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Keys to the Families of Chalcidoidea of India
&
Adjacent Oriental Area
(derived from Subba-Rao &
Hayat, 1985 by E. F. Legner)
Chalcidoidea in
India and adjacent areas may be recognized by a reduced venation of the wings,
with
one having enclosed cells; the
pronotum does not reach the tegula and the presence of the prepectus or
postspiracular sclerite which is at
times very small or fused with the pronotum, between the pronotum and the
tegula (Subba-Rao & Hayat
1985). The number of recognized
families was reported to vary from 11 to 24.
Subba-Rao & Hayat (1985) followed
Graham (1969) to recognize 18 families excluding Agaonidae.
[Please
refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]
Key to Families of Chalcidoidea:
1a.
Tarsi with 3 segments; antennae short, in female almost with 2 funicule
(= antennal segments between the
scape and
club) (excluding ring-like segments) (Fig. A); postmarginal vein in fore wing
generally absent
(Figs. B-C);
discal setae often arranged in longitudinal lines (Fig. D); abdomen sessile and
broadly attached
to thorax
(Fig. E); species generally smaller, <1 mm. long; parasitic in eggs of other
insects . .........................................................................................................................................Trichogrammatidae
1b. Tarsi with 4-5 segments, or 3 pairs differing in number of
segments, or species short-winged and associated
with
figs.........................................................................................................................................................2
2a. Tarsi with 4 segments..........................................................................................................................................3
2b. Tarsi with 5 segments or 3 pairs differing in number of
segments, or species associated with figs....................8
3a. Head with antennal sockets much nearer to eyes than to each
other and frons with a transverse groove above
antennal
sockets (Fig. A); hind wing basally like a stalk (Fig. B); marginal fringe of
wings usually very
long (Figs.
B-C); stigmal vein rudimentary (Fig. D); wings and legs long and slender; body
generally
nonmetallic;
parasitic in eggs of
insects.......................................................................................Mymaridae
3b. Antennal sockets nearer to each other than to eyes or
transverse ridge or groove above sockets absent; other
characters
mostly
different.............................................................................................................................4
4a. Mesopleuron large, undivided (Fig. A); middle coxa, with the
thorax in profile, nearer to the fore coxa than the
hind coxa
(Fig. B); marginal vein usually short or pitted (Figs. C-D); marginal fringe
very long (Fig. E), or
antenna consists
of a scape, pedicel, 2-3 ringlike funicle segments and a long, unsegmented
clava (Fig. F);
species
small, <1 mm.
long...........................................................................................................Encyrtidae
4b. Mesopleuron either not large and with a femoral groove, or
marginal vein much longer than broad; marginal
fringe short;
antenna different and species larger than previous
(4a)............................................................5
5a. Antenna funicle with 6 segments; fore wing without speculum (=
an area running obliquely from parastigma to
the hind
margin) (parastigma = short broadened part at the junction of the submarginal
and marginal
veins).............................................................................................................................%% Tetracampidae
5b. Antenna funicle with less than 6 segments; fore wing with a
speculum or hind coxa enlarged and
compressed...................................................................................................................................................6
6a. Hind coxa much enlarged, compressed and disc-like (Fig. A);
hind tibia often with long bristles forming
various
configurations and with 2 long spurs (Fig. A); antenna with 3 funicle segments
and a conspicuous
ring-like
segment (Fig. B), in male usually branching (Fig. C); fore wing long and narrow
(Fig. D);
marginal vein
very long; prescutal suture lines incomplete..........................................................Elasmidae
6b. Hind coxa not large and compressed, if appearing so, then other
characters different from previous (6a); hind
tibia at most
with long bristles on dorsal margin which do not form a
pattern............................................7
7a. Abdomen constricted at its junction with the propodeum (Fig.
A); mesopostphragma (= invagination) not
projecting
into abdomen; stigmal vein forming at least an angle of ca. 35° with anterior
margin of wing
(Fig. B);
body at least partially metallic, or scutellum with a pair of impressed
submedian longitudinal lines
(Fig. C)
........................................................................................................................................Eulophidae
7b. Abdomen subsessile, broadly attached with the propodeum;
petiole decidedly transverse (= at right angles with
longitudinal
axis); mesopostphragma usually at least a little projecting into abdomen;
stigmal vein forming
an acute
angle with anterior margin of wing (Fig. A); body not metallic; scutellum at
most with a faint
median
longitudinal
line..............................................................................................................Aphelinidae
8a. Head with antennal sockets much nearer to the eyes than to each
other and frons with a transverse ridge or
groove above
sockets (Fig. A); hind wing basally narrow and like a stalk (Fig. B); marginal
fringe of wings
usually very
long (Figs. B-C); stigmal vein rudimentary (Fig. D); wings and legs long and
slender; body
generally not
metallic; parasitic in eggs of
insects.......................................................................Mymaridae
8b. Antennal sockets nearer to each other than to eyes or
transverse ridge or groove above sockets absent; other
characters
mostly different than previous
(8a).............................................................................................9
9a. Body mostly black and shiny, dorso-laterally flattened, in
outline elliptic and without constriction between
thorax and
abdomen (Fig. A); scutellum in the form of a ribbon and the propodeum with a
triangular
impression;
antenna with the clava long, curved, unsegmented; funicle absent, but with 1-4
ring-like
segments
(Figs. B-C); legs spiny (Figs.
