Revision of the Australian Thynnidae and Tiphiidae (Hymenoptera)

The Australian Thynnidae and Tiphiidae are revised with emphasis on the Thynninae and including those related extralimital species and genera that occur in neighbouring countries to the north and north east. Most are placed in Thynnidae (75 valid genera including 18 new and 817 valid described species of which 116 are new) while the Tiphiidae is limited to a single species (Tiphia intrudens). Discussions are provided on the functional morphology that allows for prolonged coupling but does not prevent miscoupling; and an introduction to pheromone advances and the importance of thynnids to orchid pollination and conservation and the known larval host range is extended to include bees and ants. General information for subfamilies and tribes are given. Keys to subfamilies, tribes, genera and species are provided. Three new tribes are proposed for many genera previously included in Thynnini as well as new genera: Agriomyini Brown, tribe nov. (Aeolothynnus Ashmead, 1903, Agriomyia Gurin-Mneville, 1838, Aulacothynnus Turner, 1910, stat. rev., Chilothynnus Brown, 1997, Dythynnus Kimsey, 2001, Gyrothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Leiothynnus Turner, 1910, Neozeleboria Rohwer, 1910, Nitidothynnus Brown, 2001, Pentazeleboria Brown, 1983, Procerothynnus Brown, 2001, Psammothynnus Ashmead, 1903, Sinothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Zeleboria Saussure, 1868); Tachynomyini Brown, tribe nov. (Ariphron Erichson, 1842, Deuterothynnus Brown, 2005, Heligmothynnus Brown, 2005, Phymatothynnus Turner, 1908, Tachynoides Kimsey, 1996, Tachynomyia Gurin-Mneville, 1842, Tachyphron Brown, 1995, Wrangathynnus Brown, gen. nov.); and Iswaroidini Brown, tribe nov. (Acanthothynnus Turner, 1910, Arthrothynnus Brown, 1997, Aspidothynnus Turner, 1910, Beithynnus Kimsey, 2002, Caetrathynnus Brown, 2001, Doratithynnus Turner, 1910, Encopothynnus Turner, 1915, Epactiothynnus Turner, 1910, Eurysothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Flatrothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Gymnothynnus Turner, 1910, Iswaroides Ashmead, 1899, Jocothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Mulctothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Pappothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Quirithynnus Brown, gen. nov., Rostrothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Thynnoturneria Rohwer, 1910, Brown, stat. rev., Tmesothynnus Turner, 1910, Ypsilothynnus Brown, gen. nov.). The remaining thynnine genera (Anpogothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Bifidothynnus Brown, 1992, Campylothynnus Turner, 1910, Catocheilus Gurin-Mneville, 1842, Elidothynnus Turner, 1910, Guerinius Ashmead, 1903, Insolitothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Keteiothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Leptothynnus Turner, 1910, Lestricothynnus Turner, 1910, Levothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Lophocheilus Gurin-Mneville, 1842, Macrothynnus Turner, 1908, Megalothynnus Turner, 1910, Oncorhinothynnus Salter, 1954, Ozaspothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Thynnoides Gurin-Mneville, 1838, Thynnus Fabricius, 1775, Vehemenothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Zaspilothynnus Ashmead, 1903) are retained in, or added to, the Thynnini. The Rhagigasterini remains unchanged (Curvothynnus, Dimorphothynnus, Eirone, Rhagigaster, Rugosothynnus, Rhytidothynnus and Umbothynnus) apart from the addition of a single genus Zonothynnus Brown, gen. nov. for some species previously included in Rhagigaster. All genera include: citation, diagnosis, a checklist of described species; comments on what little, if anything, is known of the biology; and keys to all known species. Most new species are not described but are included as manuscript numbers due to the large number of cryptic species that need closer examination and the scarcity or condition of many older specimens. Aulacothynnus Turner, 1910, stat. rev. is removed from synonymy with Neozeleboria Rohwer, 1910; Pogonothynnus Turner, 1910, stat. nov., syn. nov. from Zaspilothynnus Ashmead, 1903 and synonymised with Guerinius Ashmead, 1903; and Hathynnus Kimsey, 2003, syn. nov. with Procerothynnus Brown, 2001. The status of Thynnoturneria Rohwer, 1910, stat. rev. is revised. The new genera: Eurysothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Mulctothynnus Brown, gen. nov., Rostrothynnus Brown, gen. nov. and Ypsilothynnus Brown, gen. nov. are described. Belothynnus Turner, 1910, syn. nov. is newly synonymised with Thynnoides Gurin-Mneville, 1838. Xanthobosca Brown, gen. nov. is erected for many species of the smaller Anthobosca Gurin-Mneville, 1838; Flatrothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for most species previously included in Gymnothynnus Turner, 1910 and many others; Levothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for mostly smaller Thynnoides Gurin-Mneville, 1838; Pappothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for most Epactiothynnus Turner, 1910; Keteiothynnus Brown, gen. nov. and Vehemenothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for two groups of species previously included in Zaspilothynnus Ashmead, 1903; Anpogothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for all species previously placed in Pogonothynnus Turner, 1910 except the type species, Thynnus fenestratus Smith, 1859; Gyrothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for Gyrothynnus elboga Brown, sp. nov. from Western Australia that resembles Phymatothynnus Turner, 1908 but has distinctive and widely dissimilar male genitalia; Quirithynnus Brown, gen. nov.for two new species from drier parts of South Australia and Western Australia which have a bifid hypopygium; Ozaspothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for Ozaspothynnus winifredae Brown, sp. nov. from South Western Western Australia; Sinothynnus Brown, gen. nov.for Sinothynnus shoaca Brown, sp. nov. from south-western Western Australia; and Wrangathynnus Brown, gen. nov.for a single species, Wrangathynnus alexanderi Brown, sp. nov. from coastal New South Wales. New species are added for most genera. All taxonomic changes since the latest catalogues (1954) are summarised in appendices. The biology remains poorly known although larval hosts also include other Hymenoptera (Formicidae and Apoidea) but are not known to parasitise other Thynnidae. Miscoupling of pairs is common and thought to be a survival mechanism as females (Thynninae) need to be flown in copula to a food source. This is of higher importance than successful mating with the correct male. This is also seen as a speciation mechanism. The ongoing analysis of pheromones elsewhere is revealing many new species. This is especially so as some species-specific orchids mimic these pheromones to induce pseudo copulation. The only attempt at biological control of a scarab pest was in New Zealand. It failed, perhaps because the releases there contained a second but unnoticed species (based on reference specimens retained in collections in both countries).