We revise the North American fauna of Aulacideini (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) using morphological, ecological, and genetic (DNA barcode) data, incorporating observations from over 5,000 adult specimens and galls. Prior to revision, the fauna included 24 species in four genera. Six new genera and 25 new species are described, all authored by Nastasi: Argyrix gen. nov., Barathria gen. nov., Cosmita gen. nov., and Ketsia gen. nov., for species previously placed in Antistrophus Walsh; Prixima gen. nov., for a new species inducing galls on Pyrrhopappus DC.; and Tookeria gen. nov., for a new species inducing galls on Silphium L.; Antistrophus frieseni sp. nov., Antistrophus torqueus sp. nov., Argyrix insidia sp. nov., Argyrix laurae sp. nov., Argyrix mathisae sp. nov., Argyrix michaeli sp. nov., Argyrix smithi sp. nov., Aulacidea rachelae sp. nov., Aulacidea wolfeae sp. nov., Barathria sandrae sp. nov., B. sigourneyae sp. nov., Cosmita ametra sp. nov., C. confluenta sp. nov., C. davisi sp. nov., C. freyi sp. nov., C. hatfieldae sp. nov., C. hendersoni sp. nov., C. intrafolia sp. nov., C. murrellae sp. nov., C. perplexa sp. nov., C. russelli sp. nov., C. spiceri sp. nov., C. vandermeeri, sp. nov., Prixima radika sp. nov., and Tookeria chaplini sp. nov. Two new synonymies are proposed: Aulacidea annulata Kinsey, 1920 is a syn. nov. of Aulax tumida Bassett, 1890, and Aulax ambrosiaecola Ashmead, 1896 is a syn. nov. of Aulax harringtoni Ashmead, 1887. The following 10 new combinations are proposed for species formerly placed in Antistrophus: Argyrix microseris (McCracken & Egbert, 1922) comb. nov., Barathria bicolor (Gillette, 1891) comb. nov., B. laciniata (Gillette, 1891) comb. nov., B. silphii (Gillette, 1891) comb. nov., Cosmita jeanae (Tooker & Hanks, 2004) comb. nov., C. laurenae (Nastasi, 2024) comb. nov., C. meganae (Tooker & Hanks, 2004) comb. nov., C. minor (Gillette, 1891) comb. nov., C. rufa (Gillette, 1891) comb. nov., and Ketsia chrysothamni (Beutenmüller, 1908) comb. nov. Lectotypes are designated from syntype series for multiple species. We also propose the vernacular names “robust herb gall wasps” for Aulacideini and “slender herb gall wasps” for Phanacidini. After revision, the North American Aulacideini includes 48 species in ten genera, and the world fauna now includes 119 species in 17 genera. Morphological descriptions of adult insects and galls, diagnoses, and identification keys are provided along with ecological and DNA barcode data. We discuss the implications of our discoveries, especially with regard to emerging trends in ecology and species diversity, and future directions for work on herb gall wasps.

We describe a new species of Cuphodes Meyrick, 1897 (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) from South Africa, C. spermotrophus sp. nov., reared from fruits of Rhamnus prinoides L’Hér. (Rhamnaceae). This represents the first confirmed record of a seed-feeding Gracillariidae species from the African continent. The new species is distinguished from all known congeners by external morphology and male and female genitalia. Molecular data (COI barcode) confirm its distinctiveness and support its placement within Cuphodes. We provide diagnostic characters, illustrations of the adult and genitalia, and notes on its biology and host association. The discovery of this species expands the known feeding habits of Cuphodes, previously thought to include only leaf-mining species, and highlights the still largely unexplored trophic diversity of African Gracillariidae.

Xanthephialtes Cameron, 1906 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) is a small Afrotropical Darwin wasp genus with only two previously known species, for which we provide images of the holotypes. Here, we describe a new species of the genus, X. iida sp. nov., which is also the first record of the genus in Uganda. We provide a re-definition of the genus and a key to species along with notes on the morphological variation and mimicry of X. schoutedeni Benoit, 1954. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at http://www.waspweb.org.

