A new subfamily of ichneumonids from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

A new subfamily of ichneumonids, Palaeoichneumoninae, is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Baisa locality) and Mongolia (Bon Tsagan and Kholbotu Gol localities). The new subfamily is intermediate between the archaic subfamily Tanychorinae and the Recent Ichneumonidae. It includes 12 new species, described in three new genera: Palaeoichneumon freja gen. et sp. nov., P. ornatus sp. nov., P. danu sp. nov., P. micron sp. nov., P. mirabilis sp. nov., P. tenebrosus sp. nov., P. townesi sp. nov., Rudimentifera mora gen. et sp. nov., R. suspecta sp. nov., Dischysma maculata gen. et sp. nov., D. similis sp. nov., and D. ramulata sp. nov.     

Ichneumonids of the subfamily Tanychorinae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia

A new species, Tanychora loki, sp. nov., and a new genus and species, Megachora sibirica gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia and Mongolia. The genus Tanychora Townes, 1973 is divided into two genera: Tanychora s. str., composed of T. petiolata Townes, 1973 (type species), T. sinensis Zhang, 1991, and T. loki sp. nov., and Amplicella, gen. nov., composed of A. sessilis (Townes, 1973) (type species), A. exquisite (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003), A. beipiaoensis (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003), and A. spinata (Zhang et Rasnitsyn, 2003). The frequency of occurrence of ichneumonids in the principal Cretaceous localities of central and northern Asia is calculated.     

New maimetshid wasps in Cretaceous amber from Myanmar (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

The extinct, exclusively Cretaceous wasp family Maimetshidae is newly recorded from Earliest Cenomanian Burmese amber. Two new genera and species are described. Burmaimetsha concava gen. et sp. nov., based on a male and a female, is most similar to Guyotemaimetsha Perrichot, Nel & Néraudeau, from Albian-Cenomanian French amber, but differs in its larger mandibles, distinctly concave face, elongate antennomeres, and forewing with cell [1Rs] smaller and fourth abscissa of Rs shorter. Maimetshasia kachinensis gen. et sp. nov., is based on a male, and is characterized by asymmetric mandibles with two and three teeth, by its forewing venation without cross-vein 2rs-m, with cell [1M] large and trapezoidal, and vein 2Rs + M very short, and by the hind wing without a free apex of Rs. The family was evidently widespread in the Cretaceous, and the new records extend the paleobiogeographical range to the South-East of Eurasia. A discussion about the possible biology of Maimetshidae is provided.     

New data on the Pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) of the Russian Far East

Fourteen genera (Ardilea Graham, Glyphognathus Graham, Rhicnocoelia Graham, Eulonchetron Graham, Habritys Thomson, Heteroprymna Graham, Janssoniella Kerrich, Lyubana Bou?ek, Muscidifurax Girault et Sanders, Nazgulia Hedqvist, Notoglyptus Masi, Oxysychus Delucchi, Platygerrhus Thomson, and Stenetra Masi) and 81 species are recorded for the first time for the fauna of Russia; in addition, 13 species are new to the fauna of the Russian Far East.     

New Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) from the Upper Cretaceous ambers of the Taimyr Peninsula

Two new genera and four new species of Ichneumonidae are described from the Upper Cretaceous ambers of the Taimyr Peninsula: Agapia sukatchevae gen. et sp. nov., Agapteron popovi gen. et sp. nov., Eubaeus abdominalis sp. nov., and Urotryphon baikurensis sp. nov. New detailed diagnoses are provided for the genera Urotryphon and Eubaeus. The genera Catachora, Urotryphon, and Eubaeus, previously placed in the subfamily Tryphoninae, are transferred to the subfamily Labenopimplinae, as well as the new genera Agapia and Agapteron. Possible causes of the miniaturization in ichneumonid wasps in the Cretaceous are discussed.     

Ichneumon wasps of the Khasurty locality in Transbaikalia (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae)

One new genus and four new species of ichneumon wasps are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Buryatia (Khasurty locality): Amplicella mininae, sp. nov., A. shcherbakovi, sp. nov., A. bashkuyevi, sp. nov., Khasurtella buriatica, gen. et sp. nov. The species Tanychora sinensis Zhang, 1991 is transferred to the new genus Khasurtella. Similarity of the ichneumonid faunas of Khasurty and the Chinese localities Yixian and Laiyang indicates the age similarity between these localities. Identification key to genera and species of Tanychorinae is given.     

Two new species of the genus Probles Förster (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) from South Korea and Russian Far East

Two species of the genus Probles Förster, P. interruptor sp . nov . and P. segaza sp . nov ., from South Korea and Russian Far East, are described. Probles interruptor differs from its congeners by occipital carina mediodorsally narrowly interrupted and polished occipital surface extending partly on the vertex. Probles segaza differs from other species of Euporizon by its robust ovipositor with a deep and narrow dorsal subapical notch.     

New data on chromosomes of parasitic wasps of the subfamily Ichneumoninae (Hymenoptera,Ichneumonidae)

The new data on chromosomes of parasitic wasps of the subfamily Ichneumoninae: Centeterus major (2n = 22), Diadromus troglodytes (2n = 22), D. varicolor (2n = 22), Tycherus infimus (2n = 22), Cratichneumon rufifrons (2n = 26), Eristicus clarigator (2n =.26), and Ctenichneumon funereus (2n = 16) were obtained. Some aspects of the chromosomal variability of Ichneumoninae are discussed.     

