A remarkable new genus and species of Rogadinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) of uncertain tribal placement, from Papua New Guinea, resembling Betylobraconini stat. nov.

Abstract

Cyranorogas gen. nov. (type species C. depardeui sp. nov.) from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. The new taxon has a uniquely produced mid-longitudinal facial ridge, which differentiates it from all other genera of Braconidae. The difficulty of distinguishing the Betylobraconinae from the Rogadinae, especially from various members of the Yeliconini, is discussed, and they are formally synonymised here with the Betylobraconini recognised as a tribe of Rogadinae. No clear synapomorphy with either Yeliconini or Betylobraconini could be found for Cyranorogas leaving its tribal placement uncertain, attempts to obtain molecular sequence data having been unsuccessful.