Monograph of the Afrotropical species of Scelio Latreille (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae), egg parasitoids of acridid grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae)

Abstract The genus Scelio is a cosmopolitan and speciose group of solitary parasitoids of the eggs of short-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae). A number of these hosts are important pests, including plague locusts of the genus Schistocerca. Species of Scelio are recognized as potentially important biological control agents, but this possibility has yet to be fully realized, in part because the species-level taxonomy is still incompletely developed. The species of the pulchripennis group have been recently revised. As a continuation of this effort, here we revise the Afrotropical species of Scelio, excluding the pulchripennis species group. Sixty two (62) species are treated, 48 of which are new. Species are classified into the following species groups: ernstii (12 species, 9 new), howardi (23 species, 19 new), ipomeae (6 species, 5 new), irwini (4 species, 3 new), simoni (3 new species) and walkeri (12 species, 9 new). Keys to species groups and to the species within each group are provided. New species described are: S. albatus Yoder, sp. n., S. aphares Yoder, sp. n., S. apospastos Yoder, sp. n., S. ardelio Yoder, sp. n., S. aurantium Yoder, sp. n., S. balo Valerio & Yoder, sp. n., S. bayanga Yoder, sp. n., S. bubulo Yoder, sp. n., S. cano Yoder, sp. n., S. clypeatus Yoder, sp. n., S. concavus Yoder, sp. n., S. copelandi Yoder, sp. n., S. crepo Yoder, sp. n., S. destico Yoder, sp. n., S. dupondi Yoder, sp. n., S. effervesco Yoder, sp. n., S. erugatus Yoder, sp. n., S. exophthalmus Yoder, sp. n., S. fremo Valerio & Yoder, sp. n., S. gemo Yoder, sp. n., S. grunnio Yoder, sp. n., S. harinhalai Yoder, sp. n., S. igland Yoder, sp. n., S. impostor Yoder, sp. n., S. irwini Yoder, sp. n., S. janseni Yoder, sp. n., S. latro Yoder, sp. n., S. memorabilis Yoder, sp. n., S. modulus Yoder, sp. n., S. mutio Yoder, sp. n., S. ntchisii Yoder, sp. n., S. parkeri Yoder, sp. n., S. phaeoprora Yoder, sp. n., S. pilosilatus Yoder, sp. n., S. pipilo Yoder, sp. n., S. quasiclypeatus Yoder, sp. n., S. retifrons Yoder, sp. n., S. ructo Yoder, sp. n., S. scomma Yoder, sp. n., S. simoni Yoder, sp. n., S. simonolus Yoder, sp. n., S. somaliensis Yoder, sp. n., S. susurro Yoder, sp. n., S. tono Yoder, sp. n., S. transtrum Yoder, sp. n., S. tritus Yoder, sp. n., S. ululo Yoder, sp. n., S. vannoorti Valerio & Yoder, sp. n. The following species are redescribed: S. afer Kieffer, S. chapmani Nixon, S. howardi Crawford, S. ipomeae Risbec, stat. n., S. mauritanicus Risbec, S. philippinensis Ashmead, S. remaudierei Ferrière, S. striatus Priesner,S. taylori Nixon, and S. zolotarevskyi Ferrière. The genus Lepidoscelio Kieffer is treated as a junior synonym of Scelio Latreille, syn. n.; its type species, Lepidoscelio fuscipennis Kieffer, 1905 is transferred to Scelio, renamed Scelio obscuripennis Johnson, nom. n. (preoccupied by Scelio fuscipennis Ashmead, 1887), and redescribed. The following additional species are transferred from Lepidoscelio to Scelio: S. cayennensis (Risbec), comb. n., S. insularis Ashmead, rev. comb., S. luteus (Cameron), comb. n., S. thoracicus Ashmead, rev. comb. Lectotypes are designated for S. africanus Risbec, S. ipomeae Risbec, S. mauritanicus Risbec, S. remaudierei Ferrière, S. sudanensis Ferrière, and S. zolotarevskyi Ferrière. Scelio gaudens Nixon is a junior synonym of Scelio striatus Priesner, syn. n.; Scelio africanus Risbec and Scelio clarus Fouts are both junior synonyms of Scelio afer Kieffer, syn. n.; Scelio sudanensis Ferrière and Scelio cheops Nixon are both junior synonyms of Scelio zolotarevskyi Ferrière, syn. n.; Scelio cahirensis Priesner is a junior synonym of Scelio mauritanicus Risbec, syn. n. The name Scelio chapmanni Nixon is an incorrect original spelling, requiring an emendation to S. chapmani. Digital versions of the identification keys are available at http://www.waspweb.org/Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm


Introduction
This paper is the second in a series that seeks to revise and update our knowledge of a majority of the world species of Scelio Latreille. Currently the genus encompasses 255 species considered to be valid, and we estimate that there may be a minimum of 500 species of Scelio worldwide. Dangerfield et al. (2001) summarized the existing literature pertaining to the biology and the ecology of species of this genus. Aside from the recent treatment of the pulchripennis species group (Yoder et al. 2009b), species of African Scelio have been largely neglected since the work of Nixon (1958). Nixon treated 19 species and also defined many of the species groups now recognized. His observations were particularly insightful, and he identified many important morphological character systems that we reuse and extend.
The geographical range of species treated in this work is restricted to the Afrotropics: sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Surrounding islands (e.g. Seychelles) are presently excluded due to lack of available material. This circumscription largely excludes the species treated by Priesner (1951). Despite several efforts of the last decade we have been unable to locate many of Priesner's Scelio types. However, we were able to review most of his species and here, where pertinent, provide discussion and propose synonymies.
This work is a product of the Platygastroidea Planetary Biodiversity Inventory, a project funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (N.F. Johnson and A.D. Austin, University of Adelaide, principal investigators). One of the primary objectives of this project is to use biodiversity informatics tools to accelerate the taxonomic process and to make real-time collaboration possible among the narrow community of researchers with appropriate expertise. The contributions of the individual authors are: M.J. Yoder: project coordination, manuscript preparation, character definition, species concept development, species group concept development; key development, imaging, figures, databasing of specimen data; A. Valerio: species concept development, species group concept development, imaging, databasing of specimen data; A.
Polaszek: species concept development; imaging; critical review; L. Masner: character development, development of collection, species group concept development; S. van Noort: collection development, imaging, interactive key development; N.F. Johnson: project coordination, species identification, critical review. The authorship of the new taxa reflects the contribution of each individual.

Materials and methods
A total of 6,449 specimens have been databased and examined in this study. The following collections provided specimens for this study: AEIC, American Entomological Institute, Gainesville, FL 1 ; AMNH, American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 2 ; BMNH, Natural History Museum, London, UK 3 ; BPBM, Bishop Museum of Entomology, Honolulu, HI 4 ; CASC, California Academy of Sciences, San Descriptions are presented alphabetically first by species group then by species. Species descriptions, in particular the Material Examined sections, largely follow the method of Johnson et al. (2008) and Yoder et al. (2009a) using the database application vSysLab (Johnson 2010). Polymorphic characters are indicated in descriptive statements by listing the states observed separated by semicolons. In cases where multiple specimens were associated on the same slide (historically important collections whose specimens can not easily be remounted) letters are appended to unique identifiers. In the Material Examined the specimens studied are documented in an abbreviated format, using their individual identifiers. The numbers prefixed with a letters (e.g., OSUC, CASENT) are unique identifiers for the specimens. The label data for all specimens have been georeferenced and recorded in the Hymenoptera On-Line database, and details on the data associated with these specimens can be accessed at the following link, http://hol.osu.edu, and entering the identifier in the form. Note the space between the acronym and the number. Additionally the data for all specimens is included as supplemental data in the Darwin Core Archive format.
Species groups within Afrotropical Scelio are quite distinct, and therefore each group is treated separately. Individual species descriptions are derived from a matrix particular to the parent species group, that is, they are cross comparable only to species from the group to which they belong. Diagnoses are usable against all other species in that group, i.e. it is already assumed that the specimen has been diagnosed to group prior to applying a given species diagnosis. All descriptive statements pertain to females only unless otherwise noted. Males were associated with females where possible, but in some cases, particularly for walkeri-group species, association was prevented by strong sexual dimorphism. We use a phylogenetic species concept wherein species are defined by putative autapomorphies or unique combinations of characters. Species hypotheses remain to be tested quantitatively. After identification of specimens with the key(s) readers should always refer to the Comments and Diagnoses sections for additional information and confirmation as these sections include information on morphological variability.
Several morphological characters are of broad importance to Scelio (and often platygastrid) taxonomy. To aid and simplify reference to these we introduce the following new terms: villus -the strip of pilosity immediately posterior to the propodeal spiracle vil), bound ventrally by the dorsal margin of the metapleuron and dorsally by the propodeal plica; oxter -the sloped, more or less vertical area below the pronotal shoulder (Fig. 34, o); antespiracular setal patch -small patch of microtrichia anterior to the anterior thoracic spiracle.
Appendix 1 lists terms associated with identifiers in the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology (Yoder et al. 2010). Identifiers in the format HAO_XXXXXXX represent concepts in the HAO version <time stamp version> and are provided to enable readers to confirm their understanding of the concepts being referenced. To find out more about a given concept use the identifier as a search term at http://portal.hymao.org. The identifier can also be used as a URI (universal resource identifier) by appending the identifier to http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ (e.g. http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/ HAO_0000124). URLs in the format http://purl.org/net/hao/HAO_0123456 resolve to the HAO's community-based resource that includes additional images, notes, and other metadata.
Images were taken with a JVC 3 CCD camera (model KY-575U) attached to a Leica Z16 APO with a Planapo 1.0× objective. Specimens were illuminated with a 4 channel LED dome light from Advanced Illumination, with light levels at maximum output. Figures were produced from stacks of images that vertically transected the specimen. These were combined automatically into a single image using either Auto-Montage Pro version 5.1 or Cartograph software packages. For those images produced with Auto-Montage the resulting image was in most cases manually edited using functions within that software package. Images were post-processed for contrast and light levels in Adobe® Photoshop® or similar software.
The electronic version of the paper contains hyperlinks to external resources. Insofar as possible the external information conforms to standards developed and maintained through the organization Biodiversity Information Standards (Taxonomic Database Working Group). All new species have been prospectively registered with Zoobank (Polaszek et al. 2005, www.zoobank.org), and other taxonomic names of Scelio, where appropriate, have been retrospectively registered. The external hyperlinks are explicitly cited in the end notes so that users of the printed version of this article have access to the same resources. Life sciences identifiers, LSIDs, may be resolved at the specified URLs or at http://lsid.tdwg.org results and discussion Dangerfield et al. (2001) reviewed the literature on hosts for the genus. Based on our revision it is clear that the identity of some species with broad host ranges may need to be revisited as previous species may represent cryptic species complexes. Specimen data suggest that hypotheses that species of Scelio are restricted to hosts in the family Acrididae (Orthoptera) are confirmed: we found no evidence that species attack hosts in other families or orders. The hosts recorded on specimen label data are summarized below: These host records are concentrated on those species of acridids of the greatest economic importance, undoubtedly a reflection more of the interest in plague locusts than in the biology of the parasitoids. The host records span five of the 16 subfamilies of Acrididae recorded from Africa and Madagascar in Orthoptera Species File (Eades et al., Accessed 6 Dec 2013). We have but a single rearing from the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Forskål), despite the great attention paid to the biology and control of this pest. This contrasts with 9 collecting events and 65 specimens of Scelio from the New World that have been reared from other species of Schistocerca. This pattern is consistent with the greater number of species of Schistocerca in the New World, 36 species versus a single species in the Old World, as well as the conclusion of Song (2004) that S. gregaria originated in the Americas. The species recorded from the desert locust, Scelio zolotarevskyi, has been reared from the eggs of nine genera.
We define several new species group, and refine those proposed by Nixon (1958). In his key Nixon (1958) mentioned three groups, pulchripennis, howardi and walkeri. To these we add the irwini, ipomeae, and simoni-groups, and split the ernstii-group from the howardi-group of Nixon. Our goal in doing this is not to assert anything about the phylogenetic history of the genus, but to provide an initial structure for interpreting and understanding the diveristy of species and characters in Scelio. The key to species groups is robust, at least based on the specimens we have studied, and the description of each of the groups is provided to give a better understanding of the range of variation to be found. Dangerfield et al. (2001), in an analysis of 61 predominantly Australian species based on morphological characters, found a very high degree of homoplasy and little internal phylogenetic structure. They did not formally circumscribe clades, but they did recover the walkeri species group as monophyletic ( fig. 6.2, node 8, number is erroneously placed one branch too high). We have not quantitatively tested the presently defined species groups on a species-level basis, however we are relatively confident that they represent monophyletic units. Our species group definitions depend heavily on characters of posterior propodeum, features that were only cursorily treated in Dangerfield et al. (2001). Relationships among the species groups remain unclear.
Afrotropical Scelio species show a full range of geographical distribution patterns, from locally endemic to transcontinental. We know of no species that are shared with the New World fauna or Australia. Species overlap between Afrotropical and the Palearctic, South, and Southeast Asian regions occurs in several cases in the walkeri and howardi-group species. Of the 11 species of Madagascar, only two are known from continental Africa.
We found that many species or species groups of Afrotropical Scelio are morphologically cryptic. For at least some of these groups, in particular the walkeri and how- ardi-groups, we believe that resolution of species will require a molecular barcoding approach. Extensive effort has been made to find the species limits, and this has been accomplished with varying degrees of confidence. While new specimens, more extensive collecting, and the addition of host or biological information will provide further clues, we feel that it is not only helpful but prudent to begin to include additional character systems (molecular) in the future. Those planning revision should take care to maintain the material in a state which enables molecular processing, i.e. specimens should not be immediately dried and mounted, but rather kept refrigerated in ethanol until a first pass can be made to remove exemplars for sequencing. Our recommendations of this approach is not a blanket endorsement of molecular barcoding per se, but rather a plea for consideration of additional sources of character data.

