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Title: Systematics of Australian Thrasorinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with a description of Mikeiinae, new subfamily, and two new genera and three new species

Author
item PARETAS-MARTINEZ, J. - University Of Barcelona
item RESTREPO-ORTIZ, C. - University Of Barcelona
item Buffington, Matthew
item PUJADE-VILLAR, J. - University Of Barcelona

Submitted to: Invertebrate Systematics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2011
Publication Date: 6/17/2011
Citation: Paretas-Martinez, J., Restrepo-Ortiz, C., Buffington, M.L., Pujade-Villar, J. 2011. Systematics of Australian Thrasorinae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae) with a description of Mikeiinae, new subfamily, and two new genera and three new species. Invertebrate Systematics. 108:21-48.

Interpretive Summary: The harvesting of Eucalyptus in Australia generates $750 million dollars annually. Detecting and understanding the biology of insects both detrimental and beneficial to these trees is tantamount in the successful cultivation and maintenance of this industry. This paper clarifies the identify of a group of parasitic wasps, some of which are new to science, from Australia. It includes two new genera and three new species that are natural enemies of other insects that damage new growth among several species of Eucalyptus. These newly described species have the potential to control the populations of pestiferous insects on Eucalyptus, savings millions of dollars typically spent on pesticides used to protect this important forest commodity. This information will be useful to all researchers and agricultural specialists involved in the biological control of forest and crop pests.

Technical Abstract: A new systematics of Australian Thrasorinae is proposed herein. The genus Mikeius is transferred from Thrasorinae to Mikeiinae Paretas-Martínez & Pujade-Villar n. subf and M. clavata Pujade-Villar & Restrepo-Ortiz n. sp. is described. Two new genera of Thrasorinae are erected: Cicatrix Paretas-Martínez n. gen. including C. pilosiscutum (Girault) n. comb., C. schauffi (Buffington) n. comb. and C. neumanoides Paretas-Martínez & Restrepo-Ortiz n. sp., and Palmiriella Pujade-Villar & Paretas-Martínez n. gen. including P. neumanni (Buffington) n. comb. Thrasorus rieki Paretas-Martínez & Pujade-Villar n. sp. is also described. A phylogenetic analysis including all these new taxa and all genera previously included in the Thrasorinae is given. The key recently published by Ros-Farré and Pujade-Villar for the subfamilies of Figitidae is modified to include the new subfamily and new genera described here.