English: Parasitoid wasps of the family Ichneumonidae are one of the most diverse and species-rich groups of organisms with a worldwide distribution. We here describe seven new ichneumonid fossil species and two new genera from a remarkable insect fossil site, the Eocene Messel Pit in Germany (~47Ma). The unique fossil preservation allows us to place five out of the seven new species unequivocally in extant subfamilies and genera. For the first time, lobed claws which are a clear synapomorphy for the subfamily Pimplinae, are observed in a fossil, making the newly described Scambus fossilobus sp. nov. the oldest unequivocal representative of the group.

Fig 3. Xanthopimpla messelensis sp. nov., holotype SF MeI 16988.

(A) Photograph. (B) Drawing; left and right fore and hind wings were separated in the drawing; dashed lines indicate uncertain interpretations, while grey areas indicate colour patterns.