Three New Species of Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from China, with a Note on the japonicus Group

In this paper, three new species of <i>Aphelinus</i> (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), <i>Aphelinus jinshanensis</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b>, <i>Aphelinus albimaculatus</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b> and <i>Aphelinus varius</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b> are described and illustrated. Additionally, the <i>japonicus</i> group of <i>Aphelinus</i> is reviewed. The <i>japonicus</i> group is differentiated from all the known groups of these three subgenera by having a 3-segmented flagellum in the male. It is characterized by the following combination of features: antenna 6-segmented in the female, and 5-segmented in the male; body yellow, partly dark brown to black; the numerous setae on mid-lobe not arranged in symmetry; ovipositor short, and hypopygium not reaching to the apex of the gaster. <i>Aphelinus varius</i> Wang & Huang, <b>sp.n.</b> described here represents the second species assigned to the <i>japonicus</i> group. An identification key to the species of this group is provided. The relationships among these three new species are analyzed using a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree based on <i>cox1</i> sequences. While the evolutionary relationships of some species or groups remain uncertain due to weak statistical support for the relevant branches.