Taxonomic history and review of the Förster genera of Platygastridae (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea)

Platygastridae is a ʻdark taxonʼ, with many genera and species in dire need of professional attention. The taxonomic impediment especially severe the Palearctic Platygastrinae due to abundance names vague concepts. Historical descriptions their associated type material must be examined clarified before further revisionary work can occur. Arnold Förster described 18 Platygastridae, most which represent distinct recognizable lineages. present study reviews history, providing diagnostic remarks, English translations, illustrations important specimens from collection Natural History Museum Vienna. also includes original exemplar European whose types have been lost. Neotypes lectotypes are designated this improve nomenclatural stability group. for Amblyaspis forticornis (Nees, 1834), Isocybus grandis Platygaster striolata Nees, 1834, Trichacis tristis 1834). Lectotypes Leptacis spinigera 1834) comb. nov. corvina Förster, 1861, henkvlugi Buhl, 1996 treated as junior synonym. mutica 1834 stat. rev., nomen dubium, transferred Synopeas.