Pompilinae

Abstract: Five species of the genus Morochares Banks, 1934 are reported from China, four of them are described and illustrated as new species: M sinica Loktionov & Lelej, sp nov (Guangdong, Hainan), M wahisi Loktionov & Lelej, sp nov (Hainan), M wolfi Loktionov & Lelej, sp nov (Guangdong) and M xuzaifui Loktionov, Lelej & Liu, sp nov (Zhejiang, Guangdong) The genus Morochares is newly recorded from mainland China A key to the females of the Chinese species is given

Abstract: No qualitative cladistic analysis has been performed previously for the subfamily classification of Pompilidae (Hymenoptera). In 1994 Shimizu proposed six subfamilies, but their validity and relationships remain inconclusive. The objective of this study was to perform a quantitative analysis of phylogenetic relationships of the Pompilidae, with emphasis on testing the validity of proposed subfamilies. Two cladistic analyses were performed based on morphological evidence. First, a maximum-parsimony analysis of Shimizu's original morphological data matrix (72 taxa by 54 characters) was conducted, with the data subjected to a heuristic search for the first time with phylogenetic software. The resulting strict-consensus cladogram yielded a monophyletic Ceropalinae that was sister group to a large polytomy containing members of the remaining five subfamilies. In a second analysis, several of Shimizu's characters were re-examined, and new characters and more taxa were added to the data set. Terminal taxa were coded as species rather than as generic abstractions, and 20 additional morphological characters were introduced. The analysis was based on 77 morphological characters derived from the adults of 84 taxa. This second analysis suggested that Notocyphinae sensu Shimizu (1994) was nested within Pompilinae and that Epipompilinae sensu Shimizu (1994) was nested within Ctenocerinae; neither should retain their status as a separate subfamily. Lastly, Chirodamus s.s., which historically has been a member of the Pepsinae, is placed within the Pompilinae with reservations rather than erecting a new subfamily. After these allowances were made, a strict consensus tree gave the following relationships: (Ceropalinae + (Pepsinae + (Ctenocerinae + Pompilinae))).

Abstract: The previously unknown male of Aplochares imitator (Smith), the type species of the genus, is associated with the female and described. Aplochares imitator provides another case of dual sex-limited mimicry. The coloration of the male of A. imitator is similar to that of both sexes of A. adrastes Banks, while the coloration of the female of A. imitator matches that of several species of other unrelated Hymenoptera. A key to both sexes of Aplochares is provided along with illustrations of the two species.