The Species of the mali-Group of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with Descriptions of Three New Species, DNA Sequence Data and One Newly-Recorded Species from China

Seventeen species of the <i>mali</i>-group of <i>Aphelinus</i> (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) are reviewed worldwide, including three new species, and five previously described species in China. The <i>mali</i>-group was defined by a combination of characters: head and body dark with parts of metasoma pale; fore wing with a complete row of setae inside the linea calva, or also only with a few setae in the angle between the linea and marginal vein; legs with mesocoxae, metacoxae and metatibia dark, metafemur pale. In this paper, three new species, <i>Aphelinus tuberocephalus</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b>, <i>Aphelinus hainanensis</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b> and <i>Aphelinus ruellia</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b>, are described and illustrated, with notes on one species, <i>Aphelinus coreae</i> Hopper & Woolley, new to China. A revised key to species of the <i>mali</i>-group is provided. Mitochondrial (COI) partial sequences were obtained successfully for <i>A. tuberocephalus</i>, <i>A. hainanensis</i>, <i>A. ruellia</i> and <i>A. coreae</i>.