Pycnostigminae, Cameron, 1905

Buffington, Matthew L., Forshage, Mattias, Liljeblad, Johan, Tang, Chang-Ti & Noort, Simon van, 2020, World Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera): A Key to Higher- Level Groups, Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (4), No. 1, pp. 1-69 : 63-64

Pycnostigminae

Figs. 274 –279

This charismatic and poorly known figitid group has a unique vein structure in the forewing; the veins of the marginal cell are heavily expanded, nearly closing the marginal cell, resulting in a pseudopterostigma. The only known metallic-colored figitid ( Pycnostigmus mastersonae ) belongs to the pycnostigmines. Their biology is unknown; all known specimens have been passively collected in Malaise traps

Biology. Hosts unknown.

Distribution. Afrotropical and Palearctic; most species from Western Cape Province, RSA. Rarely collected in arid southern Palearctic (North Africa and Southwest Asia).

Relevant literature. Buffington and van Noort (2007) revised the genus. Buffington et al. (2007, 2012) investigated the phylogeny of the group.

Classification.

Pycnostigminae Cameron, 1905

Pycnostigmus Cameron, 1905 ; 5 species South Africa Trjapitziniola Kovalev, 1995 ; 2 species Southwest Asia Tylosema Kieffer, 1905 ; 3 species South and North Africa