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For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
Photo#466329
Minute wasp - Chartocerus

Minute wasp - Chartocerus
Newport Beach, Orange County, California, USA
October 18, 2010
Size: 0.7mm body length
Emerged from a small branch of Artemisia infested with Sagebrush scale, so this may be a parasitoid

Images of this individual: tag all
Minute wasp - Chartocerus Minute wasp - Chartocerus

Moved
Moved from Signiphoridae.

Moved
Moved from Signiphoridae.

Chalcidoidea
Probably Chartocerus sp.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

sagebrush scale
In your sundry postings on insects reared from sagebrush scale you see to imply that this is a particular species of scale. If so, what is the scientific name? The scientific name can be used in searching the web, host indices of publications, or even collections of insects for species that might correspond to your photos.

 
Sagebrush Mealybug
Amonostherium lichtensioides

http://bugguide.net/node/view/456572

 
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Per the Universal Chalcidoidea Database, the known chalcdidoid parasitoids of Amonostherium lichtensioides are:

Chalcidoid family: Encyrtidae
Acerophagus erii
Formicencyrtus neomexicanus
Metaphycus clauseni
Pseudleptomastix squammulata
Chalcidoid family: Eulophidae
Aprostocetus minutus

Signaphoridae…
Fits the characteristics for this group including the size, a shiny black body, short antennae, a propodeum with a large shining triangular area, and wings with a long marginal fringe. They are primarily hyperparasitic on mealybugs and other insects through other chalcids. Some are primary parasitoids. This is a nice find.

 
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Dr. Gregory Zolnerowich has confirmed your identification.