Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Includes most of Ephialtinae of Townes
Perithoini was synonymized under Delomeristini by Gauld et al. (2002).
(1)
Theroniini was re-split from Pimplini by Klopfstein et al. (2018).
(2)Numbers
4 tribes
(1)(2) (all represented north of Mexico) with 65 genera worldwide; ca. 180 spp. in 28 genera north of Mexico
(3)(4)Identification
Slender, polished look, cylindrically depressed abdomen, often (but not always!) orange and black coloration, thick tibial spurs; exerted ovipositor in the female.
The following long description is modified from Wahl's key to subfamilies by parsing points from various nodes together by anatomical position:
(5)
"Flagellum not flattened or widened medially… length of apical flagellomere subequal to preceeding flagellomere… Flagellomeres… 3-4 without dorsal concavities…
Head in lateral view with supraclypeal area not produced at level of antennal sockets… labrum usually not projecting conspicuously below clypeal margin… clypeus separated from supraclypeal area by more or less distinct groove (with the exception of Schizopyga)… clypeal apex [not] appearing thickened… Clypeus usually with basal ± 0.5 convex and with remainder weakly concave and thinned; apical margin often with median notch… apical margin of clypeus without fringe of long parallel setae… dorsal 0.5 of gena without denticles…
maxillary palpus shorter, not reaching ventral posterior corner of mesopleuron, and often with median notch…
Pronotum mediodorsally without flange or process… dorsolateral corner of propodeum without projection… propodeal furrow uninterrupted… propodeum not in contact with metanotum… mesoscutum without transverse ridges… metasoma joining propodeum between or just above hind coxal cavities…
Wings developed with full venation… vein 2m-cu tubular… vein 2m-cu of fore wing with two bullae…
Apex of middle tibia with two spurs… tarsal claws not pectinate, often with large basal tooth or lobe… fore and middle tarsal claws without small subapical tooth, apex of claws simple…
Metasomal segment 1 in dorsal view usually uniformly wide… spiracle of metasomal segment 1 at or anterad midpoint… glymmae of T1 present… tergosternal suture present for entire length of S1… T2-4 often with large punctures… T3 with laterotergite large to vestigial, separated by crease… female hypopygium smaller and shorter, not conspicuously projecting beyond metasomal apex…
Ovipositor almost always stouter… often with dorsal subapical notch or apical teeth… ovipositor short to long, usually prominent… ovipositor without dorsal subapical notch or with weak notch surmounting raised dorsal apical node, ventral apical margin usually with conspicuous teeth… ovipositor usually cylindrical to apex, occasionally strongly tapering to needle-like point"
See Also
There are numerous other black species with white markings and orange legs, often black-and-white marked, found within other subfamilies. The following are a few examples of superficially similar species that could cause problems for amateur naturalists.
Campopleginae:
Sinophorus
Cylloceriinae:
Cylloceria
Phygadeuontinae:
Helcostizus
Rhyssinae:
Rhyssa and
Rhyssella
Braconidae (Macrocentrinae):
Macrocentrus marginator
Braconidae (Rogadinae):
Aleiodes terminalis
Symphyta (Cephidae):
Janus integer
Symphyta (Tenthredinidae):
Thrinax albidopicta
