What is the sistergroup to the Azotinae? The Azotinae are currently classified in the Aphelinidae. Yet simply looking for a sistergroup within the Aphelinidae is not an option as morphological and molecular studies have indicated otherwise. In their molecular analysis, Campbell et al. (2000) found that Azotinae was sister to the Coccophaginae, Eretmocerini, and Trichogrammatidae clade, and that Aphelinidae was also paraphyletic. Further complicating the matter is the morphological evidence which lead Woolley (1998) to infer a Signiphoridae and Azotinae sister relationship. Woolley’s morphological evidence appears to be sound, but the analysis of Campbell et al. is not necessarily negated. My own past molecular analyses have found the Azotinae to be variously allied with the Signiphoridae and Trichogrammatidae and Aphelinidae to be paraphyletic.

Herein, I will present the result of a larger-scale molecular analysis. The dataset included 236 taxa, representing all 19 extant families of Chalcidoidea, and exemplar outgroup taxa of Mymarommatoidea, Cynipoidea, Ceraphronoidea, Platygastroidea and Proctotrupoidea. Molecular data included the 28S-D2 & D3 rDNA transcript regions and partial 18S rDNA sequence. Two matrices were produced, wherein the data were aligned ‘by-eye’ and according to a model of secondary structure. The alignment methods were then compared by subjecting them to a variety of analyses programs.