Key to Afrotropical species groups of Scelio
With only a few exceptions species of Afrotropical Scelio are easily classified into larger groups. The pulchripennis species group is included in the species group key for completeness; a key to the species of the pulchripennis group may be found in Yoder et al. (2009b). The species group key is specific to females, although males of many species can successfully be identified as well. No more than 60× magnification should be necessary to use the key. Characters within parentheses are not necessarily diagnostic, but are included as an aid in confirmation of the identification. A digital version of the identification key is available at http://www.waspweb.org/Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm 1 Posterolateral margin of propodeum (seen in dorsal view) projecting posteriorly into a sharp angle (Figs 2,3,pa) or quadrate plate (Fig. 1, qp)  Posterior propodeum produced into quadrate lateral projection (Fig. 1, qp), projection separated from propodeal nucha by deep semi-elliptical notch between inner margin and propodeal nucha ( Fig. 1, n), posteroventral metapleuron sparsely setose to glabrous (Fig. 19)  Anteclypeus between medial teeth wide and slightly concave to truncate, with isolated projection medially, lateral projections well developed, pointed, often oriented outwards; netrion setose, pilosity reduced to anterior margin in some; head and mesosoma sometimes with metallic coloration; mesosoma with long semi-erect to erect setae scattered throughout; females with wings pictate (infuscate bands); mandibles narrowed, often appearing apically uni-dentate but never truly so, with at least a very reduced second tooth present (male A5 without RSS and nearly always with hyaline/white wings Anteclypeus between medial teeth projected and truncate or evenly concave, without a isolated projection medially, lateral projections variously formed; netrion glabrous; head and mesosoma never with metallic coloration; mesosomal pilosity not elongate and erect; wings without distinct bands, typically evenly infuscate throughout; mandibles clearly bidentate apically, teeth not reduced ...5 5 Pilosity throughout very short, fine, sparse and appressed (e.g.,Figs 287,293,305); villus narrow, more or less equal width throughout (e.g. Fig. 11 Basal tooth on mandible present (Fig. 375, bt); metasoma dark brown to black, concolorous with or very slightly lighter than mesosoma, never orange or yellow; male RSS on A5 absent or apparently so; (body with at least some setae that are thickened and most commonly white (see Figs 329-406), or uncommonly golden, or brown; thickened white pilosity typically present on gena, pronotal shoulder and meso-and metapleural anterodorsal margins, tips of pilosity truncated or not  Kieffer, 1905 (nec Scelio fuscipennis Ashmead, 1887) S. parkeri Yoder, sp. n. Scelio pulchripennis species group (see Yoder et al. 2009b) S. antorides Nixon S. baoli Risbec S. clarkei Yoder S.  Pilosity. General setation: moderate elongate and wide, variously vertically oriented. Thickened and truncate white pilosity: not typically present, or strongly truncate when so. Interommatidial pilosity: present; absent. Genal pilosity density: sparse; moderate; dense. Genal pilosity color: white; brown. Number of anteclypeal setal pairs: 3, with fine and much smaller fourth laterally. Ventrolateral postgenal cluster of erect setae: unknown. Antespiracular setal patch: very small, intersected by or immediately below lateral epomia. Netrion: glabrous. Propodeal shelf: narrow strip present laterally. Pilosity of laterotergites: absent.
Head. Sculpture of head: predominantly reticulate to rugulose throughout, never predominantly dorsoventral or longitudinal, without prominent smooth or obliterated patches, carinae moderate width. Ocelli size: moderate; large. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: narrow to moderate width. Width of ventral head across mandibles: narrow, mandibles relatively compact. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: thin immediately mesad of outer teeth, smoothly rounded to slightly trapezoidal medially, without sharp vertices, medially truncate to slightly concave. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear throughout. Form of gena: narrow (lateral view), strongly sloped from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina; moderate width (lateral view), evenly rounded from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina. Genal carina: absent; present. RSS on A5 in males: present. Microsculpture at base of mandible: present; absent. Basal tooth of mandible: absent.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior such that anterior sloping towards pronotum; moderately concave, not particularly bulging in anterior nor flattened throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: unknown. Surface of mesoscutum: sculptured throughout, never with smooth or obliterated patches, reticulate laterally and anteromedially, longitudinally striate to strigose posteromedially. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: absent. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: unknown. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view. Propodeal corners: truncate, with a single pointed vertex laterally, posterior edge more or less straight. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: unknown. Fore wing length: reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: nebulous to spectral; tubular. Pictation of fore wing in female: absent.
Metasoma. Anterior margin of T1: concave, with short rim. Diagnosis. With one exception (S. ardelio) these species are easily distinguished from all other African Scelio by the angular corners of the posterolateral propodeum (Fig. 2).
Comments. The Afrotropical members of the cosmopolitan ernstii species group can be divided into two subgroups based on the presence or absence of the genal carina. Within these two subgroups the differences between species are very subtle and we expect several of our species (S. aphares and S. taylori in particular) to ultimately represent groupings of cryptic species. Nixon's (1958) insights as to important characters for species in this group (he treats S. taylori, S. chapmani, and S. mauritanicus) are particularly helpful.

1
Metapleuron with a large patch of fine setae immediately above the hind coxa; scape and legs bright yellow (   Figs 102,108,114,gc). Differing from all individuals of S. taylori by the the completely white pilosity of the mesoscutum (and throughout body), the fine and relatively dense reticulations of the mesoscutum (cells larger, more robust in S. taylori,compare Figs 39 and 99) and, in most individuals, by the color of A1 (only rarely dark brown in S. taylori, and these individuals are distinctly larger and darker throughout).
Etymology. The epithet is a Latin participle, meaning clothed in white, in reference to the pilosity of the mesoscutum.
Comments. Scelio albatus is clearly closely related to S. taylori and likely represents a geographically isolated extension of that species, being the only specimens of the larger clade from South Africa. Scelio taylori exhibits a fair amount of morphological variation, but is not noted for variability in the the color of pilosity on the mesoscutum. In general white pilosity on the mesoscutellum is rare for Afrotropical Scelio. The sculpture of the mesoscutum is more irregular and the course of the notauli is more visible than seen in S. taylori. Description. Female body length: 3.18-4.21 mm (n=16). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugulose, sculpture finer, typically without dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: yellow throughout; light to dark brown throughout, or with apex and base slightly lighter, often yellowish. Color of A3 in female: brown. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present. Width of metasoma: very wide, width of S3 > 2 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate throughout; longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: present throughout; with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.

Scelio aphares
Diagnosis. Similar to other Afrotropical ernstii-group species without a genal carina. Most similar to S. copelandi but differing from this species by slightly more compact reticulations of the mesonotum (compare Figs 36 and 65), and the slightly more reticulate sculpture of the face (trending to dorsoventrally striate in S. copelandi).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Greek word for unclad or naked, in reference to the confusingly plain and relatively unremarkable species.
Link to distribution map. Comments. As presently defined this species is quite variable. Given the available material we have elected to take a conservative approach and treat these specimens as a single species. As noted for S. copelandi this may ultimately require the inclusion of that species as well. Four morphotypes were initially identified: 1) individuals (OSUC 212970, 250963, 211215, 213266) with a bright yellow scape and very slightly larger reticulations on the mesoscutum, from Tanzania, Cameroons, Nigeria and South Africa; 2) a single individual (OSUC 211267) with fine, somewhat more dense and confused sculpture of the frons, and confused reticulate sculpture on T1; 3) four individuals (OSUC 212250, 244034, 212364, 212365) with the scape brown and metasoma broader (South Africa); and 4) a series of individuals (OSUC 211386, 213439, 213117, 211213, 212440) similar to series 3 but with the metasoma narrower. Two additional specimens similar to series 1 but with somewhat more compact sculpture of the mesoscutum are also included (OSUC 244071, 234699). Most specimens can be broadly divided into 2 groups (yellow or brown scape). However, series 2 is somewhat intermediate in this state with the middle of the scape brown, and the base and apex somewhat lighter. The shape of the head varies from somewhat vertically elongate (series 1) to more rounded (specimens of series 4). All specimens observed have brown pilosity on the medial head and mesonotum. Description. Female body length: 3.45 mm (n=1). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: brown throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugulose, rugae finer, with slight dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: sparse, setae generally inconspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: smooth. Color of A1 in female: light to dark brown throughout, or with apex and base slightly lighter, often yellowish. Color of A3 in female: brown. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly light brown to brown. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: with effaced areas. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: smoothly curved, corner of propodeum undefined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: more or less flat. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: with large patch of dense fine setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present. Width of metasoma: very wide, width of S3 > 2 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: coarsely reticulate. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: present throughout.
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. chapmani, with which it shares the dense patch of pilosity above the hind coxa on the posterolateral corner of the metapleuron (Fig. 46). This species may be distinguished from S. chapmani by the sparse brown pilosity of the gena (dense and white in S. chapmani), the the more or less rounded posterior propodeal margin (distinctly truncate with sharp lateral corner in S. chapmani), and the thin strip of obliterated sculpture along the humeral margin of the mesoscutum (sculptured throughout in S. chapmani,compare Figs 45 and 57).
Etymology. The epithet is Latin, for meddler or busybody, and is used as a noun in apposition. This refers to the odd character combinations that meddle with an otherwise straightforwardly defined species group, and rhymes nicely.
Comments. Scelio ardelio has a strange mix of characters that contradicts the definition of all the major species groups. The species is tentatively included in the ernstii-group based in part on the patch of metapleural pilosity it shares with S. chapmani, similarities in the shape of the anteclypeus, and the general habitus. At first impression the state of the posterior propodeal margin appears closer to that observed in species of the walkeri and pulchripennis groups with a margin that appears more or less rounded (Fig. 45). A very narrow perpendicular carina is visible medially adjacent the nuchal area, however, which may indicate that S. ardelio may simply be highly derived with respect to other ernstii-group species. Scelio ardelio is also notable for several states not, or rarely observed in Afrotropical ernstii-group species: the obliterated narrow strip of sculpture along the humeral margin of the mesoscutum, the absence of reticulate microsculpture at the base of the mandible, and the long and narrow setae in general. The fine pilosity of lateral T1 is particularly dense and the sculpture of T3 very reticulate. Description. Female body length: 4.79 mm (n=1). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugose, rugae somewhat thickened, without dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: light to dark brown throughout, or with apex and base slightly lighter, often yellowish. Color of A3 in female: brown. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly light brown to brown. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present. Width of metasoma: very wide, width of S3 > 2 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: with sparse, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.

Scelio bayanga
Diagnosis. Most similar to species that share the absence of the genal carina (S. copelandi, S. aphares, S. phaeoprora, S. exophthalmus and S. mauritanicus). Scelio bayanga differs from all these by the combination of size (larger), width of gena (very broad), and sculpture of the mesoscutum (robustly reticulate, with large cells).
Etymology. A reference to the locality on the label of the holotype. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition.  OSUC 211380, 212166, 212182, 212690, 212695, 212715, 212812, 212843, 213144, 213258, 213265, 213273, 250781, 250945 (CNCI) Comments. The identity of this species was determined by examination of the type by AP. This is perhaps the most easily diagnosed species within the group due to the characteristic distribution of metapleural setae. It is interesting to note that a similar state can be observed in species from other species groups, including S. philippinensis. The pilosity of the frons immediately below the anterior ocellus is characteristically oriented dorsoventrally. The color of the brown pilosity of the dorsal head is somewhat more golden/copper than the brown observed in other species. See also comments for S. ardelio.
In the original description of this species Nixon (1958) states in two places that the material was collected by R.F. Chapman. Therefore, the proper spelling of the genitive is chapmani, and not chapmanni. According to article 32.5.1 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature "If there is in the original publication itself, without recourse to any external source of information, clear evidence of an inadvertent error, such as a lapsus calami or a copyist's or printer's error, it must be corrected." The change is a justified emendation and retains the original authorship and date. Description. Female body length: 3.38-3.86 mm (n=21). Male body length: 3.28-3.89 mm (n=12). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugulose, rugae finer, with slight dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: light to dark brown throughout, or with apex and base slightly lighter, often yellowish. Color of A3 in female: brown. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Width of metasoma: very wide, width of S3 > 2 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate throughout. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.
Comments. Scelio copelandi is very similar to the polymorphic S. aphares, and the two may ultimately need to be synonymized. While the differences are very subtle, the consistently fine and somewhat dorsoventrally oriented sculpture of the frons is noticeably different from the more reticulate trending sculpture in S. aphares (Fig.  35). A slight pattern of obliteration posteromedially on T2, T3 and T4 is present in most individuals, and similar smooth patches are found laterally as well. The villus is somewhat characteristic (Fig. 64, vil), being narrower and slightly curved ventrally. Description. Female body length: 3.52-4.28 mm (n=24). Male body length: 3.36-3.52 mm (n=2). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugulose, sculpture finer, typically without dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: present. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: yellow throughout. Color of A3 in female: yellow basally, darkening to brown near apex. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: nebulous at or just before upcurve to marginal vein, not reaching margin as a tubular vein; tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Width of metasoma: moderately wide, width of S3 1.5-1.6 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: individual tergites glabrous anteriorly, densely setose posteriorly. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: present throughout.

