The new family Maamingidae is proposed for Maaminga, gen. nov., comprising
two species, M. rangi, sp. nov. and M. marrisi, sp. nov., from New Zealand.
The delicate and slender M. rangi, sp. nov. is common in forest, particula
rly kauri forests of the northern part of the North Island. The more robust
and stocky M. marrisi, sp. nov., which is polymorphic for wing size (brach
yterous and fully winged), appears to be associated with coastal scrub and
forest, particularly on offshore islands, but is also found in alpine snow
tussock. Maamingidae is nominally placed within the Proctotrupoidea, and is
probably related to the Diapriidae and Monomachidae. However, its relation
ships are unclear, at least in part due to the lack of phylogenetic resolut
ion among the proctotrupoid families and other Proctotrupomorpha sensu Rasn
itsyn. The relationships of Maamingidae are briefly discussed in the light
of current morphological and molecular phylogenetic hypotheses.