D-E)...........................................................................Signiphoridae
9b. Body constricted between the propodeum and abdomen, or petiole
distinct; scutellum not like a ribbon;
propodeum
without triangular
impression.................................................................................................10
10a. Wingless or short-winged
forms...................................................................................................................11
10b. Long-winged
forms......................................................................................................................................15
11a. Species associated with figs; 3 pairs of tarsi often differing
in number of segments; ocelli usually absent;
body and
appendages often irregular in structure.........%% of
Agaonidae, Torymidae (Sycophaginae)
11b. Species not associated with figs...................................................................................................................12
12a. Mesopleuron large, convex, and without a suture or femoral
groove; basitarsus of middle tarsus with a double
row of short,
usually black, peg-like spines
beneath.................................................................................13
12b. Mesopleuron not large and usually with a femoral groove, or
heavily sculptured; if mesopleuron appears as
large as in
previous (12a), then antenna with not more than 6 segments; basitarsus of
middle leg without
such thick
spines
beneath...........................................................................................................................14
13a. Middle coxa, with the thorax in profile, inserted at or
slightly in front of middle of mesopleuron (Fig.
A).................................................................................................................................................Encyrtidae
13b. Middle coxa inserted at or near the hind end of mesopleuron
(Fig. A).........................................Eupelmidae
14a. Antenna with not more than 8 segments (Fig. A); pronotum
shorter then mesoscutum (Fig. B) . ....................................................................................................................................................Aphelinidae
14b. Antenna with more than 9 segments (Fig. A), or pronotum longer
than mesoscutum (Fig. B)...Pteromalidae
15a. Mesopleuron large, convex, horizontal and without a femoral
groove; middle tarsi with at least the basitarsus with a
double row of
short, thick, peg-like spines beneath
......................................................................................16
15b. Mesopleuron not large and convex and usually with a femoral
groove, or heavily sculptured; if large and convex,
then not
longer than high, or basitarsus of middle leg without peg-like
spines...........................................18
16a. Prepectus usually very large, very conspicuous when thorax is
viewed from above (Fig. A); thorax short,
stout;
prescutal suture lines distinct, converging behind; gall forming
species................Tanaostigmatidae
16b. Prepectus not large; prescutal suture lines rarely
present...............................................................................17
17a. Middle coxa, with the thorax in profile, inserted at or
slightly in front of middle of mesopleuron (Fig. A);
marginal vein
usually shorter or punctiform (Figs. B-C), sometimes absent; antenna with 1-7
funicle
segments;
prescutal suture lines if present are indicated by fine lines only and rarely
complete
......................................................................................................................................................Encyrtidae
17b. Middle coxa inserted at or near the hind end of mesopleuron;
marginal vein usually much longer than stigmal
vein; antenna
with 7 funicular segments (5 in Neanastatus); mesoscutum with
converging, shallow
prescutal
suture
lines...................................................................................................................Eupelmidae
18a. Prepectus fused with pronotum which is rigidly coadapted to the
mesopleuron; thorax in profile short and
high; abdomen
often with 1 or 2 tergites visible in dorsal view; prescutal sutures usually
complete.........19
18b. Prepectus not fused with pronotum; thorax not high; other
characters same or different as previous
(18a)............................................................................................................................................................20
19a. Head in front view somewhat triangular; antennal scape shorter
than 1st segment of funicle; pronotum
reduced and
not visible when viewed from above; mandibles large and sickle-shaped (but
rudimentary in
Indosema); scutellum
often with 2 horns or apically forked (Figs. A-B); abdomen petiolate, petiole
sometimes
very long; antenna in males often branched (Fig. C); species associated with
ants
...................................................................................................................................................Eucharitidae
19b. Head not triangular; pronotum well-developed and visible when
thorax is viewed from above (Fig. A);
mandibles not
sickle-shaped (Fig. B); petiole usually short and transverse; abdomen
triangular in profile;
antenna in
male not branched ....................................................................................................Perilampidae
20a. Body smooth and shiny, without conspicuous sculpture, only
occasionally with some delicate punctures, not
metallic,
either yellow or black; head prognathous; mandibles in female somewhat serrate;
females long-
winged;
stigmal vein almost 90° to marginal vein; front tibia very short; males wingless;
associated with
figs
.................................................................................................................................................Agaonidae
20b. Not having the previous (20a)
characteristics................................................................................................21
21a. Hind femur swollen and with teeth on ventral edge, or ventral
edge lobed; thorax with coarse and usually
dense hairy
punctations; body often more than 3 mm. long, mostly not metallic, black or
black with yellow
or red; cerci
reduced to low tubercles; prepectus small, fore wing a narrow plate near
tegula..................22
21b. Hind femur not swollen and with teeth or lobes, if so then
thorax at most with net-like patterns; prepectus
larger and
extending ventrad......................................................................................................................23
22a. Tegula much longer than broad; fore wing folded longitudinally
as in wasps; ovipositor exserted and turned
backwards
over the abdomen and often lying in a groove along the dorsum of abdomen (Fig.