Here, we present a phylogenetic analysis of Curculionini based on 84 ingroup species from seven genera; 19 fig-associated species were newly sequenced for this study from material reared from approximately 110 fig trees representing 25 Ficus species, while the remaining 65 Curculionini species and all 61 outgroup taxa were obtained from previously published datasets on GenBank. Our analyses suggest that Curculionini originated in the early Palaeocene (ca. 65 Ma), with crown diversification beginning in the early Eocene, broadly coincident with the Eocene Climatic Optimum and the expansion of tropical Ficus (Moraceae). Although traditionally regarded as nut- and gall-feeding beetles, our results indicate that fig feeding was likely the ancestral host association within the tribe. At least three independent host shifts subsequently occurred towards other rosalean fruits, insect galls and hard seeds of Fagaceae and Juglandaceae. These shifts are temporally concentrated from the late Eocene onward, coinciding with global climatic cooling and the expansion of temperate broad-leaved forests. Biogeographic reconstruction supports an Afrotropical origin of Curculionini, followed by dispersal into the Oriental and western Palearctic regions. A single Beringian dispersal event gave rise to the Nearctic acorn-weevil radiation. Our analyses further reveal extensive polyphyly within Curculio and demonstrate that current subtribal classifications do not reflect evolutionary history. Taken together, our results are consistent with the hypothesis that morphological and physiological preadaptations for exploiting concealed and chemically defended plant tissues, interacting with major Cenozoic Earth-history events, shaped the global diversification of Curculionini.

Arthropods are crucial to ecosystems, yet face multiple threats, with recent studies indicating global declines and many species at risk of extinction. The primary threats include land use change, climate change, invasive species, pesticides, pollution, and overexploitation, all of which can interact to compound this vulnerability. Although most insect conservation research comes from the Global North, South Africa has a long history of insect (and other arthropod) conservation, including comprehensive IUCN Red List assessments. We systematically assessed South African insect conservation in the peer reviewed literature (2000–2024) to identify research patterns, gaps, and implementation priorities. The Grasslands and Fynbos biomes are the most sampled, with the Succulent Karoo the least. Most work focused on beetles, dragonflies, butterflies, ants, grasshoppers, and spiders. Few studies provide publicly available data (<2%) or indicate where reference collections were housed (31%). The main threats identified in South Africa are habitat loss and fragmentation through agriculture, pesticides, timber plantations, and invasive species. Most studies highlighted solutions, including greening of urban and agricultural landscapes, reduced pesticide use, and establishing conservation corridors. Research output has increased fourfold between 2000–2004 and 2020–2024, but the lack of long-term monitoring and data accessibility challenges means we cannot confidently assess population trends across most of South Africa’s insect diversity. South Africa’s extensive conservation entomology research should inform policy changes and public education. South Africa has demonstrated the capacity for large-scale insect conservation, yet we need to build on these achievements by establishing monitoring networks which are essential for sustaining ecological function and human well-being.

The family Chalcedectidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is currently represented by described species in the Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical and Palaearctic regions. We here extend the distribution of the family to the Afrotropical and Oriental regions with description of 11 new species, which represents a 50% increase in the number of described world species. Chalcedectus tankwa van Noort & Mitroiu, sp. nov., is newly described from the Afrotropical and Palaearctic regions based on both sexes, whereas C. copelandi Gibson & van Noort, sp. nov., is described from the Afrotropical region based on both sexes and provisionally recorded from the Palaearctic region based on males. Also newly described from the Afrotropical region are C. bisculpturatus Gibson, sp. nov. (female), C. mabeabai van Noort, sp. nov. (female), C. madagascarensis Gibson, sp. nov. (both sexes), and C. schroderae van Noort, sp. nov. (both sexes). Newly described from the Oriental regionbased on both sexes are C. atratus Gibson, sp. nov., C. indraneela Ranjith, sp. nov., C. peculiatergalis Ranjith & Gibson, sp. nov., C. prolixus Gibson, sp. nov., and C. striolatus Gibson, sp. nov. The two species previously described from the Palaearctic, C. balachowskyi Steffan and C. sinaiticus (Masi), are also treated. All species are imaged through macrophotography and keyed separately for the three regions treated. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at: www.waspweb.org.

