Three New Species of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from China, with a Note on the japonicus Group

In this paper, three new species of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), Aphelinus jinshanensis Wang & Huang, sp.n., Aphelinus albimaculatus Wang & Huang, sp.n. and Aphelinus varius Wang & Huang, sp.n. are described and illustrated. Additionally, the japonicus group of Aphelinus is reviewed. The japonicus group is differentiated from all the known groups of these three subgenera by having a 3-segmented flagellum in the male. It is characterized by the following combination of features: antenna 6-segmented in the female, and 5-segmented in the male; body yellow, partly dark brown to black; the numerous setae on mid-lobe not arranged in symmetry; ovipositor short, and hypopygium not reaching to the apex of the gaster. Aphelinus varius Wang & Huang, sp.n. described here represents the second species assigned to the japonicus group. An identification key to the species of this group is provided. The relationships among these three new species are analyzed using a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on cox1 sequences. While the evolutionary relationships of some species or groups remain uncertain due to weak statistical support for the relevant branches.