Phylogeny of the subfamilies of the family Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea)

A phylogenetic analysis of the subfamilies of the family Braconidae Nees, 1812 is presented. The analysis employing 96 phylogenetically informative characters was performed using the computerized parsimony programmes PAUP and Hennig86. The cladograms obtained show that the Braconidae can be divided into three major groups of subfamilies. These are a lineage comprising the mainly ectoparasitic cyclostomes and relatives, and two advanced endoparasitic groups, both apparently derived from somewhere near the endoparasitic cyclostome subfamily Rogadinae Foerster, 1862 sensu stricto. As a result of the phylogenetic analysis subfamily rank is given to the Exothecinae Foerster, 1862 (including the Hormiini Foerster, 1862), the Rhyssalinae Foerster, 1862 (including the Pambolini Marshall, 1885), the Charmontinae van Achterberg, 1979, and the Microtypinae Szépligeti, 1908. The tribes Meteorini Cresson, 1887 and Muesebeckiini Mason, 1969 are retained as tribes because this analysis did not provide conclusive arguments to separate these groups from the Euphorinae Foerster, 1862 sensu stricto and the Ichneutinae Foerster, 1862 sensu stricto, respectively. The limits of the subfamily Rogadinae Foerster, 1862 are narrowed to include only endoparasitic taxa.