REVISION OF THE AUSTRALIAN ENDEMIC GENUS HYPTIOGASTER KIEFFER (HYMENOPTERA, GASTERUPTIIDAE), WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF 7 NEW SPECIES

The Australian hyptiogastrine wasp genus Hyptiogaster Kieffer is revis ed. Among other characters, species of Hyptiogaster can be readily dis tinguished from other Hyptiogastrinae by having an exserted ovipositor and the anterior face of the mesothorax truncate in lateral view. Ten species are recognised including seven which are newly described: H. arenicola Turner, H. humeralis (Schletterer), H. rufus (Westwood), H. cobarensis sp. nov., H. hulli sp. nov., H. kalbarrii sp. nov., H. kief feri sp, nov., H. naumanni sp. nov., H. pinjarregaensis sp. nov., H. w eowaniensis sp. nov. Two synonymies are proposed; H. flavosignata (Kie ffer) with H. humeralis and H. crassiceps (Schletterer) with H. rufus. An illustrated key to species is presented and relationships among ge nera of Hyptiogastrinae and species of Hyptiogaster are discussed.