrangement pattern, whereas Philotrypesis (Agaonidae) had the fewest. The most similar rearrangement patterns are shared between Nasonia (Pteromalidae) and Philotrypesis, whereas the most differentiated rearrangements occur between Cotesia (Braconidae) and Philotrypesis. It is clear that protein-coding gene rearrangements in the Hymenoptera are evolutionarily independent across the major lineages but are conserved within groups such as the Chalcidoidea. Phylogenetic analyses supported the sister-group relationship of Orrussoidea and Apocrita, Ichneumonoidea and Aculeata, Vespidae and Apoidea, and the paraphyly of Vespoidea. The Evaniomorpha and phylogenetic relationships within Aculeata remain controversial, with discrepancy between analyses using protein-coding and RNA genes.

Pictorial key to species of the genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville, 1831 (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) from China, with description of one new species.

Twenty two species of the paper wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville, 1831, are listed from China. Among them, R. malaisei van der Vecht, 1962, R. cyathiformis (Fabricius, 1804), R. santoshae Das & Gupta, 1989, R. scitula (Bingham, 1897), R. obscura Gusenleitner, 1996 and R. ornaticeps (Cameron, 1900) are new records from China. A new species, R. parartifex Tan & van Achterberg, is described. Their diagnostic characteristics are summarized in an illustrated key and 36 colourplates.