A); marginal
vein of fore
wing short, at most 3X as long as broad, not longer than stigmal; postmarginal
vein very long;
parasitoids
of bees and solitary wasps........................................................................................Leucospidae
22b. Tegula relatively shorter than previous (22a), rarely more than
2.5 times as long as broad; ovipositor normal;
marginal vein
of fore wing longer than stigmal, postmarginal vein short or often rudimentary
(Fig. A)
......................................................................................................................................................Chalcididae
23a. Hind coxa usually larger, ca. 3X or more as large as the front
coxa; pronotum large; prescutal suture lines
complete,
though sometimes superficial; marginal vein very long and stigmal vein very
short, often with a
club-like
projection; antenna with 13 segments; hind femur often swollen and with teeth.......................24
23b. Hind coxa not so large, or other characters different; if
prescutal suture lines complete and stigmal vein short,
then antenna
with less than 13
segments....................................................................................................25
24a. Abdomen heavily sclerotized, coarsely sculptured, often with
large pits (Fig. A); thorax contrastingly shiny,
without
punctations, or these very sparse; prescutal suture lines shallow; cerci
reduced to tubercles
.......................................................................................................................................................Ormyridae
24b. Abdomen not sclerotized and not heavily sculptured, often with
very long ovipositor; prescutal suture lines
complete and
deep; cerci well developed and elongated (Fig. A)
.................................................Torymidae
25a. Hind coxa enlarged, flattened and disc-like (Fig. A); hind
tibia with a row of long bristles on dorsal margin
and with two
apical spurs (Fig. A); fore wing with 1-3 long bristles on disc below
submarginal vein (Fig.
B); and
antenna with 8 segments (Fig.
C)....................................................................................Aphelinidae
25b. Hind coxa not enlarged and flattened; hind tibia without long
bristles on dorsal margin; setation of fore wing
usually
different than previous (25a)..........................................................................................................26
26a. Antenna with 3-9 segments; postmarginal vein usually absent or
short, rarely as long as stigmal
vein..............................................................................................................................................................27
26b. Antenna with 10-13 segments; postmarginal vein as long as or
longer than stigmal, rarely
otherwise......................................................................................................................................................28
27a. Abdomen sessile or subsessile, petiole transverse (= at right
angles to longitudinal axis), often invisible;
mesopostphragma
at least slightly protruding into abdomen; marginal vein long, stigmal and
postmarginal
veins short
(Fig. A); prescutal suture lines complete but shifted outwardly (Fig. B); if
abdomen appears
petiolate
then stigmal and postmarginal veins well developed and parastigma with 2 or 2
very long
bristles.........................................................................................................................................Aphelinidae
27b. Abdomen petiolate, the petiole clearly visible and often not
transverse; mesopostphragma does not project
into abdomen;
venation different than previous (27a); if abdomen sessile then prescutal
suture lines not
shifted
outwardly.........................................................................................................................................28
28a. Pronotum large and long or nearly quadrate, as broad as
mesoscutum (Fig. A); prescutal suture lines
complete;
body not metallic (except in Chrysieda and Nikanoria); abdomen
convex, mostly polished (Fig.
B); thorax with hairy punctations; species mostly black, sometimes yellow or yellow with black and brown;
antenna with
12 segments (Fig. C), if with 13 segments then having 1-3 ring-like segments
...................................................................................................................................................Eurytomidae
28b. Pronotum short, if long then thorax not punctate, often with
metallic shine; antenna mostly different from
previous
(28a)..............................................................................................................................................29
29a. Discal pubescence of fore wing uniform and complete;
postmarginal vein long; marginal vein at least 4X as
long as the
short stigmal vein; antenna at most with 12 segments; prescutal suture lines
complete; males in
some species
have tarsi with 4 segments; not very common..................................................Tetracampidae
29b. Discal pubescence usually absent in basal 1/3rd of fore wing,
if otherwise then antenna with 13 segments and
prescutal
suture lines often
incomplete........................................................................................................30
30a. Antenna funicle with 7 segments, ring-like segment small;
thorax generally densely hairy; prescutal suture
lines
complete, though often
shallow...................................................................................%% Eupelmidae
30b. Not with the previous (30a) characteristics; if funicle of
antenna with 7 segments (Figs. A-B), then femora of
fore and hind
legs at least slightly broadened (Figs. C-D); mesopleuron always with an
oblique groove
(Fig.
E)......................................................................................................................................Pteromalidae
REFERENCES:
Subba-Rao,
B. R. & M. Hayat. 1988. The Chalcidoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of
India and the Adjacent
Countries, p. 169-310. In:
B. R. Subba Rao & M. Hayat (eds.), Oriental Insects, Vol. 19. Association For The
Study of Oriental. Insects, Gainesville,
FL. 329 p.
Graham, M.
W. R. de V. 1969. The Pteromalidae of northwestern Europe
(Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Bull.
Brit. Mus. Nat. Hist. Ent., Suppl. No.
16. 908 p.