Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada

Genus Platygaster

Another parasitic wasp in goldenrod gall - Platygaster wasp - Platygaster wasp - Platygaster Platygastrid ex Contarinia n. sp. - Platygaster - male Wasp - Platygaster 'Parasitica' - Platygaster tiny wasp with kinked antennae - Platygaster Platygastridae ex. Rhopalomyia - Platygaster
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 Platygastroidea
Family Platygastridae
Subfamily Platygastrinae
Genus Platygaster
Explanation of Names
Platygaster Latreille 1809
Numbers
~100 spp. in our area(1), several hundreds worldwide(2)
Size
body usually 1-2 mm
Identification
Strongly elbowed antennae, a glossy black and slender appearance, abdomen with rounded lateral margins, and limited wing venation. Some species have unusual protuberances on the scutellum
Range
worldwide (map)(2)
Food
Parasitize gall midges such as Dasineura and Rhopalomyia
Life Cycle
Remarks
Some spp. used in pest control