Inter-generic variation in the male genitalia of the Braconinae (Insecta, Hymenoptera, Braconidae)

Male genitalia belonging to representatives of a total of 72 genera of Old and New World Braconinae have been examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. On the basis of features of the volsellae (setosity), the parameres (setosity), the digitus (number of teeth, shape) and basal ring (posterior extension) it was possible to identify certain generic groupings which support the general suprageneric divisions of the subfamily based on other taxonomic characters. The male genitalia are thus shown to provide a potentially useful new set of characters for the higher level classification of the braconine genera.