File: <ethiop-1

File: <ethiop-1.key> [Navigate to MAIN MENU]

Key to Families of African Chalcidoidea

(Derived fr. Prinsloo, 1980 & 1984 by E. F. Legner)

(Email Contacts)

Please CLICK on key desired:

Key to Families of African Chalcidoidea

Key to Most Common Families of African Chalcidoidea

[Please refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]

Prinsloo (1980) characterized Chalcidoidea by their small size, about 2-4 mm. length, metallic

appearance and elbowed antennae. He regarded them distinguished from most other parasitic

Hymenoptera by the reduced fore wing venation, comprising at most a submarginal, marginal, stigmal

(radial) and postmarginal vein (Fig. 7). They are different from Proctotrupoidea, which resemble them,

by the pronotum which does not reach backwards to meet the tegulae, or wing covers (Figs. 7-8). The

following keys are for both males and females:

1a. Tarsi with 3 segments; fore wing without a postmarginal vein, the wing disc with setae arranged in radiating

rows (Figs. A-B); body not <1.0 mm....................................................................................Trichogrammatidae

1b. Tarsi with 4-5 segments, except in some apterous males of fig insects; setae on wing disc arranged other than

previous (1a)..........................................................................................................................................................2

2a. Hind wing with a basal stalk composed of submarginal vein, the wing disc ribbon-like, not extending to its

base; fore wing often with venation and setation as in Figs. A-C; antennal sockets with venation and setation as

in Figs. A-C; antennal sockets far apart, close to eye margins; tarsi with 4-5 segments; slender, dainty, usually

<1.0 mm long................ .....................................................................................................................Mymaridae

2b. Hind wing not petiolate, fore wing shaped different from previous (2a); antennal sockets usually closer

together, well separated from eyes; mostly >1.0 mm...........................................................................................3

3a. Hind leg with coxa much enlarged and flattened, like a plate, the tibia with stout, dark setae, arranged in a

definite pattern; female antenna with 3 funicle segments, that of male always branched; fore wing shaped like a

wedge; tarsi with 4 segments (Figs. A-C.................................................................................................Elasmidae

3b. Hind coxa not flattened, all other characters combined are different than previous (3a)...................................4

4a. Femur of hind leg swollen, its ventral margin toothed; hind tibia curved (Figs. A-H)......................................5

4b. Hind femur normal, not swollen; hind tibia not curved.....................................................................................8

5a. Fore wing folded longitudinally when resting; ovipositor generally long, recurved over apex and gaster dorsum;

frequently bear color patterns like wasps (Figs. A-B).................. .....................................................Leucospidae

5b. Different from previous (5a)..............................................................................................................................6

6a. Head and thorax coarsely sculptured, with pits or large punctations; body robust, does not refract light, usually

black, sometimes with yellowish to orange markings (Figs. A-E).... .................................................Chalcididae

6b. Head and thorax finely sculptured, not coarsely punctate or pitted; body often slender, always metallic or

partially metallic...................................................................................................................................................7

7a. Gaster somewhat compressed longitudinally, the dorsum almost convex in profile; hind coxa 2X as long as fore

coxa; ovipositor generally protrudes prominently at gastral apex, often by more than body length (frequently

primary parasitoids of Mantidae oothecae) (Figs. A-C)...........................Torymidae (part: Monodontomerinae).

