PLEURAL MORPHOLOGY IN SCELIONID WASPS (HYMENOPTERA: SCELIONIDAE) — AN AID TO HIGHER CLASSIFICATION

Abstract

The importance of pleural characters in Scelionidae is discussed and assessed. Two new terms, peculiar to some Scelionidae, are proposed, viz. the netrion for a specialized area on sides of pronotum, and mesopleural carina for a diagonal keel on mesopleuron (mesepisternum). Netrion and mesopleural carina are considered important characters for higher classification of the Scelionidae. The proposed characters are reviewed in the suprageneric categories (tribes and subfamilies) of the Scelionidae. The tribe Tiphodytini n. stat. is reinstated and removed from the synonymy with Thoronini, partly on account of the pleural characters.