# Beneath the Bark and Beyond the Known: The First Record of Tineobius Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae) in China with a Description of Two New Species

## TL;DR

This paper reports the first occurrence of the Tineobius genus in China and describes two new species, enhancing understanding of this parasitoid wasp group.

## Contribution

The first record of Tineobius in China and the description of two new species using an integrative taxonomic approach.

## Key findings

- Two new Tineobius species were discovered in China: T. elpisios and T. victor.
- Detailed descriptions and illustrations of all four species, including male specimens for T. victor and T. brachartonae, were provided.
- A diagnostic key for Asian Tineobius species was developed to aid in identification.

## Abstract

The genus Tineobius Ashmead, 1896 (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is reported for the first time in China, with the discovery of two new species, Tineobius (Tineobius) elpisios Li & Peng sp. nov. and Tineobius (Tineobius) victor Li & Peng sp. nov., and two newly recorded species, Tineobius (Tineobius) brachartonae (Gahan, 1927) and Tineobius (Tineobius) longicauda (Ferrière, 1938). Detailed morphological descriptions and illustrations are provided for females of all four species, along with the first detailed accounts of males for T. victor and T. brachartonae. This study employs an integrative taxonomic approach, combining morphological data with COI DNA barcoding, to address historical challenges in sexual association and species delimitation within the genus. A diagnostic key to Asian Tineobius species is also presented, enhancing identification tools for this parasitoid group. These findings significantly expand the known distribution of Tineobius in Asia and underscore the value of molecular methods in resolving taxonomic uncertainties in sexually dimorphic Eupelmidae.

The genus Tineobius Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) is recorded for the first time in China based on two new species, Tineobius (Tineobius) elpisios Li & Peng sp. nov. and Tineobius (Tineobius) victor Li & Peng sp. nov., along with two newly recorded species, Tineobius (Tineobius) brachartonae (Gahan, 1927) and Tineobius (Tineobius) longicauda (Ferrière, 1938). Descriptions and illustrations are provided for all female specimens of the four species. Additionally, the males of T. victor sp. nov. and T. brachartonae are described and illustrated in detail, and a key to Asian species based on females is provided.