Scelio dupondi
Diagnosis. Differs from all other Afrotropical ernstii-group species except S. janseni by the setal pattern of the lateral tergites (Figs 68,80). Differing from S. janseni in size (smaller), sculpture of the frons (finer), width of metasoma (much narrower), type and density of sculpture on the metasoma (finer, more compact, longitudinal, with S3 sculptured more or less throughout), and development of the S3 felt field (very reduced and not or barely elevated).
Comments. This species is very similar to the larger, more robust S. janseni. However, all available specimens are relatively easily separated, with no indication of morphological gradation among the two. The sculpture of the frons in general tends to be finer than that of S. janseni. The area of reticulate sculpture at the base of the mandible is very reduced and difficult to see, but it is present. T3 medially is strongly reticulate in most individuals. Two males have been associated: A5 is more or less cylindrical, and the following flagellomeres are subequal in size. While small in number, the males of S. dupondi and S. janseni may be divided by the color of the fore wing (completely hyaline in S. dupondi and infuscate brown throughout in S. janseni) and the form of the flagellum (more compact and wider in S. janseni). In males the A5 RSS is a fine, linear carina, and A5 is not distinctly broader at its apex. This contrasts with S. janseni in which A5 is shaped more like a chalice with the apex much wider than base. Description. Female body length: 3.32-3.91 mm (n=9). Shape of compound eye: conspicuously bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugulose, sculp-ture finer, typically without dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: strongly bulging, posterior margin diverging ventrally from posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: yellow throughout. Color of A3 in female: brown. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present. Width of metasoma: moderately wide, width of S3 1.5-1.6 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.

Scelio exophthalmus
Diagnosis. Differs from all similar species without a genal carina by the combination of the presence of very bushy pilosity on the gena, the bulging eye (Fig. 78) the reticulate sculpture of medial T3, and the sculptured pronotal nucha.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a Latinized adjective for the Greek word meaning bulging or protruding eyes. Description. Female body length: 4.44-5.35 mm (n=12). Male body length: 4.20 mm (n=1). Shape of compound eye: not or only slightly bulging. Color pattern of pilosity below anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate rugose, rugae somewhat thickened, without dorsoventral trend. Genal carina in female: absent. Width of gena in lateral view: weakly expanded, posterior margin parallel to posterior margin of eye. Density of genal setae: moderately to highly dense, setae conspicuous. Color of genal setae: white to off-white. Sculpture of base of mandible in female: minutely reticulate. Color of A1 in female: yellow throughout; light to dark brown throughout, or with apex and base slightly lighter, often yellowish. Color of A3 in female: brown; yellow basally, darkening to brown near apex. Sculpture of dorsal pronotal nucha in female: predominantly to completely sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: nebulous at or just before upcurve to marginal vein, not reaching margin as a tubular vein. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Width of metasoma: very wide, width of S3 > 2 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: individual tergites glabrous anteriorly, densely setose posteriorly. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate throughout; longitudinally striate laterally with prominent reticulate to rugulose elements medially. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.
Diagnosis. Differs from all other Afrotropical ernstii-group species except S. dupondi by the setal pattern of the lateral metasoma (Figs 68, 80). Differing from S. dupondi in its in larger size, wider metasoma, the coarser, more irregular and less compact sculpture on the metasomal sterna (often with some unsculptured patches on S3, Fig. 84), and the well-developed S3 felt field, which is elevated on a keel-like projection (Fig. 84).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a genitive noun derived from the Dutch name for the one of the Thompson twin detective characters in Tintin comics. The two were always being confused with one another. See also S. dupondi Comments. Scelio janseni is very similar to its smaller, putative sister species S. dupondi. A single male is known, its flagellum has a distinctly different form than S. dupondi, with A3-A5 distinctly broader towards the apex, and A5-A6 somewhat compact and shorter. The scape is often very slightly darker dorsomedially, A3 is more commonly brown more or less throughout, less commonly with yellow present in basal 1/3 to 1/2. The RSS is a fine linear carina that is slightly elevated apically. Sculpture of T3 varies from more or less longitudinal to more or less reticulate, the latter state is more common in the specimens observed. See also Comments for S. dupondi. In most individuals the sculpture of posteromedial T1 to anteromedial T3 is slightly obliterated in patches. The fine pilosity of lateral T1 common in many Afrotropical Scelio seems to be absent, though one or two of the most anterior setae are often slightly narrower and thinner than the more prominent thick setae seen throughout.  OSUC 211665-211666, 211888, 212172, 212177, 212179, 212184, 212188, 212194, 212685, 212691-212692, 212706, 212716, 212737, 212813, 213030-213031, 213033, 213143, 213146, 213154, 250970, 250995, 251013 OSUC 212476, 250681, 251008, 251065, 254669-254670, 254681, 254688, 254695-254696, 254775, 254784, 254786, 254788 (CNCI).

Scelio mauritanicus
Comments. The lectotype of S. mauritanicus (OSUC 250704) was identified by unique label data "Mauritanie, Rkiz., 24-6-1946". It, and the type material of S. cahirensis match well, both being smaller individuals within the presently circumscribed size range (see below). The available material falls into a gradation between three general morphotypes. Given this variation we do not feel it prudent to subdivide S. mauritanicus into two or three separate species. All three morphotypes share several core characters, these first noted by Nixon (1958): the absence of sculpture on the pronotal nucha is constant and obvious (Fig. 87,pn); the mesonotum is relatively flat; the fore wing does not or just reaches T6; and sculpture medial to the lateral ocelli is usually obliterated or smoothed. Several additional characters link a majority of specimens: in females and larger males the fore wing has a golden infuscation more or less throughout; the eye is slightly quadrate in lateral view; the medial sculpture of T3 is variable, though it is usually at least slightly developed; and the base of the mandible is smooth in most individuals (contrasting with the fine reticulate sculpture seen in most Afrotropical ernstii-group species). The larger morphotype (Figs 85-90), predominantly from Nigeria and the Ivory Coast, has the scape with the basal 1/4 yellow, the remainder light brown (females and males). It also has a somewhat more wedge-shaped head, though this appears to vary with size. Smaller individuals, predominantly from Yemen and the UAE, have a slightly more rounded head, are lighter colored in general, and have slightly less infuscation in the wings. Large and small morphs are linked through moderately sized individuals known from Nigeria, Cameroon, and Burkina Faso. Specimens from Kenya and Sudan (OSUC 234665, 234666, and 244077) are moderately sized and differ primarily in the color of the scape and femora, which are yellow with at most only extremely slight infuscation. We anticipate that S. mauritanicus and S. cahirensis will remain in synonymy regardless of whether the species is split, both being exemplars of the smaller size range. der in female: predominantly white to off-white. Sculpture along humeral margin of mesoscutum: well-defined throughout. Color of pilosity of mesonotum in female: predominantly light to dark brown. Transition from lateral to posterior margin of propodeum in dorsal view: forming distinct angle, corner of propodeum well defined. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: bulging in anterior third. Pilosity on metapleuron above hind coxa: glabrous or with few scattered setae. Form of fore wing submarginal vein in female: tubular throughout from base to costal margin. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present. Width of metasoma: moderately wide, width of S3 1.5-1.6 times medial length. Distribution of pilosity on T2-T5 in female: more or less evenly distributed throughout. Sculpture of T3 in female: longitudinally striate throughout. Overall sculpture of S3: with dense, fine longitudinal carinae. Sculpture of medial S3 in female: with broadly obliterated or with distinct smooth patch.

Scelio phaeoprora
Diagnosis. Similar to Afrotropical ernstii-group species without the genal carina. Differing from all these species by the unique color pattern of the setae of the frons, with brown pilosity reaching near to the base of the eye (Fig. 95).
Etymology. From the Greek "phaeo" for brown and "prora"-prow/bow, in reference to the front or face of the insect; The epithet is used as a noun in apposition.

Comments.
As delimited here S. taylori is a widespread and somewhat polymorphic species. At times we considered the material to represent upwards of four species. However, as limits among those concepts blurred, we have elected to take a conservative approach to delimiting this taxon. When comparing opposite extremes (e.g., OSUC 212801 in Figs  individuals, relatively easily diagnosed by the white setae of the gena (Figs 97-102); 2) a series of specimens similar to 1), but darker overall, with the pilosity of the head, pronotal shoulder and lateral T2 brown (Figs 103-108); and 3) four larger, darker (pilosity, body color, wing infuscation) specimens . A small series of intermediates blurs the line between 1 and 2, and contains several singletons that may represent additional morphotypes. The three groups are largely geographically separated, series 1 is widespread across central Africa (but absent in South Africa), series 2 is found in eastern Africa (Kenya, Uganda, and possibly Tanzania), and series 3 is from Central African Republic (with one similar specimen from Cameroon). The intermediate specimens are known from Malawi, Nigeria, Ghana, and Ivory Coast.
The pilosity of T1 laterally is relatively reduced, with 4-6 setae typically present along the ventral margin. This is the only species of Afrotropical ernstii-group to exhibit truly brown setae on lateral T2, the gena, and throughout the frons (this mostly restricted to individuals of series 2).
Preliminary concepts were based on the following characters: scape color (yellow, light-brown, brown), color of pilosity of the gena (white, light brown to brow), apparent size (small to moderate, large), sculpture of the mesoscutum (moderately sized polygonal cells, large polygonal cells), infuscation of the wing (infuscation reduced to absent around submarginal, marginal, and stigmal veins and elsewhere, infuscation present more or less throughout), form of the submarginal vein near junction with marginal vein (obliterated and nebulous, tubular throughout), form of the stigmal vein (more or less obliterated, well developed tubular and sometimes slightly concave). We now interpret these states as representing a continuum of morphological variation.
While the combination of yellow scape and white pilosity holds for all specimens of group 1, and most specimens of group 2 have light brown scape and brown pilosity on the gena, there are also specimens (intermediates) with brown pilosity on the gena and a yellow scape. Of the two females in group 3 one has a dark brown scape (as does the specimen from Cameroon) and one has a bright yellow scape. The first series, the smallest individuals, all appear to have slightly larger cells on the mesoscutum (compare Figs 99 and 111). Most individuals of the second series have a similar pattern of obliteration of sculpture on the medial metasomal sternites, though this is approached in some of the first series. Individuals of the second series also have the infuscation around the submarginal and stigmal veins reduced, the submarginal vein is nebulous near the marginal vein, and the stigmal vein more or less absent, however these states are also seen in some individuals of the first series. Series three individuals have the wing strongly infuscate throughout and a strongly developed stigma and marginal vein (that has a slight hook), but these states are also observed in some of the "intermediate" specimens. Two specimens from Nigeria (intermediates) have a very slight longitudinal trend to the sculpture of the mesoscutum. Larger specimens tend to have the metasomal 3-5 sculptured throughout medially, while most individuals of the series two, and some of series one have a pattern of obliteration posteromedially on each tergite (particularly noticeable on S3, S4).
All determinations of males are tentative, most have a reduced but identifiable genal carina.

Scelio howardi species group
Description. General. Body size: moderate; large. Body length: 3.12-6.86 mm. Habitus: typical, mesosoma not dorsoventrally flattened. Body color: brown to dark brown; brown to dark brown, in some with metasoma yellow to orange. Fore leg color: concolorous with mid and hind legs. Sculpture: moderate to robust, reticulate to strigose, generally without longitudinal or parallel lineations. Wing type: macropterous; brachypterous.
Head. Sculpture of head: predominantly reticulate to rugulose throughout, never predominantly dorsoventral or longitudinal, without prominent smooth or obliterated patches, carinae moderate width. Ocelli size: moderate. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: narrow to moderate width. Width of ventral head across mandibles: moderate, mandibles typically formed. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: rounded trapezoidal, when more angular internal vertices never sharply cornered, medially truncate to slightly concave. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear throughout. Form of gena: narrow (lateral view), strongly sloped from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina; moderate width (lateral view), evenly rounded from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina. Genal carina: absent; present. RSS on A5 in males: present. Microsculpture at base of mandible: absent. Basal tooth of mandible: absent.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: moderately concave, not particularly bulging in anterior nor flattened throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: unknown. Surface of mesoscutum: sculptured throughout, never with smooth patches, always reticulate at least in part, with at most slight longitudinal elements. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: absent. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: unknown. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view; moderately to well developed, carinate, visible in dorsal view. Propodeal corners: projecting, projection with two vertices, forming a semicircular gap with lateral margin of propodeal nucha. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: unknown. Fore wing length: not reaching anterior margin of T5; reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: tubular. Pictation of fore wing in female: absent.
Metasoma. Anterior margin of T1: concave, with short rim. Diagnosis. Easily distinguished from all other African Scelio by the projected corner of the posterolateral propodeum ( Fig. 1) that forms a small semicircular space with the medial propodeal nucha.
Comments. For pragmatic purposes we divide the howardi species-group into two subgroups, white and brown. This division is largely pragmatic, and in the absence of additional data this division is not meant to hypothesize monophyletic groups. Species in the white subgroup have white pilosity on the frons below the anterior ocellus and the pronotal shoulder, while that on the dorsal head and mesoscutum is white to light golden yellow. Species in the brown subgroup have brown pilosity on the pronotal shoulder, mesoscutum and frons below the anterior ocellus. Most species in the brown subgroup have a brown to dark brown scape whereas species in the white subgroup typically have some yellow on the scape. Within the brown subgroup there is a tendency for the axillula to be well developed, blade-like to lobed. This is never the case in the white group. The pilosity of the occiput is sparse in all species in the group.
Notes on S. exaratus Kieffer. Based on examination of the type (images available at http://hol.osu.edu/index.html?id=5226) S. exaratus is unique. See comments for S. susurro.
Key to howardi-group species (also available online at http://www.waspweb.org/ Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm) Females  Netrion setose (Fig. 242); propodeal nucha with sparse setae throughout anterior portion (Fig. 241) Fig. 26), setae usually concolorous with those of mesoscutum; thickness and length of pronotal shoulder pilosity variable but sometimes narrower and shorter (e.g. Fig. 30 Hind tibia yellow with a short brown band at apex, or light brown throughout; scape color a gradient, yellow to light brown at base, brown at apex (Fig. 191)  pare Figs 118 and 160) and the white pilosity of the face (Fig. 119, compared with extent of brown pilosity in Fig. 161).
Etymology. Derived from the Latin for roar, howl, grumble; the epithet is considered as a noun in apposition.
Comments. The amount of pilosity on the anterior meso-and metapleuron (Fig.  118) is more than that seen in other Afrotropical howardi-group species. The mix of light and dark pilosity on the lateral portions T2 and T3 is also notable. Scelio fremo is only superficially similar to S. balo. Scelio balo appears to be more closely related to those species with brown pilosity on the pronotal shoulder than with S. fremo shares the color pattern more typically seen in S. howardi and its putative relatives. Scelio howardi is one of, if not the most commonly collected and widespread species of continental Africa. As circumscribed here it is variable in general size, shape of the head, sculpture, and to a lesser degree color. The sculpture of the frons is highly variable, though it tends to be relatively weakly developed, with broken reticulations common, and usually without robust reticulations meeting the malar sulcus (cf. S. destico). In a large majority of individuals the base of the scape is yellow; in some cases it is slightly darker to light brown though even then the apex is darker still. The pilosity of the lateral portions T2 is always quite dense and prominent in S. howardi.

