Calesidae new status

Calesinae Mercet, 1929. Type genus: Cales Howard, 1907.

Diagnosis.

Antenna with radicle 2-4 times as long as broad; 3 or 4 flagellomeres, clava fused and longer than preceding flagellomeres; most species with multiporous plate sensilla raised and not attached along length to flagellomeres. Protibial spur short and straight. All legs with 4 tarsomeres. Axilla extending forward as distinct narrow scapula (Fig. 111). Mesosoma broadly joined to metasoma, with second phragma extending into metasoma. Hind wing with strongly curved marginal vein. Body pale yellowish or yellowish brown in color.

Discussion.

Calesinae has been treated as an unusual component of Aphelinidae with no direct affinities to other Aphelinidae (Mottern et al. 2011; Heraty et al. 2013). Next generation molecular data conclusively place the only genus Cales Howard as part of a sister group to most other lineages of Chalcidoidea (Cruaud et al., submitted) and not as a member of Aphelinidae . Given that Calesidae is divergent from Aphelinidae both morphologically (Fig. 111) and molecularly, we raise it to family status. Calesidae resemble many Trichogrammatidae in features of the fore wing venation and antennae, but differ from this family by having 4-segmented tarsi. Euderomphalini ( Eulophidae) are similar whitefly parasitoids, but these can be distinguished by their narrow petiole with the second phragma restricted to the mesosoma.