Revision of the European species of Copidosoma Ratzeburg (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), parasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera).

The genus Copidosoma includes species that have the potential to be used as biocontrol agents of lepidopteran pests. Regardless of their importance and the high number of species described from Europe, this is the first time that a complete revision at European level has been conducted. Fifty-six European species of Copidosoma are revised. Seven species are described as new, i.e. athepi (France), charon (France), firli (Czech Republic), ortyx (Portugal), shawi (Netherlands), zolta (Spain), zdeneki (Spain). Thirty-nine new specific synonymies are proposed, i.e. alexandri (of sosares), batorligetensis (of varicorne), bohemicum (of terebrator), brevicaudae (of peticus), buyssoni (of peticus), clavellatus (of varicorne), claviger (of thebe), crassicorne (of radnense), cultriformis (of boucheanum), flavomaculatus (of peticus), fulvipes (of thebe), geniculatus (of filicorne), giganteum (of terebrator), glandiferellae (of filicorne), hartmanni (of sosares), hilare (of boucheanum), hydramon (of aithyia), incertum (of peticus), innocuellae (of albipes), intermedius (of floridanum), jamansaiense (of peticus), kisilkumense (of peticus), kriechbaumeri (of aithyia), lembolovicum (of aretas), machaeras (of babas), matritense (of dius), moldavicus (of cervius), montanum (of filicorne), montanum minor (of herbaceum), nanellae (of ancharus), nanus (of primulum), obscurus (of primulum), phalaenarum (of aithyia), phithra (of chalconotum), prasinum (of arenarium), salicinus (of aithyia), savsdargi (of iracundum), triangularis (of peticus), woronieckae (of peticus), and one new combination (heliothis (Liao) from Litomastix). Lectotypes are designated for eight species (buyssoni, didius, kriechbaumeri, machaeras, mitreus, nanellae, telesto, tibiale). A dichotomous key is provided to facilitate the identification of females and males. Each species is further characterized by a description, and figures and notes are provided on their known distribution and hosts. An overview of the biology of the genus is given in addition to a host–parasitoid index for all known European species.