RECLASSIFICATION OF MICROGASTERINI n 



I consider that the Microgasterinae would be better restricted to the two tribes 

 Microgasterini and Cardiochilini together with the genus Mirax which, as stated 

 earlier on, might with justification be given tribal status. These three segregates 

 have one important feature in common : the spiracle of the first tergite is situated 

 on the lateral, membranous part of the tergite, remote from the sclerotised, median 

 plate. It needs to be stressed, however, that otherwise no special resemblances 

 unite them. Each, too, is sharply distinct from the others; nor, as far as I am aware, 

 do they converge at any point. 



The tribe Microgasterini, numerically vastly superior to the Cardiochilini and 

 Mirax, is remarkably homogeneous. Its two special features — the closed cubitellan 

 cell and differentiated vannal lobe of the hind wing — remain constant throughout 

 almost its entire range and, in combination with the spiracle of the first tergite, 

 provide the essential characteristics of the tribe, and indeed of the subfamily Micro- 

 gasterinae, since in my opinion the two are virtually synonymous. 



The Acoelinii as represented by Adelius and Paradelius could form more fittingly a 

 tribe within the Cheloninae. This tribe shows no close relationship with any of the 

 Microgasterini genera. 



Paroligoneurus resembles the Microgasterini only in having a reduced venation, 

 though the reduction is not homologous in the two segregates. The finding of a new 

 place for this genus outside the Microgasterinae and the possible raising of its 

 status belong to the wider problem of revising the major classification of the Bracon- 

 idae. Such a task will involve a survey of the world fauna, for it is ingenuous to 

 expect that the existing subfamilies, based entirely on species of the North temperate 

 region, can cover the enormous range of structure now known to exist within tropical 

 Braconidae. 



KEY TO GENERA AND TRIBES OF THE MICROGASTERINAE 



1 Three cubital cells present, the 2nd always much longer than wide, the 2nd abscissa of 



the radius being always much longer than the 1st (Text-fig. 8) ; antenna with at 

 least 26 segments ; notaulices always well developed. 



Spiracle of the 1st tergite situated on the latero-tergite, as in the Microgasterini; 

 a sharply discrete, more heavily sclerotised, median plate, such as occurs in this 

 tribe, rarely developed ; 3rd abscissa of the radius at base characteristically 

 concave towards the wing-edge ; inner spur of the hind tibia always longer than 

 the length of the hind basitarsus .... CARDIOCHILINI s. str. 



- Rarely three cubital cells present and the 2nd always very small (areolet of the 

 Microgasterini), not longer than wide, the 2nd abscissa of the radius not longer than 

 the 1st ; notaulices rarely developed and then the antenna with not more than 18 

 segments ............. 2 



2 Hind wing with a cubitellan cell that is closed distally by a spurious vein (Text-fig. 5), 



(the Australian Micropotes and the S. African Semionis are exceptions) ; hind wing 

 with a differentiated vannal lobe, limited distally by a notch, (the monobasic 

 Brazilian Lavissimus and Prasmodon are exceptions) ; vannal fold at least twice as 

 long as the anal vein lying along it ; external, distal corner of the submediellan cell 

 of the hind wing always remote from the edge of the wing ; 2nd cubital cell (areolet) 

 either open or closed distally, but always small, the 2nd abscissa of the radius never 

 longer than the 1st ; spiracle of the 1st tergite always situated on the latero-tergite, 

 remote from the more heavily sclerotised, median plate ; antenna always with 18 

 segments MICROGASTERINI 