Scelio howardi
Males usually have a very small smooth patch along the ventral margin of the metapleural depression. Males are particularly similar to those of S. igland. The two may be distinguished by subtle differences in the form of the villus (more strongly bent medially in S. igland) and the white and somewhat dense pilosity of the lateral tergites (vs. sparse and golden or brown and sparse in S. igland).  Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose; predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio igland
Diagnosis. Similar to S. ructo, with which this species shares relatively sparse pilosity of the head and mesonotum. Differing from S. ructo and all white subgroup species by the combination of the weakly impressed to absent notauli, the relatively evenly reticulate and not particularly thickened sculpture of the mesonotum, the sculptured mesopleuron, and the medially bent ventral villus.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Anglo-Saxon word for island.
Comments. The pilosity of the mesonotum and dorsal pronotal shoulders is relatively sparse (Fig. 129) in comparison to other species in the white subgroup. Scelio igland is slightly variable in the size and nature of sculpture, particularly on the mesonotum. In larger individuals the course of the notauli is sometimes slightly impressed, but never to the extent seen in S. ructo (Fig. 138). The shape of the head is somewhat ovoid in lateral view in comparison to the slightly more wedge-shaped form seen in S. ructo. In the long series of available material there is almost no variation in the degree of sculpture on the mesopleural depression ( Fig. 136) and the presence of sculpture on the pronotal nucha. Males have a somewhat more compact flagellum than typically seen in the howardi species group. In males patches of obliterated sculpture are more common than in males of S. howardi. Scelio igland is very commonly collected in Madagascar.
There are two specimens from the Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle mounted with other specimens on the same pins. They are excluded from the type series in order to try to avoid future confusions. hind tibia: yellow at extreme base, otherwise light brown. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6; apex surpassing posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: light reddish brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio ructo
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. igland which shares the somewhat sparse pilosi ty of the head and mesonotum (Fig. 135) and is also restricted to Madagascar. Scelio ructo differs from this and all other Afrotropical howardi-group species by the flattened and smoothly rounded sculpture of the mesoscutum (Fig. 135) in combination with the well-impressed notauli and the smooth pronotal nucha and mesopleural depression.
Comments. The notauli in S. ructo are particularly well developed for species of Afrotropical Scelio. The material includes a short series of distinctly smaller but morphologically consistent individuals (CASENT 2133137, 2133136, 2134579, 2134588). The size of the smooth patches on the dorsal metasoma is highly variable. A single larger individual (CASENT 2043185) is identified as S. ructo but excluded from the type series. The specimen is missing the large smooth patch of the mesopleuron, and the gena is somewhat broader. Overall, its similar mesoscutal sculpture and general habitus suggests that it represents a morphologically larger outlier. The surface where a third pair of felt fields on S4 would be expected is slightly pinched and raised; nevertheless, lacking the setae we have coded the felt fields as absent on this sclerite. When the structure and function of of the felt fields is discovered this character should be reviewed for S. ructo. Females have a slightly wedge-shaped head with a moderate to narrow gena, often with an irregularly developed genal carina. Description. Female body length: 5.04-5.91 mm (n=16). Male body length: 4.66-5.42 mm (n=7). Color of pilosity of dorsal head in female: white. Occipital carina in female: percurrent. Color of pilosity of the frons below the anterior ocellus in female: predominantly white. Pilosity of eye in female: present. Medial keel on interantennal process: absent. Width of lower gena in lateral view: wide, posterior margin of lower half of gena parallel to posterior orbit. Genal carina: absent. Color of genal pilosity: white. Color of scape in female: brown to dark brown throughout. Surface of the pronotal nucha in female: predominantly sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: white to light brown, lighter than that of mesoscutum. Sculpture of medial mesoscutum in female: predominantly angular reticulate to rugulose. Color of pilosity of mesoscutum in female: predominantly white to offwhite. Notaulus in female: not delimited. Notaulus in male: not delimited. Form of axillular carina in female: small, not particularly expanded or projected from the lateral edge of the mesoscutellum. Pilosity of propodeal nucha: absent. Pilosity of netrion: absent. Surface of mesopleural depression in female: with small smooth patch ventrally. Form of ventral margin of villus in female: bent ventrally in posterior, obviously not straight throughout. Color of coxae in female: brown. Color of hind femur: dark brown throughout. Color of hind tibia: yellow at extreme base, otherwise light brown. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly white. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).
Comments. Scelio scomma is endemic to Madagascar where it is the largest species within the howardi-species group and large for species within the white subgroup. All the specimens are uniform in morphology. Scelio scomma is extremely similar to larger individuals of S. howardi and the two cannot be casually differentiated. The pilosity of the lateral portions T2 is particularly dense (Fig. 144). The small smooth patch on the lower mesopleural depression (Fig. 142) is constant for all individuals observed, and it is present in both males and females. Males can be confused with S. igland, but may be differentiated by their larger and more robust habitus, completely sculptured lateral metasoma (smooth or obliterated patches present in S. igland), and the absence of notauli (indicated by a row of cells in S. igland).

Diagnosis.
Most similar to S. zolotarevskyi which shares the straight ventral margin of the villus. Differing from S. zolotarevskyi and all other Afrotropical howardigroup species by the yellow to brown color gradient of the metasoma (vs. uniform coloration). Further, females may be distinguished from most Afrotropical S. howardi by the yellow coxae.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for to make a loud cry.
Link Comments. Individuals of S. ululo are smaller than most S. zolotarevskyi and also have distinctly less pilosity on the gena. In the ample material of S. zolotarevskyi there is no hint of color variation of the metasoma. The inner margin of the notauli is slightly indicated in some individuals, though we have coded the notauli as absent. As in S. zolotarevskyi there appears to be short setae between the ommatidia in individuals with silver eyes, in those with black eyes these cannot be seen but are likely present. The color of the coxae in one individual is slightly darker yellow, but distinctly lighter than the brown color of the corresponding femora. Diagnosis. Most similar to S. howardi in its habitus, color and form of pilosity, and general sculpture, as well as to S. pipilo with which it shares the straight ventral margin of the villus (as in Fig. 8). Scelio zolotarevskyi may be distinguished from the former by the compact and parallel-sided villus (Figs 8, 155, compare with concave or bent lateral margin of villus, Fig. 124) and from the latter by its smaller size and color of the scape (never completely brown to dark brown scape).

Scelio zolotarevskyi
Link The flat ventral margin of the villus, and its general form are extremely constant, as are the colors of the scape and legs, and in combination with the particularly dense pilosity of the gena, one can instantly distinguish this species. Confusion is only possible with S. pipilo and S. ululo. Most African individuals of S. zolotarevskyi have the dorsomedial pilosity of the head and mesoscutum white, which is somewhat uncommon for Afrotropical Scelio. The trend to white contrasts with that observed in S. howardi in which the setae are nearly universally golden to light brown. Neither color pattern is unique, but may be found in either species. Many Asian specimens of S. zolotarevskyi have the setae of the dorsal head and mesonotum brown to golden brown. There is significant variation in the sculpture of T6 in females. Most individuals are predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose, with a tendency towards some reticulation posteriorly. A few of the largest individuals have completely reticulate rugulose sculpture, and a few of the smallest individuals are almost completely longitudinally sculptured.
In individuals with silver eyes there is often the appearance of very short setae between the ommatidia, though these perhaps do not extend above the surface of the eye. In individuals with black or mottled black and silver eyes these can not be discerned. Whether these are in fact setae or rather some refractory phenomenon should be tested with dissection and SEM. We consider S. zolotarevskyi to be polymorphic for these two states, and this was best observed in the long series of material from Yemen. The notauli in males are percurrent, though faintly so. This is useful in distinguishing them from the extremely similar males of S. howardi. See also comments for S. ululo. Scelio zolotarevskyi is extremely widespread, being known throughout Africa and Asia. It has been reared from acridids of the subfamilies Eyprepocnemidinae, Cyrtacanthacridinae, and Oedipodinae, including the migratory locust (Locusta migratoria). hind tibia: yellow throughout. Fore wing length in female: apex not reaching anterior margin of T5. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).
Diagnosis. Similar to S. fremo, which also has a long metasoma and fore wings not reaching T5. Differing from S. fremo by the bent ventral margin of the villus (vs. straight, compare Figs 118 and 160), and the extent of the brown pilosity of the frons (vs. white, compare Figs 119 and 161). Scelio balo is darker overall than S. fremo, although this may be an artifact.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for roar, howl, grumble, or snort (things taxonomists do during a revision).  Diagnosis. Similar to other species of the brown subgroup that have the lateral node of the mesoscutellum developed into a flange or node. Differing from all these species by presence of setae on the netrion and the degree of development and form of the lateral node of the axillular carina which is large, round, lobelike vs. small, sharp and bladelike.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for hoot like an owl. Comments. The presence of pilosity on the propodeal nucha and netrion may not be independent as both states are also found together in S. philippinensis, though the two species do not appear to be closely related. The frons between the eyes is notably narrow, as are the mandibles (Fig. 167). The fore wing in females appears to extend just past the apex of the metasoma. ously not straight throughout. Color of coxae in female: brown. Color of hind femur: dark brown throughout. Color of hind tibia: white basally, dark brown apically. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6; apex surpassing posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly aciculate. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly reticulate rugulose. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: predominantly smooth or obliterated. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose; predominantly longitudinally striate. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: vertically sloped in posterior half. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio cano
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. tono, also a brown subgroup species that shares a similarly colored tibia (as in Fig. 212). Differing from S. tono by the absence of notauli (a clear channel in posterior half of mesoscutum present in S. tono) and the less welldeveloped axillular carina that does not extend above the dorsal surface of the mesoscutum. Similar also to S. gemo, but may be differentiated by the brown scape and sloping T6 (vs. yellow to brown and horizontally oriented respectively).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for sing. Comments. In males and females the inner course of the notauli is weakly discernible but the outer course is not. For this reason we have coded the notauli as absent. There is a small irregular patch of smoother obliterated sculpture on the ventral mesopleural depression. The sculpture of the medial metasoma is somewhat more obliterated and irregular than typical. Specimens of this species were taken together in identical collecting events with S. gemo. Diagnosis. Differing from other brown subgroup species by the combination of the completely yellow tibia (Fig. 176) and the transverse rugae of T6 (Fig. 180, more reticulate in most others).

Scelio crepo
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for to rattle, clatter, crackle.
Comments. The sculpture of the mesoscutum is somewhat finer (Fig. 177) than seen in other closely related species. There is some aciculate sculpture on the laterotergites, but they are predominantly smooth. There is a hint of a third felt field pair on S4, but we have coded only two pairs as present.  Diagnosis. Similar to other species of the brown subgroup, particularly S. cano. Differing from these by the combination of the presence of a medial ridge of interantennal process, the notauli indicated by a row of cells, the yellow hind tibia, the reticulate sculpture of the mesoscutum and the nearly horizontal T6 (as seen in lateral view).

