EVOLUTIONARY RELATIONSHIPS AMONG THE BRACONIDAE (HYMENOPTERA, ICHNEUMONOIDEA) INFERRED FROM PARTIAL 16S RDNA GENE-SEQUENCES

Phylogenetic relationships among the Braconidae were examined using ho mologous 16S rDNA gene sequence data. Analyses recovered the few well- supported relationships evident in this family from morphological anal yses, viz the monophyly of the microgastroid complex of subfamilies, t he monophyly of the cyclostome complex of subfamilies (= braconoids), a sister-group relationship between the Alysiinae and Opiinae, and a c lose relationship between the Helconinae and Blacinae. With respect to the braconoid complex of subfamilies, a sister-group relationship was recovered between Aphidiinae and Mesostoinae, and a clade composed of Gnamptodontinae + Histeromerinae + Rhyssalinae + Aphidiinae + Mesosto inae was also recovered. The Doryctinae and Rogadinae sensu lato (s.l. ) were generally not resolved as monophyletic, With respect to the hel conoid complex of subfamilies, a sister-group relationship was recover ed between Sigalphinae and Agathidinae, whereas Neoneurinae fell out a mong other helconoid subfamilies, Other relationships among the helcon oid subfamilies were unclear from these analyses. With respect to the microgastroid complex of subfamilies, our data conform to morphologica l estimates, recovering ((Microgastrinae + Miracinae) + Cardiochilinae ) + Cheloninae. The topology of our trees suggests that the cyclostome subfamilies are a natural derived group, inferring that endoparasitis m (not ectoparasitism) is the ancestral state for the Braconidae, unle ss all of the ectoparasitic ancestors of the helconoid + microgastroid subfamilies are now extinct.