The genus Paramblynotus is the most species-rich genus of the so-called macrocynipoids, the large cynipoid parasitoids of wood-boring and cone-boring insect larvae. The species range in size from some of the largest to the smallest macrocynipoids, comparable in size to microcynipoids. Paramblynotus members occur on all continents except Europe and Australia, with most species being tropical or subtropical. The biology is poorly known but a few observations indicate that the species are parasitoids of beetle larvae. In this monographic revision of the genus, we present a species-level cladistic analysis based on qualitative and quantitative features of the external morphology. For analysis of quantitative features, we present for the first time a novel coding method, the method of Finite Mixture Coding (FMC) based on k-means clustering, or FMCK. The new method is similar to the FMC method proposed by previous authors in that they both generate codes (character states) for phylogenetic analysis as ...

The geological history of the wasp superfamily Cynipoidea is reviewed, with the description of various new taxa, being mostly in Late Cretaceous amber from New Jersey and Canada. The various fossil lineages are incorporated into a phylogenetic analysis of the superfamily, and their implications for understanding the evolution of the group are explored. The following new taxa or taxonomic changes are proposed (authorship of all taxa is Liu and Engel): Protimaspidae, new family; Stolamissidae, new family; Stolamissus, new genus; Stolamissus mirabilis, new species; Proliopterinae, new subfamily; Proliopteron, new genus; Proliopteron redactus, new species; Goeraniinae, new subfamily; Goerania, new genus; Goerania petiolata, new species; Micropresbyteria, new genus; Micropresbyteria caputipressa, new species; Anteucoila, new genus; Anteucoila delicia, new species; Jerseucoila, new genus; Jerseucoila plesiosoma, new species; Syneucoila, new genus; Syneucoila magnifica, new species; Tanaoknemus, new gen...

A new gall wasp species, Dryocosmus zhuili Liu et Zhu, is herein described from the southeastern Fujian province of China. The new species induces galls on trees of Henry’s chestnut, Castanea henryi , which is also a native host for the notorious Oriental chestnut gall wasp (OCGW, Dryocosmus kuriphilus Yasumatsu). D. zhuili overlaps with OCGW in emergence time and induces galls morphologically similar to that of OCGW on similar plant parts. In a previous study, we reported considerable divergence between mtDNA CO1 (mitochondrial DNA Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I) sequences of these wasps and the true OCGW wasps and suggested the existence of a cryptic species. Herein, we confirm the identity of the new species based on morphological and biological differences and provide a formal description. Although the new species is relatively easily separated from OCGW on basis of morphology, field identification involving the two species can still be problematic because of their small body size, highly similar gall morphology, and other life history traits. We further discussed the potential of the new species to be a pest for the chestnut industry and the consequences of accidental introduction of this species into nonnative areas, especially with regard to the bisexual reproduction mode of the new species in contrast to the parthenogenetic reproduction mode of OCGW.

A new cynipid species, Saphonecrus hupingshanensis Liu, Yang, et Zhu, sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Synergini), is described from China. This is the first species of the inquilinous tribe Synergini ever known to have an association with chinquapins (Fagaceae: Castanopsis). The biology and implication to species diversity of Cynipidae in eastern and southeast Asia are discussed.

A new species of cynipid gall wasps,Periclistus orientalisPang, Liu & Zhu,sp. nov., is herein described from Hunan, China in the tribe Diastrophini (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Cynipidae). The phylogenetic relationship betweenPericlistusand all the other Diastrophini genera, except the recently describedXestophanopsisPujade-Villar et al., 2019, was analyzed using a fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene and a fragment of the nuclear 28S gene. A taxonomic key to the known genera of Diastrophini and an updated taxonomic key to the known Eastern Palearctic species ofPericlistuswere provided. In addition, an updated checklist of the known species of the genus from the world is given.

In the present paper, a new species of cynipid gall wasp,Andricus elodeoidesLiu & Pang, is described from several provinces in southern China. The new species is closely related to the recently redescribedA. mairei(Kieffer, 1906). In addition to differences in adult and gall morphology, the new species is also readily separated by COI sequences, with a 6.2–8.9% genetic distance between populations of the new species and those ofA. mairei. A contrasting difference in sex ratios was also observed between the two species, withA. elodeoidesextremely female-biased (95.5–97.8% female) whileA. maireimale-biased to more balanced (5.4–43.5% female). PCR screening forWolbachiainfection further revealed contrasting infection rates between populations ofA. elodeoidesandA. mairei: theWolbachiainfection rate was 0% inA. elodeoidesand 100% inA. mairei. Cytoplasmic incompatibility induced byWolbachiais proposed as a potential mechanism of speciation of the sympatricA. elodeoidesandA. mairei.