Scelio gemo
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for to groan, moan, sigh.
Link  S. crepo, and S. tono which have the combination of brown pilosity on the pronotal shoulders, evenly distributed pilosity of the metasoma and the absence of a carina within the interantennal process. Differing from these species by the combination of the color pattern of the hind tibia (white with brown band at apex, or yellow throughout), color pattern of the scape (yellow at base and brown at apex), and sculpture of the mesoscutum (with longitudinal trend).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for grunt.
Comments. As presently delimited this species is relatively highly variable. The known material consists of three sets collected in different localities. Specimens within each set are morphologically variable, and there is noticeable variation between the sets as well. Each set may ultimately represent different species, but more specimens are needed to circumscribe the observed variation. There is a tendency among all individuals to have thicker, longitudinal carinae on the mesonotum and propodeum, usually with relatively uninterrupted interstices. In the largest specimens, however, there is more reticulation between the longitudinal elements. In all but the two specimens from the D.R.C. (OSUC 212376, 212377) the tibia is yellow with a short brown band at the apex. The two specimens from the D.R.C. appear somewhat translucent, and this may indicate modification of the natural color by collecting method. The sculpture of T6 may ultimately be of use in delimiting species, but there appears to be a transition from smaller individuals with thinner somewhat longitudinal carinae to larger individuals with thicker reticulations. The sculpture of the lateral portion of T1 also varies: in the two individuals from Ghana the lateral margin is smooth and with only a single longitudinal carina; additional rugulae are present in the other four individuals. The largest individual (OSUC 212377) is perhaps the best candidate for a separate species. In this specimen the mid tibia is nearly completely yellow (as compared to the brown to yellow pattern seen in other individuals), the sculpture of the metasoma is more robust than the other individuals, there is no glabrous patch on the ventral metasoma, and the mesoscutum and propodeum have more reticulations partially obscuring the longitudinal trend in sculpture seen in the other individuals. The sculpture of the frons in the two individuals from Ghana is more transverse than the more uniform reticulate sculpture seen in the other four.
While variation exists all six specimens may be firmly grouped by the characters listed in the diagnosis and others including the relatively large ocelli and eyes (resulting in a narrow frons), the similar sculpture pattern of the frons, the color pattern on the scape, the slightly developed axilluar carinae, and the ventromedially bent villus. dial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: vertically sloped in posterior half; more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for bark or howl.
Link to distribution map. Comments. The differences between S. latro and S. mutio are subtle but consistent. The color of pilosity on the head and pronotal shoulders is intermediate between white and the brown which may lead to some confusion in the key if it is interpreted as white. Though subtle, the color of the pilosity of the frons is not white. The propodeal projections (Fig. 198) are somewhat rounded and blunt. The preapical margin of T6 is relatively broad and well developed. The longitudinal sculpture of the propodeum is generally angled outwards. The ventral margin of the villus curves upwards forming an acute angle just past the anterior origin. In other species its course extends below the ventral extent of the propodeal spiracle forming a right or obtuse angle.  Form of axillular carina in female: small, not particularly expanded or projected from the lateral edge of the mesoscutellum. Pilosity of propodeal nucha: absent. Pilosity of netrion: absent. Surface of mesopleural depression in female: sculptured throughout. Form of ventral margin of villus in female: bent ventrally in posterior, obviously not straight throughout. Color of coxae in female: brown. Color of hind femur: dark brown throughout. Color of hind tibia: yellow at extreme base, otherwise light brown. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: predominantly longitudinally striate. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: vertically sloped in posterior half. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate; predominantly transversely rugose. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio mutio
Diagnosis. Similar to other species in the brown subgroup. Differing from these by the combination of scape color (yellow or light brown at base, darkening to brown at apex), hind femur color (light brown nearly throughout), and sculpture of the lateral margin of the metasomal sternites. See also diagnosis for S. latro.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for mutter. Comments. Scelio mutio, the southernmost member of the brown subgroup, is also the smallest member of the group. T6 is only slightly wider than long and is relatively more conical than similar species. The metasoma in dorsal view is somewhat pointed and ovoid. The pronotal nucha is smooth in the anterior half, and sculptured posteriorly. Description. Female body length: 4.90-5.88 mm (n=2). Male body length: 4.41-4.80 mm (n=15). Color of pilosity of dorsal head in female: golden to brown. Occipital ca-rina in female: percurrent. Color of pilosity of the frons below the anterior ocellus in female: predominantly golden to brown. Pilosity of eye in female: absent. Medial keel on interantennal process: absent. Width of lower gena in lateral view: wide, posterior margin of lower half of gena parallel to posterior orbit. Genal carina: absent. Color of genal pilosity: white. Color of scape in female: brown to dark brown throughout; yellow in basal half, darkening to light brown in apical half. Surface of the pronotal nucha in female: predominantly sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: white to light brown, lighter than that of mesoscutum; golden to dark brown, concolorous with that of mesoscutum. Sculpture of medial mesoscutum in female: predominantly angular reticulate to rugulose. Color of pilosity of mesoscutum in female: predominantly light brown to brown. Notaulus in female: not delimited; present as more or less uninterrupted channel in posterior 1/2 of mesoscutum. Notaulus in male: delimited by row of cells. Form of axillular carina in female: small, not particularly expanded or projected from the lateral edge of the mesoscutellum. Pilosity of propodeal nucha: absent. Pilosity of netrion: absent. Surface of mesopleural depression in female: with small smooth patch ventrally. Form of ventral margin of villus in female: bent ventrally in posterior, obviously not straight throughout. Color of coxae in female: brown. Color of hind femur: dark brown throughout. Color of hind tibia: yellow at extreme base, otherwise light brown. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly reticulate rugulose; most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly white. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose; minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio susurro
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. fremo which shares similar setal patterns on the gena, lateral metasomal tergites and to some extent the pronotal shoulder and frons. In both species there are both white and golden brown setae in these areas, their distribution on the lateral metasoma is towards the posterior (anterior glabrous to sparsely setose, Fig. 210). Differing from S. fremo by the shorter metasoma and fore wings that surpass T5, the curved ventral margin of the villus, and the small obliterated patch of sculpture on the ventral mesopleural depression.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for murmur, whisper, hum, or buzz. Comments. At present only two females are known, and while we here treat them as one species, they may ultimately warrant division. There is some difference in the general robustness of sculpture between the two individuals, the larger (OSUC 213654) being more robust in general, with less of a longitudinal trend on the mesoscutum and a broader gena (lateral view). Scelio susurro appears to be related to S. exaratus (Kieffer) from the Seychelles (not treated here, but see http://hol.osu.edu/index. html?id=5226), the two sharing obliterated patches on the mesopleural depression, the arrangement of setae on the lateral metasoma, infuscate wings, and a similar habitus. The pattern of sculpture on the mesoscutum (predominantly longitudinal with few reticulations) and narrow gena differentiate S. exaratus from the present species. Scelio susurro is somewhat intermediate between the brown and white subgroups, with a "salt and pepper" setal pattern (both white and brown mixed together) in various locations on the body (see Diagnosis). The brown pilosity of the mesoscutum is more typically found in brown subgroup species. Some of the tentatively associated males have the posterior lateral tergal setal patches brown contrasting with the predominantly white setae in females. The base of the scape in the two females is slightly lighter than the apex. In one the scape could be considered dark yellow, though we expect the scape to be brown throughout in a majority of individuals.  to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: predominantly smooth to slightly irregularly rugose. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio tono
Diagnosis. Most similar to S. cano which shares the brown pilosity of the pronotal shoulder and mesoscutum, the brown scape and similarly colored tibiae (Fig. 212). Differing from S. cano by the combination of the presence of notauli (indicated as a clear channel in posterior half vs. more or less obscured) and the well-developed axillular carina that extends above the dorsal surface of the mesoscutellum (not expanded past dorsal surface in S. cano).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for sound. Comments. The occiput is nearly completely smooth and more or less vertical. The gena is relatively narrow (Fig. 214), with a slight indication of a genal carina dorsally. The fore wing in some females appears to just barely extend past the apex of the metasoma. Comments. Nixon (1958) recorded the unique holotype as collected in 1941, but the label data clearly read 1940. The holotype was earlier dissected with the parts mounted separately on a single card point. It resembles the Madagascan S. ructo, differing in the broader gena, more elongate metasoma and several aspects of color and sculpture. Diagnosis. Unique among all Afrotropical Scelio in the presence of 3 well-developed pairs of felt fields (on S2, S3 and S4) and the nearly completely smooth mesoscutum with only small punctures (vs. angular to roundly reticulate or striate strigose). Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for boil over, in reference to the bubblelike sculpture of the mesoscutellum.
Comments. Scelio effervesco is aberrant in many ways, and is only tentatively placed into the howardi-group on the basis of the presence of a reduced propodeal projection and associated concavity. The form of the propodeal projection differs, however, from other howardi-group species in that there is not an acute outer corner. In this respect the form of the propodeum of S. effervesco more closely resembles that of species in the irwini-group. The pilosity throughout is extremely short and determining the precise color in specific areas is not possible, though it appears to be off-white to light brown. The legs and antennae of males are yellow throughout as compared to the brown of females.  T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly reticulate rugulose; most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly white; predominantly golden to brown; more or less evenly split between white and brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio destico
Diagnosis. Very similar to S. pipilo which shares a similar habitus, reticulate sculpture of the frons, brown to dark brown scape, somewhat bulging eye, and brown pilosity of the lateral metasoma. Differing from S. pipilo by the narrow gena with genal carina weakly developed (gena wide and no genal carina discernible in S. pipilo).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for squeak like a mouse.
Comments. The villus of S. destico is very similar to that of S. pipilo. However, in most specimens it tends to be slightly more concave ventrally, while in S. pipilo it is more or less straight. Scelio destico is smaller than S. pipilo (3.80-4.32 mm vs. 4.64-5.52 mm in females). The color of pilosity of the lateral portion of the metasoma in S. destico is highly variable, from more or less completely white to nearly completely brown. This is more variation than observed in S. pipilo which has predominantly brown setae in all individuals. The interstitial sculpture (between reticulations or longitudinal striae) of the lateral metasoma is somewhat less dense (more smooth patches) and more irregular in S. destico than in S. pipilo in which there is dense colliculate sculpture more or less throughout. Three individuals from Nigeria and Ghana (OSUC 212810, 213156, 213557) have the scape is distinctly yellow at the base and brown apically as in S. howardi. These three are not included in the paratype series and may ultimately represent a separate species based on the scape color and the absence of the genal carina. Diagnosis. Superficially similar to other Afrotropical howardi-group species of the brown subgroup, sharing the brown pilosity of the pronotal shoulder. This species may be distinguished from all African Scelio by the brachypterous wings (Fig. 233). The robust sculpture of the lateral metasoma (Fig. 238) is also relatively distinct for African Scelio.

Scelio memorabilis
Etymology. The epithet is an adjective, the Latin word for memorable, in reference to the unique state of the wing development.

Comments.
Scelio memorabilis is apparently the only known brachypterous species of Scelio. Though only a single specimen is known, its odd combination of characters states suggests that it warrants species status. The basal half of the coxa is brown and the apex yellow. The sculpture of the metanotum is somewhat rugulose reticulate, though it is still dominated by longitudinal elements. We have coded the third pair of felt fields as present which is quite rare for Afrotropical Scelio. Additional specimens will be required to confirm their consistent presence.

Comments.
We here adopt a broad concept of S. philippinensis which includes both African and Oriental specimens. While specimens from the two regions can be consistently distinguished on the basis of coxal color-Africa: brown, Oriental: yellowwe found no other corroborating morphological characters. We suspect that it will be necessary to adopt molecular or morphometric approaches to further test species boundaries of this taxon. Scelio philippinensis is highly atypical for Afrotropical Scelio in general. The setae of the anterior propodeal nucha are not seen in any other species of African Scelio. The color of the pilosity of the frons and the lateral metasoma is difficult to interpret due to its short length and narrow width. It appears that there is some variation, with individuals possessing either predominantly white or predominantly brown pilosity. The sculpture of the lateral metasomal sternal bar is variable: in some individuals the surface is more or less smooth, in others only a thin smooth strip is present ventrally. Color of scape in female: brown to dark brown throughout. Surface of the pronotal nucha in female: predominantly sculptured. Color of pilosity of pronotal shoulder in female: white to light brown, lighter than that of mesoscutum. Sculpture of medial mesoscutum in female: predominantly angular reticulate to rugulose. Color of pilosity of mesoscutum in female: predominantly yellow to golden. Notaulus in female: indicated by a row of cells. Form of axillular carina in female: small, not particularly expanded or projected from the lateral edge of the mesoscutellum. Pilosity of propodeal nucha: absent. Pilosity of netrion: absent. Surface of mesopleural depression in female: sculptured throughout. Form of ventral margin of villus in female: very slightly concave, almost straight. Color of coxae in female: brown. Color of hind femur: dark brown throughout. Color of hind tibia: yellow throughout. Fore wing length in female: apex between anterior margin of T5 and posterior margin of T6. Color of metasoma: entirely dark brown. Sculpture of laterotergites in female: predominantly smooth. Pilosity of laterotergites in female: absent. Sculpture of medial T1 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Sculpture of medial T2 in female: most prominent elements predominantly longitudinal. Pattern of sculpture on T3-T5 in female: T3 predominantly reticulate, T4-T5 predominantly longitudinally striate to strigose. Color of pilosity on lateral T3-T5 in female: predominantly golden to brown. Lateral profile of T6 in female: more or less horizontal. Sculpture of T6 in female: predominantly rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of lateral metasomal sternal bar in female: minutely reticulate throughout. Distribution of felt fields: 2 pairs present (S2, S3).

