What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to discuss the genera of Miracinae, evaluate their characteristics, and describe new species.

January 24, 2026Open Access

New records and new species of Miracinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) from Australia and Papua New Guinea, with a key to world Mirax species

Key Points

The aim is to discuss the genera of Miracinae, evaluate their characteristics, and describe new species.
Discussion of morphological and molecular attributes of Miracinae
Description of new species from Australia and Papua New Guinea
Transfer of existing species to the genus Centistidea
Provision of a key for identifying Mirax species based on literature
Newly recorded species: Centistidea albantennalis from Papua New Guinea
Two new Centistidea species described: Centistidea cellula and Centistidea paraillidops from Australia
Two new Mirax species described: Mirax tasmaniensis and Mirax polita from Australia
Existing Mirax species transferred to Centistidea with new combinations

Abstract

Abstract The genera of Miracinae, currently in something of a state of flux, are discussed with respect to their morphological and molecular attributes. Centistidea Rohwer, 1914 is treated provisionally as a valid genus, distinct from Mirax Haliday, 1833, based partly on propodeal morphology, though this is acknowledged to be an unstable character across the subfamily. Molecular data from two previous studies of Australian Miracinae are discussed. Centistidea albantennalis Liu & Polaszek, 2014 is newly recorded from Papua New Guinea. Two new species of Centistidea are described from Australia: Centistidea cellula Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. and Centistidea paraillidops Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. Two new species of Mirax : Mirax tasmaniensis Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. and Mirax polita Liu & Polaszek, sp. nov. are described from Australia. Mirax arcicensis Slater‐Baker & Fagan‐Jeffries, 2022, M. caelicus Slater‐Baker & Fagan‐Jeffries, 2022 and M. supremus Slater‐Baker, 2025 are transferred to Centistidea , hence the following new combinations Centistidea arcicensis (Slater‐Baker & Fagan‐Jeffries, 2022) comb. nov. , Centistidea caelica (Slater‐Baker & Fagan‐Jeffries, 2022) comb. nov. and Centistidea suprema (Slater‐Baker, 2025) comb. nov. A key to Mirax species of the world is provided, based mainly on published descriptions.

Ask AI

Helpful

Bookmark

View Full Paper