Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2009
Four new species of Encarsia, E. lanceolatasp. n., E. paracitrellasp. n., E. pseudocitrellasp. n. and E. unicitrellasp. n. are described and illustrated. All four parasitoid species were reared from the Bemisia tabaci-complex and/or other whitefly hosts in the Neotropical region. Encarsia paracitrella, E. pseudocitrella and E. unicitrella are extremely closely related, to each other and to E. citrella (Howard). A diagnosis is therefore given for the E. citrella-complex, with a key to the four currently included species. For E. citrella (Howard) a lectotype is designated, the male is described and illustrated for the first time, and the female is redescribed and illustrated. A key and a modification to an existing key are provided to facilitate the identification of the five species treated.