World species of the genus Platyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

World species of the genus Platyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

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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: Platyscelio 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 Platyscelio pulchricornis Kieffer (Australia, Bangladesh, Pouches China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam).

Five species-group names are considered to be junior synonyms of Platyscelio pulchricornis: Platyscelio abnormis Crawford, syn.n., Platyscelio dunensis Mukerjee, syn.

n., Platyscelio mirabilis Dodd, syn.n.

, Platyscelio punctatus Kieffer, syn.n., and Platyscelio wilcoxi Fullaway.

The following species are hypothesized and described as new taxa: Platyscelio arcuatus Taekul & Johnson, sp.n.(Western Australia); Platyscelio mysterium Taekul & Johnson, sp.

n.(Zimbabwe, Paper Roll Towel Botswana, South Africa); Platyscelio mzantsi Taekul & Johnson, sp.n.

(South Africa); and Platyscelio striga Taekul & Johnson, sp.n.(Western Australia).