Superfamily Ceraphronoidea - Ceraphronid and Megaspilid Wasps

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Works Cited

Parasitic Apocrita - Trichosteresis glabra

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon ("Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps)

Superfamily Ceraphronoidea (Ceraphronid and Megaspilid Wasps)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Considered part of Proctotrupoidea until Masner & Dessart (1967)

Numbers

2 families, both in our area, with ca. 800 described and 2000 estimated spp. worldwide and just over 100 spp. in our area(1)(2)

Identification

If wings present and developed(2):

Fore wing with basal part of anterior margin bordered by a sclerotized or tubular vein

Fore wing with only 1 vein close to anterior margin, the one bordering it

Metasoma with apparent tergum 1 very large (true tergum 1 very small and invisibly fused into anterior of tergum 2), at least as wide as and as long as, or longer than, following terga combined

Ceraphronidae Wings

Megaspilidae Wings

If wings absent or undeveloped(2):

Fore tibia with 2 apical spurs (unique in Apocrita except in 2 braconid genera)

Pronotum in lateral view triangular and extending to tegula, or thorax greatly modified and tegula absent

Antennae inserted very close to mouth

Scape at least five times as long as maximum width

Metasoma with apparent tergum 1 largest, at least three times as long as any other tergum

Range

Widespread

Food

Mostly unknown, but individuals have been reared from Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera, Mecoptera, Neuroptera, Thysanoptera, and Trichoptera.

Works Cited

1.	Phylogeny and classification of Hymenoptera Sharkey M.J. 2007. Zootaxa 1668: 521–548.

2.	Hymenoptera of the world: an identification guide to families Goulet H., Huber J., eds. 1993. Agriculture Canada Publication 1894/E. 668 pp.

Contributed by Charley Eiseman on 21 October, 2009 - 1:11pm
Additional contributions by v belov, PaleoJon, Arturo Santos, Nathaniel Green
Last updated 12 August, 2022 - 5:12pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version