Sericopimpla Kriechbaumer, 1895 (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Pimplinae) is a moderately large Darwin wasp genus distributed mostly in the Paleotropics and Australasian region. Here, we describe a new Afrotropical species of the genus, S. kibalensis sp. nov., and provide notes on the intraspecific variation of the other known Afrotropical species: S. sericata (Kriechbaumer, 1895). We record the genus for the first time from Uganda, based on specimens collected with Malaise traps in Kibale National Park.

Natural history collections are biodiversity repositories fundamentally important in the process of documenting life on Earth and interpreting the global biodiversity crisis. The Iziko South African Museum has a large, well-curated, and internationally significant entomology collection that is the oldest in South Africa with specimens dating back to the 1850s. Over the past 32 years I have conducted continuous invertebrate inventory surveys across a range of habitats in South Africa and further afield in Africa. This replicated effort has totalled 101 866 Malaise trap days (= 279 Malaise trap years). The samples emanating from the Malaise traps have produced an estimated 57.15 million arthropod specimens increasing the collection size by several orders of magnitude. There are, however, major challenges associated with mobilizing specimen data, including logistical bottlenecks centred on the curation, digitization, and description of species to elevate the data through the value chain for the benefit of science and society. Progress is being made with 426 878 catalogue records, representing over a million arthropod specimens, having so far been curated and digitized on the Iziko entomology database Specify6. Mobilization of this data is necessary to provide baseline data for the effective long-term management of ecosystems.

The new species Eusterinx dzanga Humala & van Noort, sp. nov. from Central African Republic, Eusterinx kirkwoodi Humala & van Noort, sp. nov. and Eusterinx gamka van Noort & Humala, sp. nov. from South Africa, and Eusterinx kibale van Noort & Humala, sp. nov. from Uganda belonging to the subgenus Ischyracis are described and illustrated. An illustrated identification key to the known Afrotropical Eusterinx species is provided. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at: http://www.waspweb.org.

Small organisms tend to lose water more rapidly than larger ones because of their high surface area relative to their body volume. In hot arid regions, desiccation resistance is an important trait for these organisms as they are exposed to high day temperatures and scarcity of water. For instance, Ocymyrmex ants have evolved physiological adaptations that enable them to survive the dry environments in which they live. These ants are adapted to forage at ground temperatures exceeding 50 degrees C. In this study, we investigated the physiological traits that enhance thermo-tolerance across selected Ocymyrmex species, collected from different climatic zones in South Africa. We measured and compared desiccation resistance, critical thermal limits, and cuticular hydrocarbon composition of these ants and tested whether these traits are evolutionary conserved or labile. We also investigated whether these adaptations are maintained by evolutionary constraints or environmental factors. Our results demonstrated that these ants have high thermal limits, are resistant to desiccation, and that their cuticular hydrocarbons are composed of long chains dominated by linear alkanes, which are believed to be beneficial for waterproofing. The results also showed a strong phylogenetic signal for desiccation tolerance, which could indicate that desiccation tolerance is an ancestral trait in this group of ants. In contrast, there was weak evidence for phylogenetic signal in critical thermal limits across all species, which could indicate that these traits are ubiquitous rather than varying across species from different environments.

