Scratching the surface of Afrotropical Dissomphalus (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae): a revision uncovering 114 new species.

The main goal of this paper is to revise the Dissomphalus genus within the Afrotropical region. Specimens were collected across seventeen countries: Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. A total of 127 species have been identified in the Afrotropical region.

Revision of the punctatus species-group of Dissomphalus Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae).

The Neotropical region is known for its high species diversity. Dissomphalus Ashmead exemplifies this phenomenon, being the most speciose genus within Bethylidae, with 34 species-groups and 287 species. Among these groups, punctatus is one of the smallest, comprising only seven species.

Morphology and evolution of the mesopleuron in Bethylidae (Hymenoptera: Chrysidoidea) mapped on a molecular phylogeny.

The mesopleuron of Bethylidae has morphostructural characters that remain poorly understood, explored, and defined. The wide range of variability of this sclerite has generated confusion both in taxonomic and cladistic studies. Aiming to solve this issue, we describe the general mesopleural anatomy of Bethylidae.

Review of Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from Panama, with key to the Central American species.

Sixty-four species of Dissomphalus from Panama are recognized, 31 are described and illustrated as new to science: D. abarus sp. nov.