7b. Gaster depressed, dorsally flattened; hind coxa not much longer and larger than fore coxa; ovipositor usually at

most slightly exserted caudally; parasitoids of woodboring Coleoptera.......Pteromalidae (part: Chalcidectinae)

8a. Head prognathous, elongated, flattened, sometimes with a median longitudinal furrow or excavation; body

smooth, shiny, without sculpture, brownish or yellowish, without metallic reflections; fore and hind tibiae stout,

the femora often longer than tibiae; associated with fig fruits (Ficus spp.) (Figs. A-B)......................................9

8b. Different than previous (8a); if head prognathous and body smooth without sculpture (rare as in some

Pteromalidae: Cerocephaline and a few Encyrtidae), then thoracic dorsum not as appears in Fig. A................11

9a. Apterous males only (Fig. A); 3 pairs of tarsi frequently differing in number of segments; eyes and ocelli

frequently absent................ ....................................................Agaonidae & Torymidae (part = Sycophaginae)

9b. Females winged................................................................................................................................................10

10a. Mandibles with large proximal appendage lying against underside of head, usually ridged transversely (Fig.

A)..........................................................................................................................................................Agaonidae

10b. Mandible lacking proximal appendage..............................................Torymidae (part = Sycophaginae, part).

11a. Thorax characteristically shaped as follows: scutellum like a transverse band, axillae not distinct, propodeum

with a median triangular area, usually shiny; body frequently shorter than 1.0 mm, dorsally flattened, smooth,

usually blackish, sometimes yellow; short antennae, with 2-4 very small funicle segments, the club long, not

segmented; fore wing often with long marginal fringe. Femur and tibia of middle leg with long spines, tibial

spur strongly developed, toothed (Figs. A-D)................................................................................Signiphoridae

11b. Not as previous (11a)....................................................................................................................................12

12a. Thorax short and arched, with pronotum reduced and not visible in dorsal view; apex of scutellum sometimes

with processes; head small, somewhat triangular; mandibles large, sickle-shaped; abdominal petiole frequently

long and slender; parasitoids of ants (Figs. A-B) ......................................Eucharitidae (including Philomedes)

12b. Pronotum clearly visible from above, other characters in combination different from previous (12a); no ant

parasitoids........................................................................................................................................................13

13a. Thorax with mesopleura large, convex, without any vertical grooves or lines; middle tibia with sturdily

developed, straight, apical spur (Figs A-D)......................................................................................................14

13b. Mesopleura not large and convex, often with vertical grooves; middle tibial spur comparatively small and

weakly developed, except in males of Eupelmidae..........................................................................................16

14a. Thorax with large, swollen prepectus, projected forward to cover lateral part of pronotum (Fig. A)

...............................................................................................................................................Tanaostigmatidae

14b. Prepectus small, not swollen, does not cover pronotum laterally.................................................................15

15a. Middle coxae inserted close to fore coxae, at about middle of mesopleuron; thorax with disc of mesoscutum

convex or flat, not impressed with grooves or ridges; marginal vein of fore wing comparatively short, sometimes

rudimentary; antenna rarely with more than 6 funicle segments (Figs. A-U)......................................Encyrtidae

15b. Middle coxa inserted close to hind coxa, at about posterior end of mesopleuron; disc of mesoscutum almost

impressed at least posteriorly; antenna with 7 funicle segments (5 in Neanastatus); marginal vein long, usually

much longer than stigmal or postmarginal veins (Figs. A-D)................................................Eupelmidae (part).

16a. Hind tarsus with 4 segments..........................................................................................................................17

16b. Hind tarsus with 5 segments..........................................................................................................................19

17a. Males only: antenna with 11-12 segments; pronotum large, bell-shaped, usually indistinctly separated from

mesoscutum, the hind margin usually indistinct; scutellum without setae, except for 2 pairs of long bristles (Figs.

A-B)....................................................................................................................................Tetracampidae (part)

17b. Males not as previous (17a), or females........................................................................................................18

18a. Abdominal gaster broadly sessile, its base broadly associated with propodeum; body not refract light, <1.0

mm. long (Figs. A-J)..............................................................................................................Aphelinidae (part).