We review the tribes of Cynipidae that are known to contain gall inducers on herbaceous plants, which are presently classified in four tribes: Aulacideini, Aylacini, Diastrophini, and Phanacidini. We provide a revised key to these tribes, diagnostic characters for each tribe, and an updated key to brachypterous and apterous Cynipoidea including the inclusion of brachyptery in Phanacidini. We propose the replacement name Eubothrus Forster, 1869 for the genus Isocolus Forster, 1869 (Aulacideini) as the latter is a homonym of the trilobite genus Isocolus Angelin, 1854 (Trilobita: Isocolidae). We also provide a checklist of world herb gall wasp species including host plant and geographic distribution data. Overall, we report 166 species of herb gall wasps, finding 96 species in 11 genera in Aulacideini, 6 species in 3 genera in Aylacini, and 39 species in 4 genera in Phanacidini, as well as 25 gall-inducing species in 3 genera in Diastrophini, of which 11 are or probably are associated with herbaceous plants. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the taxa treated herein are available at: http://www.waspweb.org.

In the eastern part of its distribution, Ficus craterostoma occurs in Afromontane forests whereas it also occurs in low-lying scarp and Indian Ocean coastal belt forests in South Africa. Ficus craterostoma must have dispersed to these low-lying forests from the Afromontane forests, even though forests became highly fragmented during the Pleistocene. To understand how these ancient changes have impacted the distribution and population structure of F. craterostoma we quantified the genetic variation in its slow-evolving chloroplast DNA with limited dispersal ability via seeds, and its highly variable nuclear microsatellites that reflect exceptional pollen flow. The chloroplast variation was highly structured and frequently monomorphic in nearby forests while the nuclear variation showed little structure and isolation by distance. From these data we reach several conclusions. Ficus craterostoma may have become extinct from South Africa's northern Afromontane forests during the Pleistocene. These forests were possibly subsequently recolonized from southern forests that may have been scarp or Afromontane in nature. Additionally, there was one scarp and one Indian Ocean coastal belt forest refugium, both of which were very isolated and small. Nuclear gene flow caused by pollen flow is very effective along the western part of the South African population, knitting together Afromontane and scarp forest fragments, dispersed over 1000 km, into one genetic population. Conversely, the Indian Ocean coastal belt forest refugium appears to have been isolated in terms of gene flow, but more recent gene flow with two nearby inland forests may have started to homogenize their genetic variation. Due to the unusual pollination system of fig trees, other forest tree species may display very different dynamics. (c) 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of SAAB. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Some fig species introduced outside of their native range have become invasive when colonized by their obligate pollinating wasps, but how these pollinators migrated and adapted to novel environments are less studied. Here, we focus on Eupristina verticillata, the obligate pollinating wasp of an invasive fig tree species (Ficus microcarpa), to uncover its demography and the molecular basis for adaptations to novel environments. We find that only one of the three cryptic species colonized in the sampling locations outside of its native range. This dominant cryptic species migrated simultaneously from the native range to the Americas and to the Mediterranean c. 130 years ago. Moreover, selective sweep analyses reveal several positively selected genes associated with adaptations to the nonnative range. Genome-wide association detect a nonsynonymous substitution in a dopamine N-acetyltransferase gene significantly linked with brood size. Our study outlines the route to colonization and genetic adaptations of an invasive mutualism.

