Phylogenetic evidence for a new braconid subfamily (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Maxfischeriinae) with five new species and the description of a novel egg morphology

The tribe Maxfischeriini, previously placed in Helconinae, is emended to subfamily status based upon morphological and molecular evidence. Putative autapomorphies for Maxfischeriinae include: the presence of a pronotal shelf, a smooth scutellar sulcus, presence of mesonotal mid pit, fore wing vein 2a present, ventral valve of the ovipositor with serrations from tip to base, and pedunculate eggs. Five new species of Maxfischeria Papp are described. Based on CO1 data, the phylogenetic relationships among the six known species of Maxfischeria are as follows: (M. folkertsorum (M. ovumancora (M. briggsi (M. anic (M. tricolor + M. ameliae))))). Additionally, a novel stalked egg with an anchor is described for Maxfischeria, representing a new life history strategy within Braconidae. Based on egg and ovipositor morphology, we suggest that Maxfischeria is a proovigenic, koinobiont ectoparasitoid.