Molecular data indicate that Telenominae is not monophyletic: (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae)

The superfamily Platygastroidea is primaryil made up of egg parasitoids of other insects and spiders. It contains only one family, Platygastridae, and five subfamilies: Platygastrinae, Sceliotrachelinae, Scelioninae, Teleasinae, and Telenominae. The subfamily Telenominae is a cosmopolitan taxon containing 20 genera and more than 880 described species. The subfamily is considered to be the most important group within Platygastroidea in biological control for agricultural pests. The small body size (0.5-1.0 mm.), wide distribution, and species richness are the major impediments to their study. The interrelationships within the subfamily as well as the correlations between host eggs and telenomines are still unclear. A preliminary phylogenetic reconstruction was performed examining 9 genera of telenomine wasps, expanding to more than 90 species from several localities around the world. Phylogenetic reconstruction was performed using both parsimony and statistical analysis (Maximum Likelihood & Baysian), all of which were executed using four molecular markers: 18S, 28S, COI and EF-1α. The molecular evidence show that the subfamily is not monophyletic: one clade, the Psix group of genera, is more closely related to other members of the tribe Gryonini. The interrelationships between Trissolcus and Telenomus is unresolved. The results set the stage for more in-depth analysis of these taxa, and the formal classification will require significant revision. This work is part of the ongoing Platygastroidea Planetary Biodiversity Inventory.