A new genus of fossil digger wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera,Crabronidae) from the Upper Eocene of Florissant,USA

A new digger wasp, Florimena impressa gen. et sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae, Pemphredoninae), from the Upper Eocene shales of Florissant (Colorado, United States) is described. It is distinguished from all known members of the subtribe Spilomenina by the convex frons and in regularly rounded propodeum without a distinct bend between the upper and posterior sides.     

A New Genus of the Family Pteromalidae (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea) from the Russian Far East

A new genus Tachingousagen. n. with the type species Tachingousa trjapitzinisp. n. is described from the Russian Far East. The new genus is similar to Lyubana Bou?ek, 1991, from which it may be distinguished by a large antennal clava, equal in length to the last 4 funicular segments and with a large micropilosity area, propodeum with convex nucha without distal (arcuate) costula connected with plicae.     

Hammering homoplasy: multiple gains and losses of vibrational sounding in cryptine wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Many hosts of parasitic wasps are, when attacked, either at an immobile stage, living in a concealed environment, or both, thus making their detection especially difficult. Cryptine ichneumonid wasps often parasitize beetle or moth larvae, prepupae or even pupae in tunnels in wood, and many others attack cocooned hosts in various states of concealment. The structure of the antennal tips shows a range of adaptations at least the most extreme of which appear to be involved in locating deeply concealed hosts through vibrational sounding (= echolocation through solid media). We show that, within the Cryptinae, the tips of the antenna are modified into a hammer-like structure that is suitable for knocking a substrate; this form of echo-location is typical to the tribe Cryptini, although it is also found in a few phygadeuontines and in the hemigastrine genus Echthrus . Electron micrographs are presented to illustrate the different degrees of antennal modifications found in the subfamily. Comparative analysis using independent contrasts was then used to demonstrate a statistically significant association between degree of antennal hammer development and attacking, typically wood-boring, beetle hosts of the families Cerambycidae and Buprestidae.  © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2009, 96 , 82–102.     

New Ichneumonids (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from the Lower Cretaceous Khasurty Locality

A new species of Ichneumonidae, Amplicella minor sp. nov., is described from the Lower Cretaceous of Transbaikalia (Khasurty locality). The diagnosis of Amplicella mininae Kopylov, 2011 is amended. Ichneumonids from Khasurty are only represented by two genera, Amplicella and Khasurtella, both belonging to the subfamily Tanychorinae. This assemblage seems to be the most basal ichneumonid assemblage ever known.     

Ecological characterization of calliphoridae (calliphoridae,diptera: Insecta) of the Russian Far East

Features of preimaginal and imaginal feeding of calliphoridae of the Far Eastern region of Russia are considered, ecological complexes and trophic groupings are distinguished, and their species composition is indicated. Aspects of calliphoridae’ synantropism are discussed.     

Larvae of scarab beetles of the subfamily Trichiinae (Coleoptera,Scarabaeidae) from the Russian Far East

Previously unknown larvae of three species (Osmoderma davidis Fairmaire, Gnorimus subopacus Motschulsky, and Lasiotrichius succinctus (Pallas)) of the subfamily Trichiinae are described and illustrated. Original keys to larvae of the subfamilies Trichiinae, Cetoniinae, and Valgiinae and to the genera of the subfamily Trichiinae of the Russian fauna are compiled. The larva of Osmoderma davidis differs from that of O. barnabita Motschulsky in the shape of the frontal sutures and chaetotaxy of the frontal triangle and clypeus. The larvae of Gnorimus subopacus differ from those of G. nobilis (L.) and G. octopunctatus (F.) in the position of symmetrical rows of setae on the anal sternite. The larvae of representatives of the genus Lasiotrichius Reitter, described for the first time, differ from those of all the other genera of the subfamily Trichiinae in the smooth head capsule and in the absence of tubercles on the labrum. These larvae differ from those of the genus Trichius in the completely pale brown basal membrane at the antennae (the membrane of Trichius bears black stripe).     

A new tribe of fossil digger wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera,Crabronidae) from the Rovno amber,Eocene of Ukraine

A new tribe of digger wasps, Protomicroidini trib. nov. (Hymenoptera, Crabronidae), including a single known species Protomicroides sororius gen. et sp. nov. is described from the Upper Eocene Rovno amber, Ukraine. The new tribe combines features characteristic of several tribes of the Crabroninae and is a sister group of the extant tribe Oxybelini. The most distinctive characters of the new tribe include nonelongate propodeum with strongly developed lateral keel and enclosed dorsal area; semioval postscutellum with a lamellate border; absence of pygidial plate, psammophores, and digging tarsal rakes; and considerably reduced forewing venation.     

Review of subfamily Diplazontinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from South Korea with six unrecorded genera and a new species

Of the 16 genera of the subfamily Diplazontinae occurring in the Eastern Palearctic region, 11 genera are recognized from South Korea. Specifically, four genera (Campocraspedon Uchida, Diplazon Nees, Syrphoctonus Förster and Woldstedtius Carlson) are previously recognized from South Korea, whereas the other seven genera are recorded from this country for the first time. A key to the 16 genera of Diplazontinae occurring in the Eastern Palearctic region is provided. Six genera of Korean Diplazontinae (Bioblapsis Förster, Campocraspedon Uchida, Eurytyloides Nakanishi, Phthorima Förster, Promethes Förster and Sussaba Cameron) are reviewed here. Species of these genera rarely occur in the Eastern Palearctic region with small numbers of collected samples (excluding genus Sussaba). Here we provide diagnosis for seven species of Diplazontinae and one new species, Eurytyloides koreanus Balueva and Lee sp. nov. , has been described.