Scelio pipilo
Diagnosis. Very similar to S. destico in habitus, reticulate sculpture of the frons, brown to dark brown scape, somewhat bulging eye, and brown pilosity of the lateral metasoma. This species differs in the absence of a genal carina and, in lateral view, the posterior margin of the lower half of the gena is parallel to the posterior orbit making the gena appear wider.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for chirp, twitter. Link

Scelio ipomeae species group
Description. General. Body size: small; moderate; large. Body length: 2.86-5.72 mm. Habitus: typical, mesosoma not dorsoventrally flattened. Body color: brown to dark brown, in some with metasoma yellow to orange. Fore leg color: concolorous with mid and hind legs. Sculpture: moderate to robust, reticulate to strigose, generally without longitudinal or parallel lineations. Wing type: macropterous.
Head. Sculpture of head: predominantly reticulate to rugulose throughout, sculpture of the dorsal head very fine to partially obliterated. Ocelli size: moderate. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: unknown. Width of ventral head across mandibles: narrow, mandibles relatively compact; moderate, mandibles typically formed. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: thin immediately mesad of outer teeth, smoothly rounded to slightly trapezoidal medially, without sharp vertices, medially truncate to slightly concave. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent; broadly obliterated or obscured medially. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear throughout. Form of gena: broad, somewhat flattened, minimally rounded between posterior margin of eye and occipital carina. Genal carina: absent. RSS on A5 in males: present. Microsculpture at base of mandible: present; absent. Basal tooth of mandible: unknown.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: flattened, not or very weakly sloping towards pronotum anteriorly. Transverse pronotal carina in female: unknown. Surface of mesoscutum: unknown. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: unknown. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: unknown. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view. Propodeal corners: rounded, without pointed vertices. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: often smooth or with sculpture obliterated or very faint. Fore wing length: reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: tubular. Pictation of fore wing in female: present; absent.
Metasoma. Anterior margin of T1: concave, with short rim. Diagnosis. Species of the ipomeae-group are most similar to those in the walkerigroup, both sharing a similar bent ventral margin of the villus and rounded posterolateral propodeal corners. Most species can be distinguished from walkeri-group species by the combination of a) the pattern of pilosity on lateral T1 in which there is dense line of fine pilosity in addition to the thicker pilosity (Fig. 268), b) the general absence of thick white truncate setae (present in walkeri-group species), c) the orange metasoma (brown to black in walkeri-group species), d) the presence of an RSS on male A5 (absent or apparently so at 60× in walkeri-group species), and 3) in most the absence of a well-defined basal tooth on the mandible (present in all walkeri-group species).
Comments. We consider the division of walkeri and ipomeae-groups as monophyletic units as tenuous and ultimately they may need to be combined. However, the division is pragmatically useful. Most species of the ipomeae-group have the characteristic orange metasoma, relatively reduced sculpture on the dorsal portion of the head (noted by Nixon 1958), a distinct pattern of pilosity on T1 (Fig. 268), broad gena, and apically broad A5 in males. The ipomeae-group can be further divided on the basis of the presence or absence of a percurrent transverse pronotal carina and general shape of the mesosoma. The mesosoma may be somewhat compact with a more or less vertical medial propodeal shelf (e.g. Fig. 284), or more typically formed with the propodeal shelf less strongly sloped (e.g. Fig. 266). Individuals of the former subgroup are robust and compact, with thicker coxae and femora.
Key to ipomeae-group species (also available online at http://www.waspweb.org/ Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm) 1 Transverse pronotal carina percurrent (Fig. 286, tpc); mesosoma somewhat compact, with propodeal shelf short and strongly sloping (Figs 272,275,284); propodeal nucha smooth except for slight medial furrow (Fig. 274, prn)  propodeal nucha usually with transverse to reticulate sculpture in addition to medial furrow (Fig. 265)  Clypeus strongly projecting, subquadrate with rounded corners (Fig. 285); metasoma dark orange brown (Figs 281, 282); mesoscutellum transverse, broadly depressed posteromedially with posterolateral margins very slightly elevated (Fig. 283)  Diagnosis. This species is most similar to S. ipomeae and S. impostor which share the medially interrupted transverse pronotal carina. It is easily distinguished from both these species by the prominently bilobed anteclypeus (truncate to slightly concave in both others), the broadly obliterated occipital carina (percurrent in both others), and the completely orange metasoma (apically brown in S. ipomeae and brown throughout in S. impostor, but see Comments for these species). Scelio aurantium is further recognizable by its relatively large size and slightly elongate habitus.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for orange, the fruit.
Link Comments. The posterior propodeal margin in S. aurantium approaches the angular to dentate state seen in species of Afrotropical ernstii-group, although it does not reach that extreme. The dense fine pilosity of T1, characteristic of the ipomeae-group, is well developed. The humeral sulcus is relatively well-developed as a short broad channel along the posterolateral mesoscutum. Scelio aurantium is one of the few Afrotropical species in which the occipital carina is broadly obliterated medially. No variation of metasomal color was observed: it is orange throughout in all individuals. In most specimens the mesoscutum at a position roughly corresponding to the location of the parapsidal lines is irregularly flattened and slightly polished in a short strip. Two males are associated and well match the females. Description. Female body length: 3.20-4.44 mm (n=12). Male body length: 3.80 mm (n=1). Color of scape in female: brown. Surface of dorsal head in female: covered throughout with very fine sculpture. Occipital carina in female: percurrent. Profile of posterior margin of head in lateral view: produced posteriorly, head appearing wedgeshaped. Width of genal setae: narrow to moderately wide. Shape of medial anteclypeus in female: narrow, trapezoidal, not strongly projected medially, apically slightly truncate to very weakly bilobed. Surface of mandible base in female: smooth. Form of mesosoma in female: typically formed, with propodeal shelf moderately elongate and clearly visible in dorsal view. Surface of pronotal nucha in female: sculptured throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: developed laterally, absent medially, not percurrent. Shape of mesoscutellum: semicircular to weakly transverse, evenly rounded posteriorly. Surface of propodeal nucha in female: sculptured throughout.
Diagnosis. This species is most similar to S. ipomeae which shares a similarly developed clypeus and anteclypeus and similar general habitus. Scelio impostor may be distinguished from S. ipomeae by the sparse, narrow pilosity of the gena (S. ipomeae with pilosity of the gena denser, setae thicker) and the brown metasoma (orange in S. ipomeae, but see Comments for that species). Individuals of S. ipomeae have the head somewhat wedge shaped in lateral view (Fig. 266), whereas those of S. impostor are typically more rounded (Fig. 262).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the English, in reference to the similarity to S. ipomeae.
Comments. Scelio ipomeae is a widespread species and one of the most abundant in collections. The species exhibits relatively large variation in size, but large and small individuals are easily diagnosable. The S3 felt field is generally somewhat narrower than in other species. The coloration throughout (yellow scape, brown head and mesosoma, orange metasoma with brown T5-T6) is remarkably constant for all but the short series of atypical specimens discussed below. The sculpture of the dorsal head is often somewhat obliterated.
We include several atypical specimens in S. ipomeae. Three specimens from Yemen (OSUC 212948, 212341, 212492) have the metasoma yellow throughout but otherwise match well. They are all smaller than individuals of S. aurantium, which has a similarly colored metasoma, and have the occipital carina complete (vs. broadly obliterated). Two individuals from Kenya (OSUC 224094, 214118) have dark coloration as in S. impostor (brown metasoma), but the genal pilosity and head shape matches well with the core series. A third individual from Kenya (OSUC 244095) has a pictate fore wing, with a white band just past the apical extent of the stigmal vein. A smaller individual from Mozambique (OSUC 213103) has a more ovoid head and slightly sparser setae than typical. Description. Female body length: 4.40 mm (n=1). Color of scape in female: brown. Surface of dorsal head in female: covered throughout with very fine sculpture. Occipital carina in female: percurrent. Profile of posterior margin of head in lateral view: evenly arcuate, head appearing lenticular. Width of genal setae: narrow to moderately wide. Shape of medial anteclypeus in female: narrow, strip like, truncate apically. Surface of mandible base in female: with fine reticulate sculpture. Form of mesosoma in female: compact, with propodeal shelf short very strongly sloped and barely visible in dorsal view. Surface of pronotal nucha in female: with slight but prominent obliterated/smooth patch, otherwise sculptured throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: percurrent, not interrupted medially. Shape of mesoscutellum: semicircular to weakly transverse, evenly rounded posteriorly. Surface of propodeal nucha in female: with medial furrow, otherwise smooth. Surface of propodeal shelf in female: sculptured throughout. Color of metasoma in female: brown, T5-T6 dark brown. Sculpture of T6: coarsely rugose reticulate.

Scelio ntchisii
Diagnosis. Scelio ntchisii is most similar to S. somaliensis with which it shares the similarly shaped, compact mesosoma and percurrent transverse pronotal carina. It differs from S. somaliensis by the coarse reticulate sculpture of T6 (longitudinal, fine in S. somaliensis) and the brown scape (yellow in S. somaliensis). Scelio ntchisii is the only species in the ipomeae-group to have the oxter more or less sculptured (reticulate) throughout.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a genitive noun derived from the name of the type locality.
Etymology. The epithet is used as an adjective derived from the country of the type locality. Diagnosis. Scelio transtrum is most similar to S. ntchisii and, to a slightly lesser degree, S. somaliensis, all sharing the presence of the percurrent transverse pronotal carina and the compact form of the mesosoma with strongly sloped medial propodeal shelf. Scelio transtrum differs from those two species by the strongly projected clypeus/ anteclypeus (strip like and not projecting in both others), the transverse mesoscutel- lum that has slightly elevated posterolateral margins and medial depression (rounded, not particularly transverse, and otherwise unmodified in both others), and the orange metasoma (brown in both of the others). All but one individual (OSUC 213460 from South Africa) have obliterated or smoother patches on the anterolateral propodeal shelf. All other ipomeae-group species have the shelf sculptured throughout.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for crossbeam, in reference to the percurrent transverse pronotal carina.
Link Comments. The occipital carina is generally present although it is obscured or absent for a short medial stretch in some. The gap is not as extensive as in S. aurantium. Two males are known and match the females well. The male has somewhat more robust sculpture which is particularly noticeable on the dorsal head and pronotal nucha. The male A5 is not as stalked basally and apically broad as in S. ipomeae.
Head. Sculpture of head: variously sculptured, with well developed arcuate carinae of the lower frons, without smooth or obliterated patches, carinae generally moderate width. Ocelli size: moderate; large. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: narrow to moderate width. Width of ventral head across mandibles: moderate, mandibles typically formed. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: thin immediately mesad of outer teeth, smoothly rounded to slightly trapezoidal medially, without sharp vertices, medially truncate to slightly concave. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear through-out. Form of gena: broad, somewhat flattened, minimally rounded between posterior margin of eye and occipital carina. Genal carina: absent. RSS on A5 in males: present. Microsculpture at base of mandible: absent. Basal tooth of mandible: absent.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: moderately concave, not particularly bulging in anterior nor flattened throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: unknown. Surface of mesoscutum: sculptured throughout, never with smooth or obliterated patches, reticulate laterally and anteromedially, longitudinally striate to strigose posteromedially. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: absent. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: unknown. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view. Propodeal corners: rounded, without pointed vertices. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: often smooth or with sculpture obliterated or very faint. Fore wing length: reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: unknown. Pictation of fore wing in female: absent.
Metasoma. Anterior margin of T1: concave, with short rim. Diagnosis. Most similar to species of the walkeri and ipomeae-groups and, to a lesser degree, the pulchripennis-group. These all share the rounded posterior propodeal margin and medially bent villus. The irwini-group differs from these and all other species by the unique pilosity which is very short, narrow and sparse. The setae in the walkeri and ipomeae-groups is moderate to thick and prominent. Most individuals are further differentiated by the combination of the arcuate carinae of the lower frons, the broad, and somewhat flattened gena, the absence of a basal tooth on the mandible, and the flattened mesoscutum.
Comments. The irwini-group is a small and morphologically cohesive group of species restricted to Madagascar. While there are some possible affinities with the walkeri and ipomeae-groups ,this group appears to be relatively isolated from other species. Individuals usually have a slight projection on the posteromedial margin of the propodeum possibly homologous to the inner corner of the propodeal projection as seen in howardi-group species. The pattern of sculpture of the mesonotum is similar among all four species with slight differences in the amount of reticulation present (see Comments for individual species). The male genitalia of all species and a morph potentially representing a fifth species were surveyed (stereomicroscopy) for gross differences, and none were found.