18b. Gaster definitely constricted at its junction with propodeum, the petiole usually visible; body usually at least

partly refracting light, usually >1.0 mm. long (Fig. A-C)..................................................................Eulophidae

19a. Gaster broadly sessile; body <1.5 mm. long, does not refract light; antennae with not more than 8 distinct

segments; fore wing with stigmal vein at most short, the postmarginal vein indistinct (Figs. A-C)

..............................................................................................................................................Aphelinidae (part)

19b. Gaster definitely constricted at junction with propodeum, the petiole frequently visible; antenna with 8 or

more segments; often larger species...............................................................................................................20

20a. Pronotum viewed dorsally, large, subretangular; body usually black, never with metallic lustre; thorax and

head coarsely sculptured; parapsidal sulci complete (Figs. A-D).... ..............................................Eurytomidae

20b. Pronotum viewed from above, not subretangular, or if rarely so, then body distinctly refracts light and thorax

then finely sculptured.....................................................................................................................................21

21a. Dorsum of gaster occupied largely by the somewhat fused basal two tergites (separated only by a thin line)

which are laterally separated, giving the gaster a triangular shape in lateral view; thorax with prepectus fused

with lateral part of pronotum; body robust, usually metallic, the thorax frequently coarsely pitted but also finely

striate; antennae short with one ring segment and 7 transverse segments (Figs. 34, 35)...............Perilampidae

21b. Segmentation and shape of gaster not as previous (21a); prepectus not fused with pronotum laterally; other

characters in combination different................................................................................................................22

22a. Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci incomplete, not reaching posterior margin of mesoscutum.

.........................................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (part)

22b. Parapsidal sulci complete, reaching hind margin of mesoscutum..............................................................23

23a. Fore wing with stigmal vein typically enlarged button-like; body yellow to brownish, the thorax sometimes

partly metallic green; ovipositor protrudes strongly backward (Fig. A).. ......Torymidae (part: Megastigminae)

23b. Fore wing venation different from previous (23a)..........................................................................................24

24a. Hind coxa plainly larger and longer than fore coxa, usually more than 3X as long as the latter; fore wing with

stigmal vein short (Figs. A-C).............................................................................................................................25

24b. Hind coxa hardly larger than fore coxa, the stigmal vein relatively long (Figs. A-B) ..............................

..................................................................................................................................................................................26

25a. Gaster finely sculptured, shiny; ovipositor protruding strongly backward, often by more than length of body;

body somewhat slender (Fig. A)................................................................................................Torymidae (part)

25b. Gaster coarsely sculptured, often pitted, in female subconical with a long epipygium (distal tergite); ovipositor

protrudes at most slightly backward; body robust (Figs. A-B)....... .....................................................Ormyridae

26a. Males only: middle tibia with strongly developed, straight, apical spur (as in Figs. A-B); antenna with one

ring-segment and 7 funicle segments (5 in Neanastatus).................... .....................................Eupelmidae (part)

26b. Males and females: middle tibial spur weak; antenna often with more than one ring segment......................27

27a. Scutellum without setae except for 2 long pairs of bristles; pronotum large, bell-shaped, the hind margin

usually closely joined to mesoscutum; fore tibia with apical spur weakly developed, usually straight (Figs. A-

B)........................................................................................................................................Tetracampidae (part)

27b. Scutellum with setation different from previous (27a); pronotum usually relatively small, not bell-shaped; fore

tibial spur stronger, curved (Figs. A-E)..................................................................................Pteromalidae (part)

Key to Most Common Families of African Chalcidoidea

(derived fr. Prinsloo, 1980 by E. F. Legner)

1a. Tarsi with 3 segments (Fig. A).............................................................................................Trichogrammatidae

1b. Tarsi with 4-5 segments.....................................................................................................................................2

2a. Hind wing basally petiolate; less than 1.0 mm. long (Figs. A-C)......................................................Mymaridae

2b. Hind wing not petiolate......................................................................................................................................3

3a. Hind coxa greatly enlarged, flattened, plate-like; tarsi with 4 segments (Figs. A-C)...... ..................Elasmidae

3b. Hind coxa never flattened.....................................................................................................................................4

4a. Fore wing folded longitudinally, the ovipositor recurved over apex and dorsum of gaster (Figs. A-B)

.............................................................................................................................................................Leucospidae

4b. Fore wing not folded longitudinally, the ovipositor not recurved over gastral dorsum ......................................

