The New World species of the genus Calliscelio (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae), parasitic wasps of cricket eggs (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

The genus Calliscelio Ashmead is a diverse group of parasitoids of the eggs of crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). A least one species has been found to be an important factor in depressing cricket pest populations. Further development of this potential depends upon a better understanding of the diversity and relationships within the genus. Although Calliscelio was originally erected based on species of the New World, only 6 species were reported from the region to date, suggesting that more remain to be discovered. Thus, a comprehensive revision of species of Calliscelio based on extensive sampling from the New World would provide a better understanding of the diversity and interrelationships among species in the genus. In this study, in total of 42 species are recognized from the New World, of which 38 are new to science. All these species were described or redescribed, illustrated and keyed. Several important morphological characters are provided for the identification of the species of Calliscelio and the geographical distribution records of the genus are expanded to more than 30 countries and regions in the New World. The documentation of the species diversity is crucial to the understanding of the evolution and interrelationships among the species of this genus, as well as to societal conservation policies, especially in the context that some Calliscelio species with extraordinarily broad geographic distributions are believed due to increased globalization of human commerce.