Polynema Haliday, 1833

Triapitsyn, Serguei V., 2021, Taxonomic review of Polynema (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in Australia and New Zealand, with descriptions of eight new species, Zootaxa 4915 (2), pp. 151-200 : 152-153

Genus Polynema Haliday, 1833

Polynema Haliday 1833: 269 , 347. Type species: Polynema flavipes Walker , designated by Huber & Bouček 2001: 280–281.

Polynema Haliday : Triapitsyn & Fidalgo 2006: 57 (key to subgenera of Polynema sensu lato).

Polynema ( Polynema Haliday ): Triapitsyn & Fidalgo 2006: 57 (key to subgenera of Polynema ), 60 (taxonomic history, synonyms, comments); Rehmat & Anis 2016: 140 (key), 148 (diagnosis).

Polynema (Dorypolynema) Hayat & Anis 1999: 318 . Type species: Polynema mendeli Girault , by original designation.

Polynema (Dorypolynema Hayat & Anis): Triapitsyn & Fidalgo 2006: 57 (key to subgenera of Polynema ), 60–61 (taxonomic history, distribution, comments); Triapitsyn & Aquino 2010: 62–63 (diagnosis, taxonomic comments and discussion, distribution, host associations), 67–68 (key to described species); Rehmat & Anis 2016: 140 (key), 146–147 (diagnosis, list of species, distribution).

Comments. Only two of the three currently recognized subgenera of Polynema sensu lato occur in Australia, P. ( Polynema ) and P. (Dorypolynema), whereas only P. ( Polynema ) is known from New Zealand, where all the recognized species appear to be native. Because Polynema sensu lato, as it is currently recognized, will eventually be recognized as at least two genera (S.V. Triapitsyn, in preparation), providing a diagnosis at this time is pointless. For the time being, a key to the subgenera in Triapitsyn & Fidalgo (2006), and the diagnoses and discussions in Triapitsyn & Fidalgo (2006), Triapitsyn & Aquino (2010), and Rehmat & Anis (2016), as well the generic keys to the Mymaridae of Australia ( Lin et al. 2007) and New Zealand ( Noyes & Valentine 1989) may be used. All the species of P. ( Polynema ) in Australia and New Zealand have the same distinctive feature, which is absent from all the extralimital members of the nominate subgenus—the petiole has more or less distinctive lateral “wings” (membrane flaps) anteriorly that are better seen in dorsal view ( Figs 41 , 67 ) while often being inconspicuous, as a fine line, in lateral view ( Fig. 127 ). Because of this feature I recognize the species as comprising the newly established, informal draperi species group.

Hosts of Polynema species in Australia and New Zealand are unknown.

Figures

FIGURES 40–43. Polynema (Polynema) baronessa, male (paratype): 40, head and antenna; 41, petiole; 42, fore wing; 43, genitalia.

FIGURES 65–69. Polynema (Polynema) editha, female (Australia): 65, antenna (New England National Park, New South Wales); 66, frenum, metanotum and propodeum (Macquarie Pass, New South Wales); 67, petiole (Mt. Tamborine, Queensland); 68, head in frontal view (New England National Park, New South Wales); 69, fore wing (Macquarie Pass, New South Wales).

FIGURES 124–129. Polynema (Polynema) princessa, female: 124, holotype slide; 125, antenna (holotype); 126, mesosoma (holotype); 127, metasoma (holotype); 128, fore wing (paratype); 129, petiole in lateral view (holotype).