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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies (Hymenoptera) » "Parasitica" - Parasitoid Wasps » Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps (Ichneumonoidea) » Braconid Wasps (Braconidae) » Aphid Mummy Wasps (Aphidiinae)

Subfamily Aphidiinae - Aphid Mummy Wasps

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited
Aphid Gold nymph Aphidiinae? - Trioxys - female Aphid mummies - female Aphidius? - Aphidius Aphidiinae? SBBG-SCL-TIC_001201 Aphidiinae - Trioxys - female
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 Ichneumonoidea (Braconid and Ichneumonid Wasps)
Family Braconidae (Braconid Wasps)
Subfamily Aphidiinae (Aphid Mummy Wasps)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
=Aphidiidae
Numbers
~120 spp. in 16 genera in our area(1), ~400 spp. in ~50 genera worldwide
Size
~2.5 mm(1)
Identification
flexible suture present between metasomal tergites 2 and 3, unlike any other braconid subfamily
tiny, usually less than 3mm
fragile, metasomal tergites weakly sclerotized
antennae rather short, usually 18 or fewer segments except in some males
fore wing venation in most groups (except Toxares and Ephedrus) reduced, with no 2nd submarginal cell, and 3RSb not reaching wing margin. Click here for image of complete venation, as in Toxares and Ephedrus. Click herefor an example of incomplete venation, as in other aphidiine genera. (wing images are provided for each aphidiine genus in Bugguide. See genera under Aphidiinae, under Taxonomy, Braconidae).
occipital carina present, at least laterally (Achterberg, C. van. 1997. Subfamily Aphidiinae. In:(2)

For terminology of body parts see PDF, p. 99, Fortier 2009(3)
Range
World wide, wherever aphids are found
Food
hosts: aphids(1)
Life Cycle
Koinobiont endoparasitoids of aphids.
Remarks
Like Rogadinae, the aphidiines mummify the host and undergo pupation inside the dead host mummy. The "mummy" is the dried, hardened husk of the host remains. When the adult emerges, it cuts an escape hole in the mummy.
Print References
Smith, C.F. 2012. The Aphidiinae of North America (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)(4)
Stary, P. 1970. Biology of aphid parasites (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) with respect to integrated control. Series Entomologica 6:1-643
Internet References
Wikipedia
Smith, C.F. 1944. The Aphidiinae of North America (Braconidae: Hymenoptera) Ohio State University. Contributions in Zoology and Entomology 6:1-154.
Science Direct. A Molecular Phylogeny of the Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)
Works Cited
1.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
2.Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera)
Wharton, R.A., P.M. Marsh, M.J. Sharkey (Eds). 1997. International Society of Hymenopterists.
3.A Revision of the Tetrasphaeropyx Ashm. Lineage of the Genus Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae)
Fortier, Joseph C. 2009. Magnolia Press.
4.The Aphidiinae of North America (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)
Smith, C. F. . 2012. Literary Licensing, LLC.
Contributed by tom murray on 6 February, 2006 - 5:25pm
Additional contributions by josephfortier, Beatriz Moisset, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 17 March, 2021 - 4:11am

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