Some Observations on Melittobia Species (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea-Eulophidae) Collected in Japan

Abstract

So far only one species of Melittobia was known to occur in Japan (M. japonica MASI). Two more species can be added. Observations on courtship behaviour of these three species are presented. Melittobia species show a number of stereotyped behaviour features which are useful for a phylogenetic analysis. We put forward a number of arguments for the view that one species (M. japonica) is more primitive than the two other species; in fact it seems to occupy an intermediate position from which the other, more advanced species have evolved in distinctly different directions. Morphological data support our conclusions