Austrocynipidae, Riek, 1971

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 (2020), No. 1, pp. 1-69 : 33

Austrocynipidae

Figs. 178–180

This monotypic family is one of the rarest within the Hymenoptera . Austrocynips mirabilis Riek, 1971 was reared from cones of hoop pine (Auracaria cunninghami Aiton ex D. Don) in Australia that were infested with oecophorid moths. Previously, cones from these trees were collected for propagation and timber production; this is now achieved through other means, and cones are not regularly collected. As these cones are difficult to access, Austrocynips has not been collected again since the original description. Riek (1971) reports that other species of Araucaria were also surveyed but yielded no Austrocynips .

Biology. Host Unknown. Collected from Araucaria cones infested with oecophorid moths ( Ronquist 1999).

Distribution. Australia: Queensland.

Relevant literature. Riek, 1971; description. Paretas-Martinez et al., 2013; overview.

Classification.

Austrocynipidae Riek, 1971

Austrocynips Riek, 1971 ; 1 species in Australia.