This is an updated overview of the New World (Western Hemisphere) members of Telengaiinae (= Gnamptodontinae). It is a revision of the key by Wharton (1997) (as Gnamptodontinae). It includes a key to the New World genera and a synopsis of each genus. The synopses include the following sections: diagnosis, biology, diversity, distribution, publications, and notes. There are five genera in the New World, two reported here for the first time, and seven genera worldwide.

Wharton, R.A. 1997. Subfamily Gnamptodontinae, pp.256–259. In: Wharton, R.A., Marsh, P.M., & Sharkey, M.J. (eds). Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Special Publication of the International Society of Hymenopterists, 439 pp.

This treatment of the New World genera of Telengaiinae is part of a comprehensive effort to treat all New World genera of Braconidae. To confirm a subfamily identification the key by Sharkey et al. (2023) may be used. Readers using that key will be automatically directed here if they obtain an identification of Telengaiinae. The present work includes a key to the five New World genera and a synopsis of each genus.

Telengaiini was erected for the monotypic genus, Telengaia Tobias, from Turkmenistan (Tobias 1962), as a tribe of Exothecinae. Molecular data in Jasso-Martinez et al. (2022a) showed that Telengaia is derived within Telengaiinae (as Gnamptodontinae), and since the family-group name Telengaiini has priority, they synonymized Gnamptodontinae under Telengaiinae. This relationship was recognized by Tian et al. (2020) though they did not synonymize the two subfamilies. Wharton (1997) included Exodontiella in the key to Alysiinae due to the exodont mandibles. Two exclusively Old World genera, Telengaia and Gnaptogaster Tobias, are included in the subfamily.

The use of the names Gnamptodon Haliday and Gnamptodontinae (rather than the previously used Gnaptodon and Gnaptodontinae) is based on Opinion 1424 (1987) of the Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. Fischer (1972, 1977, 1981) included Liparophleps Enderlein (= Plesademon Fischer) in the Telengaiinae (as Gnamptodontinae). However, Wharton (1997) referring to a series of specimens from Costa Rica confirmed the sexually dimorphic nature of the wing vein pattern and concurred with Marsh (1976) that Liparophleps is a synonym of Semirhytus Szépligeti and belongs in Doryctinae.

General morphological terminology can be found in Sharkey et al. (2023). More detailed information is in the morphology chapter of the New World manual (Sharkey and Wharton, 1997) and in the Hymenoptera Anatomy Ontology Portal (http://portal.hymao.org/projects/32/public/ontology/).

Phylogeny

Zaldívar-Riverón et al. (2006) recovered Telengaiinae in a clade consisting of Telengaiinae, Exothecinae, Alysiinae, Opiinae, and Braconinae in most analyses, with Gnamptodontini and Telengaiini resolved as sister taxa. Exodontiella Wharton was recovered with Gnamptodontini in all analyses and, therefore, Wharton et al. (2006) transferred it to Telengaiinae (as Gnamptodontinae) from Opiinae. Jasso-Martínez et al. (2022a) using ultraconserved elements (UCEs) recovered the grouping Braconinae (Telengaia + Gnamptodontini). Employing mitochondrial phylogenomics Jasso-Martínez et al. (2022b) recovered the same relationship between Telengaia and Gnamptodontini but these were sister to (((Alysiinae + Opiinae) Exothecinae) Braconinae). The genera have not been phylogenetically analyzed and this is sorely needed. For example, the primary or perhaps sole difference between Gnamptodon Haliday and Pseudognaptodon Fisher is the presence or absence of crossvein 2r-m of the forewing. This character varies from completely absent, to barely indicated as a small anterior stub, to complete. Neognamptodon and Tamdaona are recorded here for the first time from the New World. The New World specimens may constitute new genera though they fit the diagnoses of their respective genera. Whether or not Neognamptodon Belokobylskij and Tamdaona Belokobylskij are valid genera is also open to question because they differ primarily on the presence or absence of a short and incomplete portion of the occipital carina.

Biology

Telengaiines are primarily parasitoids of leaf-mining lepidopterans of Nepticulidae (van Achterberg, 1983; Shaw and Huddleston, 1991; Whitfield and Wagner, 1991; Yu et al., 2016) but also attack Gracillariidae (Balevski and Tomov, 1997). They are apparently koinobiont parasitoids (Shaw and Huddleston, 1991; Quicke, 2015) but It is not known whether they are endo- or ectoparasitoids.

Common genera

Gnamptodon, Neognamptodon, and Pseudognaptodon are moderately common though Neognamptodon is rare in the Nearctic. They are composed of rather small specimens (1–3 mm,) and are easily overlooked by collectors. There are currently (Nov. 24, 2024) 47 Barcode Index Number (BINs, proxies for species) in the Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) from Costa Rica divided among Gnamptodon, Neognamptodon, Pseudognaptodon, and Tamadaona suggesting that there are hundreds of undescribed species of these genera in the New World. Most of the New World species of Neognamptodon, and Tamadaona on BOLD are identified as Gnamptodon at the time of this writing (Nov. 25, 2024).

Distribution

Cosmopolitan.

Distinguishing features

Exodontiella has exodont mandibles (Fig. 1E) and unique forewing venation (Fig. 1B) that distinguish it from all other New World braconids. All other telengaiines are characterized by the presence of a well-defined line or groove delimiting a basal-median, somewhat rectangular area, on the second metasomal tergum. This basal-median area is described in some publications as a raised swelling or elevation (Figs 2D, 3D, 4D, 5D), but in several species, it is flat. Additionally, all species are quite small (often less than 2mm), lack an epicnemial carina, and often lack an occipital carina.

Note. All images are by M. Sharkey.

Table 1. List of New World genera of Telengaiinae Tobias. New records for the New World are marked with an asterisk.

 Exodontiella Wharton, 1978

 Gnamptodon Haliday, 1873

 Neognamptodon Belokobylskij, 1999*

 Pseudognaptodon Fisher, 1977

 Tamdaona Belokobylskij, 1994*