World species of the genus platyscelio kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae)

Abstract

The genus Platyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae, Scelioninae) is a widespread group in the Old World, found from West Africa to northern Queensland, Australia. The species concepts are revised and a key to world species is presented. The genus is comprised of 6 species, including 2 known species which are redescribed: P. africanus Risbec (Benin, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory, Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe); and P. pulchricornis Kieffer (Australia, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Th ailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam). Five species-group names are considered to be junior synonyms of P. pulchricornis: P. abnormis Crawford syn. n., P. dunensis Mukerjee syn. n., P. mirabilis Dodd syn. n., P. punctatus Kieffer syn. n. and & Johnson, sp. n. (Western Australia); P. mysterium Taekul & Johnson, sp. n. (Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa); P. striga Taekul & Johnson, sp. n. (Western Australia); and P. mzantsi Taekul & Johnson, sp. n. (South Africa). © Charuwat Taekul et al.