1
Mesopleural depression and metapleuron above hind coxa sculptured throughout (Fig. 290), without glabrous and smooth patch (dorsal head and upper frons with well-developed reticulations (Fig. 291); medial T2-T4 with only narrow smooth patches or sculptured throughout (Fig. 292)  Surface of meso-and metapleural depressions: with prominent glabrous and smooth patch. Fore wing length: longer than apex of metasoma. Diagnosis. Scelio irwini is most similar to S. parkeri with which it shares the smooth patches on the meso-and metapleural depressions. It differs from this and all other irwini-group species by the dorsoventrally carinate to very slightly strigose sculpture of the frons, and unbroken transverse carinae on the posterior head (with at least some prominent reticulate areas outside the ocellar triangle in all others).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a genitive noun derived from the name of our colleague Mike Irwin, one of the three collectors who together amassed hundreds of specimens of the irwini-group.
Comments. The sculpture within the ocellar triangular can be irregularly reticulate in some individuals. The male RSS of A5 is intermediate in form between S. parkeri and S. obscuripennis, projecting slightly like the former, but retaining a bit more of a distinct carina like the latter. The medial mesonotal sculpture tends to be longitudinally striate strigose.  2043419, 2043422, 2043424-2043425, 2043466, 2043569, 2043571, 2043589, 2043616, 2043630, 2043959, 2132015, 2132022, 2132118, 2132151, 2132553, 2132565, 2132710, 2132712, 2132784, 2133069, 2133075, 2133128, 2133134, 2133138, 2133190, 2133211, 2133330, 2133341, 2133423, 2133923, 2133957, 2134127-2134134, 2134221, 2134229-2134230, 2134243, 2134246-2134248, 2134254, 2134263, 2134274, 2134530, 2134569, 2134578, 2134851, 2134869, 2134884, 2135113, 2135115-2135117, 2135120-2135121, 2135123 There is no additional evidence that these species are each others closest relatives. In fact, a number of apparently unrelated Neotropical species have such a metascutellum. We conclude that based solely on this character state, the genus Lepidoscelio is polyphyletic. Further, recognition of the concept in a more narrow sense to include only the irwini-group species would render Scelio paraphyletic. Therefore, we propose that Lepidoscelio is a junior synonym of Scelio (new synonymy). Transfer of the type species into Scelio necessitates a change in species name. The name Scelio fuscipennis is preoccupied, having been used by Ashmead (1887) for a Nearctic species. Therefore, we propose the name Scelio obscuripennis as a replacement name. Other than the type species, four other species are currently classified in Lepidoscelio. These are here formally transferred to Scelio (type material examined): S. cayennensis (Risbec), comb. n., S. insularis Ashmead, comb. r., S. luteus (Cameron), comb. n., and S. thoracicus Ashmead, comb. r. Scelio obscuripennis is the most size variable and phenotypically plastic in the irwini species group. The sculpture of the mesonotum varies, though in most (particularly larger individuals) there is a stronger trend to more reticulate and less longitudinal sculpture medially. A series of individuals presently included, but excluded from the type series, were at one point considered to represent a separate species, however, given the general variation in size and the associated differences that accompany these differences we have elected to describe one rather polymorphic species. The second series (e.g. CASENT 2042111, 2042266, 2043254, 2043574, 2132100, 2132101) is composed of small individuals that have the submarginal vein obliterated prior to reaching the costal margin. Males in this series (e.g. CASENT 2043056, 2043494, 2042114, 8106280, 2132402, 2043282) have somewhat transverse flagellomeres following A5, and stockier legs. Most individuals in this series have a whitish stigma and broader, more compact habitus. These characters may be associated with allometric differences in size. Description. Female body length: 1.78-5.41 mm (n=19). Male body length: 3.76-4.73 mm (n=20). Sculpture of posterior vertex: weakly reticulate. Sculpture of frons in female: reticulate in upper half. Arcuate carinae of lower frons: "closed", arcuate carinae terminating at ventrolateral corner of anteclypeus. Form of RSS on A5 in male: node like and somewhat pointed. Sculpture of medial mesonotum: longitudinally striate in posterior half, otherwise reticulate. Surface of propodeal shelf in females: uniformly reticulate throughout. Surface of meso-and metapleural depressions: with prominent glabrous and smooth patch. Fore wing length: shorter than apex of metasoma.

Scelio parkeri
Diagnosis. Scelio parkeri is most similar to S. harinhalai which shares the smooth patches on the meso-and metapleural depressions. It differs from S. harinhalai by the "closed" arcuate sculpture of the frons, with arcs terminating near base of mandible, not along the malar sulcus. The ventralmost extension of the arcuate sculpture is never confused with reticulations in S. parkeri as it is in S. harinhalai. Males are unique among irwini-group species for the nodelike RSS (carinate in all other irwini-group species).
Etymology. The epithet is used as a genitive noun derived from the name of Frank Parker, one of the three collectors who together amassed hundreds of specimens of the irwini-group.
Head. Sculpture of head: predominantly reticulate to rugulose throughout, never predominantly dorsoventral or longitudinal, without prominent smooth or obliterated patches, carinae moderate width. Ocelli size: small. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: narrow to moderate width. Width of ventral head across mandibles: moderate, mandibles typically formed. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: slightly concave, with thicker medial projection whose margins nearly reach outer teeth. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent; broadly obliterated or obscured medially. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear throughout. Form of gena: narrow (lateral view), strongly sloped from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina. Genal carina: absent. RSS on A5 in males: present. Microsculpture at base of mandible: present; absent. Basal tooth of mandible: absent.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: moderately concave, not particularly bulging in anterior nor flattened throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: absent or very irregularly developed, anterolateral shoulder somewhat rounded, without clear division between dorsal and anterior areas. Surface of mesoscutum: sculptured throughout, never with smooth patches, usually reticulate to rugulose. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: absent. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: unknown. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view. Propodeal corners: rounded, without pointed vertices. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: often smooth or with sculpture obliterated or very faint. Fore wing length: reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: nebulous to spectral. Pictation of fore wing in female: absent.
Metasoma. Anterior margin of T1: concave, with short rim. Diagnosis. Members are most similar to species in the walkeri, ipomeae, and pulchripennis species groups which share the rounded posterolateral propodeal corners (Figs 3-6) and the presence of moderate to long pilosity throughout. Species of the irwini-group have similar propodeal corners but much shorter setae throughout. Of these species groups the roundly reticulate to almost punctate-foveate sculpture of the mesoscutum (Figs 313,319,325) is diagnostic for the simoni-group. Its species may be differentiated from the pulchripennis-group by the glabrous netrion (or nearly so); the netrion is densely setose in the pulchripennis-group. From the walkeri-group they may be distinguished by the absence of thick white truncated setae and the presence of brown setae of the gena (always white in walkeri species). Males may can be differentiated from the walkeri and pulchripennis groups by the presence of the RSS on A5 (absent or not visible at 60× in those groups).
Comments. The three species in this group are very similar. If the degree of development of sculpture, in particular the transverse carina of T6, is correlated with size, the discovery of intermediates in body size may require concepts to be synonymized. The sculpture of the mesoscutum is diagnostic and is approached in form only by males of some pulchripennis-group species. The transverse pronotal carina is notably more or less absent in all species, with the pronotal shoulder somewhat rounded. The fore wing submarginal vein is absent all but basally where it is indicated as a slightly darkened sclerotized fold. The ventrolateral postgenal cluster of setae is perhaps represented by one or two erect setae, although it also could be interpreted as absent. Several individuals of S. simoni have a single setae arising from the anteromedial netrion, though in most individuals within the group this sclerite is glabrous. Overall, the pilosity of the body is relatively sparse, this is particularly noticeable on the propodeum. There is a slight rounded point (Fig. 3) corresponding to the inner margin of the propodeal projection (as in Fig. 1) in some individuals. For the three species this state seems to be somewhat plastic.
Etymology. The epithet is used as an adjective derived from the name of the sole collector of all known material, Simon van Noort, and referring to the diminutive size of this species.
Comments. Scelio simonolus is the least robustly sculptured of the three species in this group. The sculpture of the pronotal nucha is somewhat obliterated as compared to the transverse striae in the other two species. Diagnosis. This species differs from S. simonolus by the sculptured mesopleural depression (Fig. 326). It may be distinguished from the similar S. simoni by the absence of pilosity between the ommatidia and, in males, the linear RSS on A5 and the absence of discernible notauli.
Head. Sculpture of head: predominantly dorsoventrally striate on frons, often with obliterated or smooth patches dorsally, carinae usually fine. Ocelli size: small. Gap between antennal toruli and anteclypeus: absent, toruli reaching anteclypeus or anteclypeus more or less absent with clypeus concave; narrow to moderate width. Width of ventral head across mandibles: moderate, mandibles typically formed; broad, mandibles wide. Anteclypeus shape between outer teeth: broadly concave, or strip like and slightly projected, or projected and roundly rectangular. Malar sulcus: present. Medial portion of occipital carina: percurrent. Lateral portion of occipital carina: more or less linear throughout. Form of gena: broad, somewhat bulging, not evenly rounded from posterior margin of eye to occipital carina. Genal carina: absent. RSS on A5 in males: absent, or not visible at 60×. Microsculpture at base of mandible: absent. Basal tooth of mandible: present.
Mesosoma. Shape of mesoscutum in lateral view: moderately concave, not particularly bulging in anterior nor flattened throughout. Transverse pronotal carina in female: well developed, predominantly linear, anterolateral shoulder somewhat truncate from dorsal to anterior areas. Surface of mesoscutum: sculptured throughout, never with smooth patches, always reticulate at least in part, with at most slight longitudinal elements. Smooth or obliterated patches on mesoscutum: absent. Surface of the pronotal collar in females: finely sculptured throughout. Axillula: small, clearly discernible only in lateral view. Propodeal corners: rounded, without pointed vertices. Epomia: present. Surface of oxter: often smooth or with sculpture obliterated or very faint. Fore wing length: reaching or surpassing anterior margin of T5 but not surpassing apex of metasoma. Fore wing submarginal vein near curve towards costal margin: tubular. Pictation of fore wing in female: absent.
Diagnosis. Most similar to species in the ipomeae, pulchripennis and irwini species groups, all of which share the rounded posterolateral corners of the propodeum. Females differing from species in these groups and all others (except one species of the ipomeae-group) by the presence of a basal tooth on the mandible (Figs 330, 375, bt).
Most species in this group are further identifiable by the combination of the distinctly bent pilosity of the villus in lateral view (Fig. 374, vil); presence of pilosity above the hind coxa; fine dorsoventral striae of the head; thick, white, often truncate setae (females); the relatively broad head in dorsal view; absence of the RSS on male A5; and the truncate subapical margin of T6 (females). Note that individual exceptions to many of these characters exist. For example, the RSS of A5 in males is also absent in pulchripennis-group species. Unlike species of the pulchripennis-group in which the sculpture of the mesonotum is frequently obliterated or smooth, the mesonotum of walkeri-group species is always sculptured throughout.
Comments. This species of this group are very similar to one another, as noted by Nixon (1958). The delimitation of species is heavily based on characters of pilosity and the form of the anteclypeus. While interpretation of setal color may be difficult, it is possible and very useful. Interpretation is aided by using the setae of the lower gena as the standard of "white." This allows for comparison to the color of mesonotal pilosity in particular, which can be very subtly darker. In the material we observed only very rarely was pilosity color positively misleading. In most of these cases the features were obviously artifacts, e.g. of collecting method, dirt, or extraneous films. The color patterns in older material (more than 25 years) appear to be stable. The thickened white pilosity may be broadly categorized as belonging to three categories, white to very slightly off-white and opaque, golden-brown to brown and opaque, and translucent white. The last state is only rarely seen in Afrotropical walkeri-group species, but was commonly observed in Australian species.
Several morphological trends are notable. No walkeri-group species are known with yellow, orange or metallic color. The antennae are typically unicolorous, with at most a slightly lighter base. Patterns of sculpture throughout the Afrotropical walkeri-group appear to be largely uniform and uninformative. Therefore, we have paid much less attention to their description. The sculpture of the head most often consists of fine dorsoventral striae with smooth interstices. This is particularly fine, while that on the mesosoma and metasomal is somewhat coarser. The anterior portion of the gena immediately below the eye and posterior to the malar sulcus always has a small glabrous patch (Fig. 350, gp). The cluster of erect straight setae on the ventrolateral postgena is coded as absent because the form of the cluster found in the irwini and ipomeae-groups is not present. There are some species, however, in which 1-3 setae are present that may be homologous. The tibia is always lighter in color (dark yellow at lightest) than the femur. The general pilosity is never long, thin, and distinctly erect as seen in many pulchripennis-group species. The thickened, truncate, white setae are particularly well represented on the pronotal shoulders and lateral portions of T2, though they are often found throughout the body. The propodeum is glabrous except for a patch of setae on the anterolateral corner. The subapical margin of T6 is poorly differentiated and usually is found very near to the apex of T6. As a result, the smoother apical area is very small.
Males of this group are additionally difficult to identify to species because the characters useful with respect to females, in particular the shape of the anteclypeus and the distribution of pilosity, are largely homogeneous. The general pilosity in males is much finer, not apically truncate, and sparse along the lateral metasoma. The basal tooth on the mandible is apparently absent in males: at most there is a very slight sinuate edge present. In general, the sculpture is coarser throughout in males.
The walkeri-group is not known from the New World, but is widespread through the Palearctic, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australasian realms. We expect additional species to be discovered within the study area. We suspect their delimitation will require the addition of long series of new material, host data, or the use of molecular characters. The geographical limit of species treated here excludes several species with potentially overlapping geographic ranges from the Arabian Peninsula. Several names for these Arabian species are available and potentially applicable to the Afrotropical species. These include S. popovi Nixon and S. aegyptiacus Priesner. Key to walkeri-group species (also available online at http://www.waspweb.org/ Platygastroidea/Keys/index.htm) 1 Metasomal tergites 2-5 in lateral profile covered with dense pilosity in anterior half, strongly contrasting with the glabrous or very sparsely setose posterior half (Fig. 396)  Gena strongly bulging (Fig. 385), in dorsal view usually extending laterad of eye, head very wide across mandibles (Fig. 387); medial anteclypeus very short and concave, with two acute triangular teeth at margins (Fig. 387, lat); pilosity of lateral metasoma sparse (Fig. 388) Anteclypeus medially projecting (Figs 351, 381); posteroventral quadrant of metapleuron densely setose (4 or more setae) (Fig. 350, 380)  Pilosity of head, mesonotum not concolorous, distinctly multicolored on mesoscutum, and dark throughout mesoscutellum (Fig. 361); pronotal nucha predominantly smooth throughout; mesoscutum with relatively large reticulations; mesoscutum and mesoscutellum more transverse (Fig. 361,  primarily from South Africa, have a nearly truncate anteclypeus that has only a hint of concavity. The number of setae of the posteroventral quadrant of the metapleuron is typically 2-3, they are less commonly decreased by 1 or increased by 1-2. The color of the pilosity of the dorsomedial portion of the head is consistently white or off-white (the latter can be discerned by comparison to pilosity of the mesoscutellum, which will be distinctly darker). Males can be diagnosed by the relatively broad depressions medially on the metasoma sterna (Fig. 332). Several reared series, previously determined as S. remaudierei, are known from Madagascar. In these specimens the sculpture of the mesonotum is slightly finer than typical, with a more prominent longitudinal trend, and the sculpture of the dorsal head is notable for the extreme reduction of sculpture. Within continental Africa this type of sculpture is typically seen in larger specimens. A single male is is present in the series, it matches well (broad deep sternal depression) with other males. The material from Madagascar may ultimately prove to be a separate species, though additional evidence is likely needed. Testing this hypothesis may prove to be difficult or impossible; despite the extensive recent collecting efforts in Madagascar no new material of S. afer has been collected since 1964. Description. Female body length: 3.18-4.08 mm (n=19). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: white or predominantly white; brown or predominantly brown. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, truncate. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly brown throughout; predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: present throughout; with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: densely present in posterior half of T3-T4, anterior half more or less glabrous, T5 setose throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous.
Comments. Scelio apospastos is very similar to S. modulus. The color of the pilosity on the lateral metasoma is also generally diagnostic between the two, with most individuals of S. modulus having finer brown pilosity on lateral T4-5, whereas in S. apospastos the pilosity is always white. Description. Female body length: 4.20-4.50 mm (n=8). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: brown or predominantly brown. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: produced, concave medially, forming two broad lobes. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present, not reaching posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous.