A revision of the African species of the social wasp genus Ropalidia Guérin-Méneville is given (excluding Madagascar). It is based on 5,717 examined specimens and 528 documented field observations. A taxonomic revision, mitochondrial COI and 28S rDNA are provided, alongside a hypothesis-free morphometric analysis of female head shape based on 42 pre-defined landmarks assignments. In addition to 15 valid or re-established species, 33 new species are described here (R. acuminata sp. nov., R. amanhii sp. nov., R. aulaeum sp. nov., R. baki sp. nov., R. barbata sp. nov., R. caesariata sp. nov., R. clepsydra sp. nov., R. copelandi sp. nov., R. dondo sp. nov., R. flavoscutelata sp. nov., R. fita sp. nov., R. haladaorum sp. nov., R. hastata sp. nov., R. kitui sp. nov., R. kuficha sp. nov., R. luculenta sp. nov., R. mabawa sp. nov., R. macloutsie sp. nov., R. makore sp. nov., R. mangoflava sp. nov., R. mosichi sp. nov., R. nigrocerasina sp. nov., R. nubila sp. nov., R. ophuzi sp. nov., R. perovici sp. nov., R. retromaculata sp. nov., R. salebrosa sp. nov., R. sandamara sp. nov., R. soikae sp. nov., R. tajiri sp. nov., R. tenebrica sp. nov., R. tenuipilosa sp. nov., R. valentula sp. nov.). Males of eight known species are described for the first time. Genetic sequences were very useful for species separation, although there were some exceptions; the most notable exception was R. guttatipennis (de Saussure), with 25 COI genetic lineages recorded in a single morphospecies. The African species of the genus Ropalidia are characterized by the substantial overlap of intraspecific and interspecific variation, diverse genetic lineages and numerous local and endemic speciation processes.

Egeria densa is a submerged aquatic weed that can grow into dense monocultures in rivers and dams in South Africa, which negatively affects ecosystem functioning and services. The biological control agent Hydrellia egeriae Rodrigues-Júnior (Diptera: Ephydridae) was first released against Egeria densa Planchon (Hydrocharitaceae) in South Africa in 2018. Biotic resistance in an introduced range can have negative impacts on the ability of a biological control agent to establish and exert top-down pressure. Dipteran and lepidopteran species that are used as biological control agents are often susceptible to higher levels of parasitism in their introduced range than biological control agents from other insect orders. In addition, ecological analogues that are present in South Africa, make H. egeriae particularly vulnerable to biotic resistance. Considering this, post-release surveys were conducted to investigate if native parasitoids will extend their host range to include H. egeriae. Chaenusa seminervata van Achterberg, C. anervata van Achterberg (Braconidae: Alysiinae: Dacnusini) and Ademon lagarosiphonae van Achterberg (Braconidae: Opiinae) were reared from field-collected H. egeriae pupae, within a year of its release. These braconid parasitoids were previously recorded from a native herbivore, Hydrellia lagarosiphon Deeming (Diptera: Ephydridae). Parasitism levels of H. egeriae ranged from 50 to 74% in cold months and 0 to 60% in warmer months, with higher levels of parasitism at a site where H. lagarosiphon naturally occurs. This study also found that cumulative release events of the biological control agent increase the probability of parasitism of field populations, by directly increasing the host pool. However, biological control efficacy can potentially be increased by limiting release efforts to a maximum of two release events per site per season, with particular focus on releasing in warm (i.e. spring/summer) months. Continued post-release surveys are necessary to not only monitor H. egeriae’s impact on E. densa, but also to obtain a better understanding of seasonal parasitism levels across E. densa-invaded sites in South Africa.

