Phylogeny and host association in Platygaster Latreille, 1809 (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) Peter Neerup Buhl Buhl, P.N.: Phylogeny and host association in Platygaster Latreille, 1809 (Hy menoptera, Platygastridae). Ent. Meddr 69: 113-122. Copenhagen, Denmark 2001. ISSN 0013-8851. An examination of the known midge host/midge plant host associations for species of Platygasterparasitoid wasps seems to indicate a number of natural par asitoid species groups restricted to specific plant families. Midge hosts seem less indicative for platygastrid relationships, but several exceptions from this rule exist. The possible reasons for this are discussed. It is also shown that species of Platy gaster with known host associations generally prefer midges on plant families which are not the families generally prefered by the midges. Furthermore, a com parison of the known midge host/midge plant host associations for the genera of the "Platygaster-cluster" and the "Synopeas-cluster" shows great differences in the general preferences of the clusters. P.N. Buhl, Troldh0jvej 3, DK-3310 0lsted, Denmark. E-mail:
[email protected] Introduction The phylogeny of the very large platygastrid genus Platygaster, tiny parasitoids on gall midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), is mostly unresolved. The great problems which meet the investigator are primarily - as in all platygastrids - the few external characters avail able in a phylogenetic analysis. A further obstacle in the revisionary work is that many species are known only from short dated original descriptions (unknown or unrevised type material). Aspects of the biology (midge host or host plant of midge) are, however, known for about half the described species, so perhaps this could enlighten aspects of the parasitoid taxonomy- as was successfully done e.g.