Insecta, Hymenoptera, Bethylidae: range extension and filling gaps in Australia

A total of 7,128 specimens of Bethylidae were analysed, mostly from ANIC. Nineteen genera were recognized (Table 1), 14 of which were already recorded from Australia. Five genera are recorded here for the first time from Australia: Chilepyris Evans, Prorops Waterston, Dissomphalus Ashmead, Parascleroderma Kieffer and Pseudisobrachium Kieffer, with the last four genera recorded for the first time from Australian region. Dissomphalus, Parascleroderma and Pseudisobrachium are now known from all zoogeographical regions of the world. Rhabdepyris, Goniozus, Sierola Cameron, Apenesia Westwood and Holepyris Kieffer were found in large series of specimens, especially Rhabdepyris, which is the most speciose genus in Australia. The other four genera have at most seven species recorded from this country. This demonstrates the great potential diversity of Bethylidae in this area.