Ambositrinae

Masner, 1961

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Propsilomma

Ambositrinae is a of small within the Diapriidae, established by Lubomir Masner in 1961. The group exhibits a predominantly Gondwanan distribution, with most extant occurring in Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and South America. The subfamily has been documented from Eocene amber deposits in Europe, indicating a broader historical distribution. Taxonomic revision of Australian Ambositrinae has identified multiple and numerous species, with wing reduction being a notable morphological feature in some lineages.

Ambositrinae by (c) Mike Bowie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Mike Bowie. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Ambositrinae: /ˌæmbəˈsɪtrɪniː/

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Identification

Members of Ambositrinae can be distinguished from other Diapriidae by combinations of morphological characters including: pleurostomal carinae positioned at right angles to each other; absence of notauli; propodeum with strongly elevated plicae but lacking carina and carina along margin; fore wings with short marginal and stigmal ; and base of T2 (second tergite) deeply arcuated without notches and elongate grooves. Wing reduction has been observed in some , with taxonomic and phylogenetic implications.

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Distribution

Extant exhibit a predominantly Gondwanan distribution: Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, and South America. The has also been documented from Eocene Rovno amber in Ukraine, representing the first member of tribe Betylini discovered in Europe in both fossil and recent fauna.

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Taxonomic history

The was established by Canadian entomologist Lubomir Masner in 1961. A major systematic revision of Australian Ambositrinae was published in 1993, which revised existing , confirmed synonymies, described six new genera, and named 35 new .

Genera composition

The contains multiple including: Acanthobetyla, Ambositra, Archaeopria, Betyla, Diphoropria, Gwaihiria, Maoripria, Pantolytomyia, Parabetyla, Propsilomma, and Zealaptera. Additional genera described in the 1993 revision include Scianomas, Austroxylabis, Riaworra, Allobetyla, and Perissodryas. The fossil genus Arcanys was described from Eocene Rovno amber in 2024.

Wing reduction

Wing reduction has been documented in some Ambositrinae , with taxonomic and biological implications discussed in systematic treatments.