Family Eulophidae

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Eulophid from red oak leaf gall - Horismenus fraternus

Caterpillar with parasitoid eggs - Euplectrus

Eulophid ex Phyllonorycter ex Populus tremuloides

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hymenoptera (Ants, Bees, Wasps and Sawflies)

No Taxon ("Parasitica" (parasitic Apocrita))

Superfamily Chalcidoidea (Chalcid Wasps)

Family Eulophidae

Numbers

4 subfamilies with >830 spp. in ~110 genera in our area and TBA spp. in >330 genera worldwide(1) (numbers in(2) may be significantly outdated. =v=)

Identification

The 4-segmented tarsi helps distinguish this chalcid from the very similar pteromalid group. These wasps also shrivel up badly after death which is also a characteristic of this family. Most species are primary parasitoids of hidden larvae (e.g. leafmining orders such as Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, etc.), and some are hyperparasitoids as well. The host range is very diverse. (Comment by Ross Hill).

Other features: dark metallic coloration, 4-segmented tarsi with protibial spur short and straight. Antennae with 2 to 4-segmented funicle, (i.e. antenna at most with 10 segments).

Key to nearctic genera (except Tetrastichinae) in(3)

Range

Worldwide

Food

Feed on mites, spider egg cases (hyperparasites on ichneumonid egg predators), a few Homoptera (Coccidae, Diaspididae), Thysanoptera, and numerous families of Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, and Hymenoptera. A large number of species parasitize the leaf-mining and wood-boring Lepidoptera and Diptera, perhaps more so than any other Hymenoptera.

Print References

Gauthier, N., J. LaSalle, D. L. J. Quicke, and H. C. J. Godfray. 2000. Phylogeny of Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), with a reclassification of Eulophinae and the recognition that Elasmidae are derived eulophids. Systematic Entomology 25: 521-539.

Internet References

Chalcidoid Main

University of California, Riverside. Key to the Nearctic genera of Eulophidae, subfamilies: Entedoninae, Euderinae, and Eulophinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea).

Works Cited

1.	Universal Chalcidoidea Database

2.	A handbook of the families of Nearctic Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). 2nd Edition Grissell E.E., Schauff M. E. 1997. Ent. Soc. Wash. 87pp.

3.	Burks R.A. Key to the nearctic genera of Eulophidae, subfamilies: Entedoninae, Euderinae and Eulophinae (Hym.: Chalcidoidea)

Contributed by Richard Leung on 24 May, 2005 - 10:13pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, ceiseman, v belov
Last updated 25 May, 2017 - 12:59pm

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