The circumscription of the family Ormyridae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) is revised after phylogenetic analysis based on ultra-conserved elements (UCEs) and comparative morphological assessment of the chalcid 'Gall Clade'. Six genera are treated in the family, including two new genera, Halleriaphagus van Noort and Burks, gen. nov., and Ouma Mitroiu, gen. nov. One genus, Eubeckerella Narendran, is re-assigned to the family, and Ormyrulus Bou & ccaron;ek is synonymised with Ormyrus Westwood, syn. nov., resulting in the new combination Ormyrus gibbus (Bou & ccaron;ek), comb. nov. The six genera are classified in three subfamilies, two of which are newly described, Asparagobiinae van Noort, Burks, Mitroiu and Rasplus, subfam. nov., and Hemadinae van Noort, Burks, Mitroiu and Rasplus, subfam. nov. Halleriaphagus is established for the newly described type species Halleriaphagus phagolucida van Noort and Burks, sp. nov., and Ouma is erected for O. daleskeyae Mitroiu, sp. nov., and O. emazantsi Mitroiu, sp. nov. Asparagobius is revised with description of Asparagobius bouceki van Noort, sp. nov., and Asparagobius copelandi Rasplus and van Noort, sp. nov. Asparagobius and Halleriaphagus are classified in Asparagobiinae, Hemadas in Hemadinae and Eubeckerella, Ormyrus and Ouma in Ormyrinae. The molecular support defining the ormyrid clade is corroborated by the proposed morphological synapomorphy of a foliaceous prepectus overlying the tegula base. Identification keys to the genera of Ormyridae and to the species of Asparagobius and Ouma are provided. Online Lucid identification keys and images of all the species treated herein are available at: .Zoobank Registration: LSID . We redefine the circumscription of Ormyridae based on a phylogenomic dataset and morphological reassessment. Based on the phylogenetic results and comparative morphological assessment, subfamilies are established for the first time. The results support the description of two new genera Halleriaphagus van Noort and Burks, gen. nov., and Ouma Mitroiu, gen. nov., and five new species. Well-illustrated keys are provided to subfamilies, genera and species. Ormyridae are associated with plant galls, either as gall formers or as parasitoids of gall formers. Asparagobius form galls on Asparagus (Asparagaceae); Hemadas produces galls on Vaccinium (Ericaceae); Halleriaphagus galls Halleria (Stilbaceae); Ormyrus are parasitoids of gall formers. image

The Old World braconine wasp genus Trigastrotheca Cameron is revised. The genus is recorded from the island of Madagascar for the first time based on two new species, T. christianhenrichi Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. and T. formosa Quicke & Friedman, sp. nov.Trigastrotheca griffini Quicke, sp. nov. is described from Australia; T. aethiopica Quicke & Friedman, sp. nov. is described from Ethiopia; T. braeti Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. is described from Congo; T. simba van Noort, sp. nov. is described from Tanzania; T. freidbergi Quicke & Friedman, sp. nov., T. carinata Ranjith, sp. nov., T. flava Ranjith, sp. nov. and T. similidentata Ranjith, sp. nov. are described from India; T. khaoyaiensis Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov., T. naniensis Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov., and T. sublobata Quicke & Butcher, sp. nov. are described from Thailand. Trigastrotheca tridentata is recorded from Thailand for the first time. A putative female of T. sureeratae is described for the first time. Acrocerilia tricolor Quicke & Ingram, 1993 is transferred into Trigastrotheca, as T. acroceropsisnom. nov. A key is provided for the identification of species.

ormyridae_trees.nex : contains the 3 phylogenetic trees included in the paper : the IQ-TREE tree obtained from the concatenated UCE data set without partitioning; the IQ-TREE tree obtained from the concatenated UCE data set with partitioning using the SWSC method; the ASTRAL tree. The file can be opened in Figtree to navigate between trees. Statistical supports can be visualised as branch or node labels. ormyridae_dataset.tar.gz : contains the final 671 UCE files aligned with MAFFT-linsi and cleaned with seqtools. These files were analysed individually or as a concatenated matrix to obtained the provided trees.

Known by many names, the Chinese banyan (Ficus microcarpa L.) is a monoecious plant species originating from south-eastern Asia which has been introduced as an ornamental in numerous areas outside its native range, including the Mediterranean. Like every species of Ficus, it is associated with a series of chalcid wasp species, known as fig wasps. These species are distributed in the families Agaonidae, Epichrysomallidae, Eurytomidae, Ormyridae and Pteromalidae. In this publication, we describe a new species of Ormyrus Westwood, 1832 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Ormyridae), O. microcarpae Askew & Koutsoukos sp. nov., reared from figs of F. microcarpa collected from Greece and Cyprus. The new species is compared with O. lini and O. watshami. This species is likely to be a parasitoid of Meselatus bicolor Chen, 1999 (Hymenoptera, Epichrysomallidae). In addition, the previously unknown female of O. lini is also described and illustrated. This publication constitutes the first report of species of Ormyrus associated with figs in Europe.