Charipinae, Dalla Torre and Kieffer, 1910

Buffington, Matthew L., Forshage, Mattias, Liljeblad, Johan, Tang, Chang-Ti & Noort, Simon van, 2020, World Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera): A Key to Higher- Level Groups, Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (2020), No. 1, pp. 1-69 : 53-54

Charipinae

Figs. 243 –248

This is an extremely diverse group known exclusively as hyperparasitoids in aphid and psyllid systems. While not particularly

diverse at the genus level, the species diversity in Alloxysta is remarkable, and it is possible numerous cryptic species complexes are present in the genus. The small size and smooth cuticle of charipines make them easily recognized at the subfamily level. While genera are relatively approachable with respect to identification, species limits are still being addressed, and in some cases, species-level identification is difficult if not impossible. The research group at the University of Barcelona (Pujade-Villar Lab) is the most active in the world and has produced the most recent research on the group, spearheaded by Mar Ferrer-Suay. The volume of papers and new taxa in recent years is remarkable, and has been particularly valuable in making the types accessible. Up to a point, nomenclatural issues, as well as distribution knowledge and practical identification have benefitted significantly from this. But this is not definitive since species circumscriptions are still often uncertain, as revisions have usually been made on the basis of rather small numbers of specimens and a set of preferred morphological characters, not considering biological or molecular evidence nor phylogenetic considerations. Particularly troublesome was the erection of all wingless forms into separate species.

Biology. Hyperparasitoids of aphidiine braconids and aphelinid chalcidoids through aphids and psyllids. Data summarized online at http://www.charipinaedatabase.com.

Distribution. Worldwide, but with the largest number of species in the Holarctic, while two unusual groups ( Dilapothor and Thoreauana ) are from Australia.

Relevant literature. Menke and Evenhuis (1991) provided the first modern update of the group. Ferrer-Suay et al. (2012) provided a world catalog, which has also been merged into an online database (Ferrer-Suay et al. 2014); Ferrer-Suay et al. (2013a) review Neotropical species, Oriental species ( Ferrer-Suay et al. 2013b) and Palearctic species ( Ferrer-Suay et al. 2018); van Noort et al. (2015) reviewed the Afrotropical species.

Classification.

Charipinae Dalla Torre and Kieffer, 1910

Alloxysta Förster ; 137 species worldwide but mainly Holarctic, despite recent revisions many problems remain

Apocharips Fergusson, 1986 ; 6 species NT, PA, AT

Dilapothor Paretas-Martinez and Pujade-Villar, 2006 ; 1 species AU

Dilyta Förster, 1869 ; 14 species AT, PA, NA, OR Lobopterocharips Paretas-Martinez and Pujade-Villar, 2008 ; 1 species OR

Lytoxysta Kieffer, 1909 ; 1 species NA

Phaenoglyphis Förster, 1869 ; 44 species, worldwide but mainly Holarctic, despite recent revisions many problems remain Thoreauana Girault, 1930 ; 4 species AU

Figures

Plate 18. Charipinae. Figs. 243 and 244, Apocharips trapezoidea, USNMENT01231873. Figs. 245 and 246, Lytoxysta brevipalpis, USNMENT01231836. Figs. 247 and 248, Alloxysta sp., USNMENT01231840.