Subfamily Banchinae

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Remarks · Works Cited

Pimplinae - Exetastes fornicator - female

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 Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonid Wasps)

Subfamily Banchinae

Numbers

3 tribes, with ~1,500 spp. in >60 genera worldwide; ~600 spp. in 21 genera in our area(1)(2)(3)

Identification

Banchinae are often noted in part for having a non-petionate abdomen and a subapical notch on the ovipositor. Note that this notch may not be visible unless the ovipositor is separated from its sheath. Note as well that a notched ovipositor may occur in other subfamilies, including Ctenopelmatinae, Cylloceriinae, and Orthocentrinae (among many others!), so this trait should never be used on its own.(3)

"Most Banchinae can be readily recognized by the combination of an anteriorly expanded submetapleural carina, evenly curved posterior trans-verse carina of the propodeum (with other carinae reduced) and notched ovipositor." — Broad & Notton (2011)(4)

Range

worldwide(1)

Food

All species with known hosts are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars(4)

Remarks

Related to the Ophioninae, but mainly active during the day.

Females inject POLYDNAVIRUSES into the host during oviposition. Virus compromise the host immune system, protecting the parasitoid. [more]

Works Cited

1.	Classification and Systematics of the Ichneumonidae

2.	Carlson R.W. () Ichneumonidae catalog

3.	Genera Ichneumonorum Nearcticae (2014)

4.	Three new genera of Banchinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) from Central and South America Gavin Broad & David Notton. 2011. Journal of Natural History, vol. 45(21–22): pp. 1311–1329.

Contributed by Beatriz Moisset on 26 August, 2006 - 1:30pm
Additional contributions by josephfortier, Chuck Entz, Vox Sciurorum, v belov, PaleoJon
Last updated 5 May, 2021 - 11:58am

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