Revision of the fossil figitid wasps (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea) described from compression deposits during the first half of the 20th century

The holotypes of the Cenozoic fossil wasps attributed to the family Figitidae, which were described in the first half of the 20 th century by Charles T. Brues and Georg Statz from Florissant (USA) and Rott-am-Siebengebirge (Germany) sites respectively, have been restudied. The following new taxonomic changes are proposed: Palaeogronotoma ? sola (Brues) n. comb ., Aulacidea rotundata (Statz) n. comb ., A. plana (Statz) n. comb . and A. spiniger (Statz) n. comb . The three last species listed have changed their taxonomic position, as the extant genus Aulacidea belongs to family Cynipidae, not Figitidae as was considered originally in 1938. The revision of one Baltic amber fossil species originally described in 1919, shows that it has a unique set of characters within Cynipidae, allowing the description of a new tribe: Kinseycynipsini n. tribe . Taxonomical comments about other three fossil cynipid species are provided. The correct taxonomical placement of the figitid and cynipid fossil species described ca. one century ago is important for understanding the evolution of these two cynipoid families, which play an important ecological role in the extant terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, updated lists of figitid and cynipid fossil species known are also provided.

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