A Taxonomic Study Of Chinese Species Of Metaphycus (Hymenoptera:Encyrtidae)

Taxonomic studies on Chinese species of the genus Metaphycus was conducted through the examination of nearly5000specimens (include sample slide about200) from the Insect Collections of Northeast Forstry University (NEFU), Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IZCAS), National Zoological Museum of China (NZMC), and the specimens collected by host rearing, sweeping, and yellow pan trap by myself in this paper.The paper comprises three parts. In Part I. introduction, the taxonomic history and current situation of studies, characteristics, the materials and methods of study were briefly introduced. In Part II. systematics, thirty species of the Metaphycus were identified, and nine species M. dorsalis sp. n., M. chinensis sp. n., M. wui sp. n., M. stylatus sp. n., M. fusiscapus sp. n., M. fusiformis sp. n., M. yaanensis sp. n., M. bannai sp. n. and M. deltoideus sp. n. were described as new to science; five species, M. garmon Guerrieri&Noyes,2000, M. gerardi Sugonjaev,1996, M, nitens (Kurdjumov,1912), M. orientalis (Compere,1924), M. melanostomatus (Timberlake,1916). Characteristics of all the species were described in detail, providing photos of adult and keys to Chinese species of adult female. Part III was conclusions and discussions.The present study was the first systematic revision of the genus from China. As an important category of natural enemy, most species of the genus are coccid-inhabiting parasites. Therefore, the present study is of significant importance on the guidance of control on agricultural and forestry pests.All the type specimens were deposited in Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.