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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 · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited
Praon From oleander aphids on common milkweed - Lysiphlebus Ichneumonid? - Aphidius Aphidius? - Aphidius black & yellow-brown wasplet with golden stigma and reduced venation Aphidiinae - Aphidius Aphidiinae - Trioxys - female Lysiphlebus? - Lysiphlebus
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
see (1)
Explanation of Names
Aphidiinae Haliday 1833
Numbers
~120 spp. in 16 genera in our area(2), >620 spp. in 34 genera worldwide(3)
Size
~2.5 mm(2)
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:(4)

For terminology of body parts see PDF, p. 99, Fortier 2009(5)
Range
Worldwide
Food
hosts: aphids(2)
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
Stary P. (1970) Biology of aphid parasites (Hymenoptera: Aphidiidae) with respect to integrated control. Series Entomologica 6: 1‒643
Works Cited
1.The Aphidiinae of North America (Braconidae: Hymenoptera)
Smith, C. F. . 2012. Literary Licensing, LLC.
2.American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico
Ross H. Arnett. 2000. CRC Press.
3.BioLib.cz
4.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.
5.A Revision of the Tetrasphaeropyx Ashm. Lineage of the Genus Aleiodes Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Rogadinae)
Fortier, Joseph C. 2009. Magnolia Press.
Contributed by tom murray on 6 February, 2006 - 5:25pm
Additional contributions by josephfortier, Beatriz Moisset, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 1 July, 2024 - 3:28pm

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