...............................................................................................................................................5

5a. Hind femur swollen, its ventral margin toothed (Figs. A-I)..................................................................................6

5b. Hind femur not swollen, very rarely toothed........................................................................................................7

6a. Body without a metallic lustre (Figs. A-E)........................................................................................Chalcididae

6b. Body with a metallic green, blue or purplish lustre (Figs. A-C)................................................Torymidae (part)

7a. Mandible with a large appendage which lies against underside of head (Fig. A).................Agaonidae (females)

7b. Mandible without previously noted appendage (7a)............................................................................................8

8a. Thorax typically shaped: scutellum in the shape of a transverse band, the axillae indistinct (Figs. A-D)

..........................................................................................................................................................Signiphoridae

8b. Thorax shaped different from that described previously (8a)..............................................................................9

9a. Pronotum not visible in dorsal view (Figs. A-C).............................................................................Eucharitidae

9b. Pronotum clearly visible from above..................................................................................................................10

10a. Thorax with mesopleura large, convex, without any vertical grooves or lines (Figs. A-D)..............................11

10b. Mesopleura impressed, often grooved...............................................................................................................12

11a. Middle coxa inserted closer to fore coxa than to hind coxa (Figs. A-U).............................................Encyrtidae

11b. Middle coxa inserted closer to hind coxa (Figs. A-D)......................................................Eupelmidae (females)

12a. Tarsi with 4 segments, the gaster distinctly constricted at its junction with propodeum (Fig. A-C).Eulophidae

12b. Tarsi with 5 segments, if rarely some tarsi have 4 segments, then gaster broadly sessile ................................13

13a. Gaster broadly sessile (Figs. A-I)......................................................................................................Aphelinidae

13b. Gaster distinctly constricted at its junction with propodeum, the petiole sometimes distinct...........................14

14a. Pronotum large, subrectangular; body does not refract light (Figs. A-D).......................................Eurytomidae

14b. Pronotum different than previous (14a), if rarely rectangular, then body at least partially refracts light.........15

15a. Fore wing with stigmal vein enlarged button-like (Fig. A).......................... Torymidae (part: Magastigminae)

15b. Venation of forewing not as previous (15a)......................................................................................................16

16a. Dorsum of gaster occupied largely by partly fused basal tergites (separated only by a thin line) which are

laterally separated, the gaster triangular in lateral view (Figs. A-B)........ .........................................Perilampidae

16b. Shape of gaster and segmentation not as previous............................................................................................17

17a. Mesoscutum with parapsidal sulci incomplete, not reaching the posterior margin of mesoscutum (Fig. A)

.................................................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (part)

17b. Parapsidal sulci complete..................................................................................................................................18

18a. Males only: middle tibial spur strongly developed, large, straight.................................................Eupelmidae

18b. Males & females: middle tibial spur weakly developed, small........................................................................19

19a. Hind coxa large, more than 3X as long as fore coxa; stigmal vein very short (Figs. A-C)...............................20

19b. Hind coxa not much larger than fore coxa; stigmal vein relatively long (Figs. A-D)........ ..Pteromalidae (part)

20a. Gaster finely sculptured, smooth; ovipositor protrudes strongly (Figs. A-B)......................... .Torymidae (part)

20b. Gaster coarsely sculptured, usually pitted; ovipositor at most slightly protruding, but distal tergite often

extended (Figs. A-B)...............................................................................................................................Ormyridae

REFERENCES:

Prinsloo, G. L. 1980. An illustrated guide to the families of African Chalcidoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera). Rep.

So. AFr. Dept. Agr. & Fisheries Sci. Bull. 395. 66 p.