Allophrys Förster, 1869

Type species: Thersilochus oculatus Ashmead, 1895.

Allophrys includes mostly small species with body length 2.5–4.0 mm (rarely to 5.4 mm), and morphologically is very similar (and apparently related) to the predominantly Holarctic genus Phradis Förster. It differs from Phradis by its complete hypostomal carina (Fig. 12) and the enlarged eyes of males (Figs 7–9). These two characters seem to work well for separation of Allophrys and Phradis, but both have a restrictions on their use in taxonomy. In particular, many dry specimens in the collections have head closely adjoining to mesosoma, and therefore their hypostomal carina cannot be distinguished. Another character, enlarged compound eyes, works only in males while many described species of Allophrys and Phradis are known only from females. One more character, inclination of the nervellus in hind wing (strongly oblique in Allophrys and weakly oblique or vertical in Phradis), was used in many previous publications and keys (Townes 1971; Gauld 1984; Khalaim 2011, 2013a), but does not work well for East Palaearctic species. In particular, some East Palaearctic species of Phradis have nervellus strongly inclivous (almost 45°) while two Japanese species of Allophrys, A. matsumurai sp. nov. and Allophrys sp., possess nervellus angled less than 30°.

In the Oriental region, two species are known from Brunei, Vietnam and northeastern India (Khalaim 2011). Allophrys bruneiensis Khalaim is a very distinct species that differs from three Japanese species by its unusually short and robust antennal flagellum (Khalaim 2011: 103, Fig. 12), enlarged propodeal spiracle and thick legs. Another Oriental species, A. occipitata Khalaim, differs from the Japanese species by its head with temple short and linearly narrowed in dorsal view (Khalaim 2011: 103, Figs 14, 15) and a very short basal area of propodeum. Additionally, it differs from A. matsumurai sp. nov. by polished vertex and temple, impunctate mesopleuron and shorter foveate groove; from A. takemotoi sp. nov. by longer ovipositor; and from the Allophrys morphospecies by occipital carina lacking dorsally.

Key to species of Allophrys below comprises only characters working well for both sexes, and provisionally can be used for identification females and males of all Japanese species, in spite of the fact that male of A. matsumurai sp. nov. and female of Allophrys sp. are unknown. Additional diagnostic characters are given in Table 1.