Scelio clypeatus
Diagnosis. This species is nearly identical to S. quasiclypeatus which shares the presence of a projected clypeus (Fig. 381) and densely setose posteroventral quadrant of the metapleuron (Figs 350, 380). It differs from S. quasiclypeatus by the absence of sculpture on the anteclypeus (Figs 351, 352) and the broadly bilobed anterior margin of the anteclypeus (truncate in S. quasiclypeatus). Scelio apospastos is also similar, Description. Female body length: 3.59-3.85 mm (n=4). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: brown or predominantly brown. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, broadly concave. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: largely smooth, with few thick dorsoventral ridges. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly brown throughout. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: present throughout. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 1 seta; 2 setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2 and much of T3 white, T4-T5 brown or predominantly brown. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present, extending to posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: uniformly thin throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous.
Diagnosis. Scelio concavus is most similar to the other Afrotropical walkeri-group species with a broadly concave anteclypeus, in particular S. remaudierei which has similarly sparse and narrow pilosity on the lateral metasoma and no obliterated or smooth patches on the dorsal head. It differs from S. remaudierei by the narrower gena (strongly expanded in S. remaudierei), and less well developed medial clypeal teeth (very well Diagnosis. This species is most similar to S. tritus and S. afer which share the concave anteclypeus (Figs 339, 363, 405). It differs from S. tritus by the completely smooth pronotal nucha (sculptured in S. tritus) and from S. afer by the absence of white micropilosity on the dorsal anterolateral corner of T3. Scelio erugatus is generally further distinguishable by the somewhat transverse pronotum and mesoscutum in combination with the somewhat scattered color pattern of pilosity of the mesoscutum (Fig. 361). Etymology. The epithet is used as an adjective derived from the Latin word for clear of wrinkles or smooth, in reference to the surface of the pronotal nucha.
Comments. The pilosity of the mesoscutum, from anterior to posterior, consists of off-white, light brown and brown setae, the pattern and variation somewhat more notable due to the thickness of the setae. The dorsal metasoma is particularly glabrous, with almost no micropilosity. The setae on the lateral meso-and metanotum are white, moderately dense, and slightly wavy. The pronotal nucha is almost completely devoid of sculpture. Description. Female body length: 3.02-3.97 mm (n=20). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: brown or predominantly brown. Sculpture of ventrolateral corner of frons adjacent to malar sulcus in male: predominantly dorsoventral. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, truncate. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in males: striplike, truncate. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: absent (smooth) in parts. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly brown throughout. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 1 seta; 2 setae; 3 setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of fore wing in male: completely without color except at extreme base. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2 and much of T3 white, T4-T5 brown or predominantly brown. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent; present, not reaching posterior margin; present, extending to posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous. Form of medial surface of S3-S5 in males: evenly rounded throughout.

Scelio modulus
Diagnosis. Scelio modulus is distinguished from all other species of the walkerigroup by the combination of the narrow, more or less truncate anteclypeus with the primarily brown pilosity of the mesonotum.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin word for norm, model, or measure.
Link to distribution map. http://hol.osu.edu/map-large.html?id=244621 Description. Female body length: 3.14-4.56 mm (n=20). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: white or predominantly white. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: produced, truncate medially. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: present throughout. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 1 seta; 2 setae; 3 setae; 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present, not reaching posterior margin; present, extending to posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous. Diagnosis. Scelio pilosilatus differs from all Afrotropical walkeri-group species by the combination of the projecting anteclypeus, the dense, large patches of white pilosity that cover the lateral metasoma, the line of fine setae along the lateral margin of T1, and the relatively sparse (in appearance) pilosity of the posterolateral quadrant of the metapleuron.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin words for hair and side, in reference to the particularly well-developed patches of setae on the lateral metasoma.
Comments. There is a tendency in S. pilosilatus to have slightly reticulate sculpture on the frons. The fine pilosity of the lateral portion of T1 is particularly well-developed and prominent and of particular use in distinguishing the species from S. apospastos. The pilosity of the posteroventral quadrant of the metapleuron is often only 1-2 setae, one of which is particularly minute (instead of thickened, white, and large). However, we have seen specimens in which 3-5 setae are present, but these individual setae are not typically as thick and the area retains its sparsely setose appearance. While the patches of lateral metapleural pilosity are particularly large, there is a tendency for the extreme anterolateral corners to be glabrous. Description. Female body length: 3.60-4.21 mm (n=16). Male body length: 3.20-3.63 mm (n=2). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: white or predominantly white. Sculpture of ventrolateral corner of frons adjacent to malar sulcus in male: predominantly dorsoventral. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: produced, truncate medially. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in males: produced, rounded to truncate medially. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: present throughout. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: base lighter until marginal vein, sometime strongly contrastingly so, apex darker, division relatively linear and abrupt. Color of fore wing in male: more or less evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous. Form of medial surface of S3-S5 in males: broadly concave, S3 posterior concavity extending into anterior half of sclerite.
Diagnosis. As the name suggests, this species is most similar to S. clypeatus with which it shares the presence of a projected clypeus and densely setose posteroventral quadrant of the metapleuron. It differs by the presence of weak sculpture on the anteclypeus and the truncate anterior margin of the anteclypeus (broadly bilobed in S. clypeatus).
Etymology. The epithet is used as an adjective derived from the Latin word for nearly or almost, in reference to the similarities with S. clypeatus.
Link to distribution map. http://hol.osu.edu/map-large.html?id=244623 Comments. The sculpture of the frons of this species is slightly more robust than typical and there are several reticulating elements, although it is still dominated by dorso-ventral elements. The fore wing of females appears only slightly lighter at the base. All specimens examined have the pilosity of the mesoscutum white except for 1 or 2 pairs of brown setae posteromedially. The gena is particularly broad, with almost no gap between the eye and the anterior of the head in lateral view. The core series from Gabon and Cameroon are nearly identical. A single specimen from Kenya (OSUC 214144) has the sculpture of the dorsal head somewhat obliterated as often seen in S. afer. The specimens from Botswana and South Africa (OSUC 211264, 212458) are slightly less robust, with pilosity less dense. The two males are tentatively included but excluded from the type material. Scelio remaudierei Ferrière, 1952: 116 (original description). Scelio remaudieri : Nixon 1958: 309, 317 (keyed, spelling error).

Scelio remaudierei
Description. Female body length: 3.14-3.71 mm (n=12). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: with at least some obliterated or reduced patches of sculpture posteriorly. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: brown or predominantly brown. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, broadly concave. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: bulging, often surpassing eye laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: absent (smooth) in parts. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly brown throughout. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly longitudinally rugulose. Sculpture of oxter: with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: none; 1 seta. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2 white, T3-T5 brown. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: uniformly thin throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: with patch of short appressed micropilosity.
Diagnosis. Within the study region this species is most similar to S. afer with which it shares a broadly concave anteclypeus and smooth sculptureless patches on the dorsal portion of the head. It differs from S. afer and all other Afrotropical species by the distinctly bulging gena. It may further be distinguished from other Afrotropical species by the fine, sparse pilosity throughout, particularly on the metasoma, a state which should only be confused with S. concavus.
Scelio aegyptiacus shares the relatively sparse and fine pilosity of the metasoma, the predominantly longitudinally striate sculpture of the mesoscutellum, the partially obliterated sculpture of the dorsum of the head (also shared with S. afer), and a relatively broad, but not as bulging gena. Given the available material the two species S. remaudierei and S. aegyptiacus are reliably separated by the presence (S. remaudierei) of sculpture on the lateral sternites (smooth in S. aegyptiacus) and by the broader gena in S. remaudierei. Nixon's (1958) concept of S. remaudierei appears to be broader and combines of the concepts of S. remaudierei and S. afer presented here. Scelio popovi Nixon (1958) may be a synonym of S. aegyptiacus. We do not formally proposed this at this point, but the issue should be reviewed in a future revision of the North African and middle Eastern Scelio.
The dorsoventral striae of the frons are somewhat more closely packed together in S. remaudierei than in most other species. The patches of obliterated sculpture on the dorsal head are smaller than those observed in S. afer, and the sculpture is also somewhat finer and more dense in S. remaudierei. The mandibles are very broad. It is difficult to discern if there are two setal types on the lateral portion of T2. T5 in females has a relatively well-developed median crease, and the lateral surface appears to be slightly pinched. Description. Female body length: 5.15 mm (n=1). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: robustly reticulate. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: white or predominantly white. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: produced, truncate medially. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly white throughout. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: present throughout. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 2 setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present, not reaching posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: with patch of short appressed micropilosity. Diagnosis. Scelio retifrons is most similar to S. pilosilatus with which it share the dense pilosity of the lateral metasoma and the projecting anteclypeus (Fig. 393). It differs from S. pilosilatus and all other Afrotropical walkeri-group species by the reticulate sculpture of the frons (Fig. 393).

Scelio retifrons
Etymology. The epithet is used as a noun in apposition derived from the Latin words for net and front, in reference to the sculpture of the frons.

Scelio striatus
Description. Female body length: 2.95-4.09 mm (n=20). Male body length: 2.88-3.31 mm (n=11). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: brown or predominantly brown. Sculpture of ventrolateral corner of frons adjacent to malar sulcus in male: predominantly dorsoventral. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, broadly concave. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in males: deeply concave medially, bounded by two projecting rounded lobes. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: smooth throughout. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly brown throughout; predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly longitudinally rugulose. Sculpture of oxter: with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 1 seta; 2 setae; 3 setae; 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of fore wing in male: more or less evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to off-white. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: present, not reaching posterior margin. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: pilosity densely present in anterior half, posterior half more or Description. Female body length: 3.30-4.36 mm (n=19). Male body length: 3.20-4.15 mm (n=20). Form of sculpture of frons below anterior ocellus in female: fine dorsoventral striae with few to no reticulations. Distribution of sculpture of frons posterior to anterior ocellus in female: more or less uniform throughout; with at least some obliterated or reduced patches of sculpture posteriorly. Color of pilosity of dorsomedial head in female: white or predominantly white; brown or predominantly brown. Sculpture of ventrolateral corner of frons adjacent to malar sulcus in male: predominantly dorsoventral. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in female: striplike, broadly concave. Form of anteclypeus between medial teeth in males: produced, rounded to truncate medially. Form of lateral gena below eye in anterior view in female: evenly rounded towards mandible, not bulging laterally. Sculpture of anteclypeus: largely smooth, with few thick dorsoventral ridges. Sculpture of pronotal nucha in female: present throughout. Color of pilosity on mesonotum in female: predominantly white throughout; predominantly brown throughout; predominantly white on mesoscutum, predominantly brown on mesoscutellum. Sculpture of mesoscutellum in female: predominantly irregular rugulose to reticulate. Sculpture of oxter: with prominent smooth patch. Pilosity of metapleuron overlapping or arising within posteroventral quadrant in female: 2 setae; 3 setae; 4 or more setae. Color of fore wing in female: evenly colored throughout. Color of fore wing in male: more or less evenly colored throughout. Color of pilosity on lateral T2-T5 in female: T2-T5 white to offwhite. Fine pilosity of lateral T1 in female: absent. Distribution of pilosity on metasomal terga 3-5 in female: more or less uniformly present throughout. Form of setae on lateral T2-T5: predominantly thick throughout. Pilosity of anterolateral corner of dorsal T3 in female: sparsely setose to glabrous. Form of medial surface of S3-S5 in males: broadly concave, S3 posterior concavity extending into anterior half of sclerite. Diagnosis. This species is most similar to S. afer with which it shares the broadly concave anteclypeus (Fig. 405) and, in some specimens, the slightly obliterated sculpture of the dorsal head (as in Fig. 337). It differs from S. afer by the sculptured dorsal pronotal nucha (vs. clearly evident smooth patches), the concolorous pilosity of the dorsomedial head and mesonotum (mesoscutellar pilosity distinctly darker in S. afer), and the absence of micropilosity on the anterolateral portion of T3.
Etymology. The epithet is used as a adjective derived from the Latin word for familiar or commonplace, in reference to its relatively abundance within Madagascar. Link