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Keys to the Families & Subfamilies of
Nearctic Chalcidoidea
Nearctic
Area:
(derived
fr. Grissell & Schauff, 1990 by E. F. Legner)
[Please
refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]
1a. Hind
femur enlarged, with ventral teeth, either a few large or many small ones
(saw-like); hind tibia subequal
to
femur and arched; specimens usually 5-15 mm, stout bodied, rarely <1-2 mm
.................................................2
1b.
Hind femur not enlarged, ventral denticles, if present, 2 or less, or
ventral edge serrate; hind tibia straight
(rarely half length of femur); specimens usually 1-10 mm., stout to
fragile ..........................................................6
2a. Prepectus reduced or fused, not readily apparent, of if so, not
triangular in outline...........................................3
2b.
Prepectus apparent as a triangular
plate..............................................................................................................5
3a.
Ovipositor directed horizontally [in most species not extended beyond
apex of metasoma (gaster)]; tegula
almost an oval disc;
fore wing not folded longitudinally
......................................................Chalcididae...4
3b.
Ovipositor curved dorsally over metasoma (gaster); tegula narrowly
extended forward; fore wing often folded
longitudinally...............................................................................................................................Leucospidae
4a.
Frons projects as 2 "horns" (surrounding antennae) in dorsal
view.....Chalcididae
........................(Dirhininae)
4b.
Frons not modified as "horns," mostly flat in dorsal view;
hind tibia squarely truncate at apex; 2 hind tibial
spurs.................................................................................................................Chalcididae (Haltichellinae)
4c.
Frons not modified as "horns," mostly flat in dorsal view;
hind tibia obliquely truncate at apex; either 1 hind
tibial spur or spur not
apparent.............................................................................Chalcididae Chalcidinae)
5a.
Eyes diverge ventrally; antennae inserted low on face; ovipositor not exserted
.................................................
....................................................................................Pteromalidae (Chalcedectini:
Cleonyminae) (part)
5b.
Eyes nearly parallel; antennae inserted near middle of face; ovipositor
exserted ................................................
.............................................................................Torymidae (Podagrionini:
Monodontomerinae) (part)
6a.
Antennae with 5-7 segments between pedicel and club; tarsi usually with
5 segments (if with 4, then males of
Tetracampidae, or tiny specimens with long
antennae and characteristic wings, (see Mymaridae illustration)
...................................................................................................................................................7
6b.
Antennae with 0-4 segments between pedicel and club; tarsi with 3, 4, or
5 segments; or specimens 0.2-1 or 2
mm. long and such
characters hard to see (many tiny fragile
specimens)...................................................40
7a.
Hind wing without stalk, expanded as shown; forewing venation ends
beyond basal 1/3rd (postmarginal
present, stigmal
elongated to sessile); specimens usually >2 mm ..................................................................9
7b.
Hind wing stalked and elongated (rarely reduced to only a short stub,
hooked at tip); fore wing venation linear,
ending in basal 1/3rd (postmarginal absent,
stigmal rudimentary), or apparently absent; specimens usually <2
mm.............................................................................................................................................................8
8a.
Abdominal petiole with 2 segments; fore wing reticulate (rare in North
American collections) ......................
..........................................................................................................................................Mymarommatidae
8b.
Abdominal petiole with 1 segment or none; fore wing membrane smooth
(common in North American
collections)........................ ...........................................................................................................Mymaridae
9a. Mesopleuron
concave; midtibial spur thin and like a
spine..............................................................................10
9b.
Mesopleuron convex (bulging); midtibial spur relatively
thick........................................................................36
10a.
Head projects forward, female mandible with rasplike appendage; at least
hind tibia shorter than femur; male
wingless (much
modified); collected from fig fruits
.....................................................................Agaonidae
10b.
Head projects downward, female without appendage on mandible; hind tibia
at least as long as femur, usually
longer; male similar to
female.......................................................................................................................11
11a.
Antennal insertion definitely more than one torulus diameter above free
margin of clypeus; if doubtful, then
either eyes diverge ventrally or side of head ("cheeks")
carinate...........................................................................13
11b.
Antennal insertion less than one torulus diameter above free margin of
clypeus; if doubtful, side of head
without
carinae..............................................................................................................................................12
12a.
Antennae arise at side and below free margin of clypeus; abdominal
petiole longer than wide (common in
North American
collections)............................................................................Pteromalidae (Spalangiinae)
12b.
Antennae arise slightly above free margin of clypeus; abdominal petiole
not visible (rare in North American
collections)........................................................Pteromalidae (Ceinae) [also see Asaphinae & Eunotinae].
13a.
Fore wing stigma enlarged, longer than stigmal vein, and projects toward
hind margin of wing; ovipositor
sheaths always exserted;
antennae with 7 funicle segments ............................Torymidae (Megastigminae).
13b.
Fore wing stigma not enlarged, shorter than stigmal vein (stigma at
times surrounded by pigmented stainlike
area); ovipositor and
antenna variable.........................................................................................................14
14a.
Scutellum with submedian grooves that meet prescutal sutures and delimit
median rectangular area (ra) or
stigmal vein long and
almost at right angle to marginal vein (rare in collections from fig fruits in
Florida)..............................................................................................................Torymidae (Sycophaginae)
14b.
Scutellum without submedian grooves, prescutal sutures separated from
scutellum by axilla (ax); either
stigmal vein ling and
angled off of marginal vein or short (common & widespread in North America)
.....................................................................................................................................................................15
15a.
Hind coxa much longer and winder than forecoxa by 2-3 times; if
doubtful, then prescutal sutures absent or
weak and female with
exserted ovipositor...................................................................................................16
15b.
Hind coxa nearly same size as fore coxa; if doubtful, then prescutal
sutures well developed and female
ovipositor not
exserted................................................................................................................................18
16a.
Ovipositor definitely exserted; both sexes: abdomen without pits;
propodeum postero-laterally angled and
does not project over
hind coxa (dorsal view); cerci of last tergum elongated and with long setae
(not as
apparent in male as female); prepectus subequal
to tegula; hind tibial spurs thin..........................................
.....................................................................................................................Torymidae...(Subfamilies: 17)
16b.
Ovipositor not exserted; both sexes:
abdomen with pits; propodeum postero-laterally rounded and projects
over hind coxa (dorsal
view); cerci of last tergum like a disk; prepectus much smaller than tegula;
hind
tibial spurs
thickened....................................................................................................................Ormyridae
17a.
Metapleuron with straight anterior margin.................................................Torymidae (Monodontomerinae)
17b.
Metapleuron with anterior margin angulate or protruding forward
.........................Torymidae (Toryminae)
18a. Pronotum
rectangular in dorsal view, about as wide as scutum, sides parallel and flat
laterally; body black,
yellow, or mixed black
& yellow, but rarely faintly metallic; abdomen usually oval in crossview
and
compressed
laterally.................................................................................
Eurytomidae..(Subfamilies: 19)
18b.
Pronotum in dorsal view narrowed to a transverse strip, or not visible
(if elongated, then narrower at base
than apex and sides concave to accomodate front femora
(rare, some Cleonyminae); body often metallic blue or
green, rarely black; abdomen usually keel-shaped
(triangular in cross view) and somewhat compressed
dorsally....................................................................................................................................21
19a.
Prepectus (p) as large or larger than
tegula.......................................................Eurytomidae (Eurytominae)
19b.
Prepectus smaller than tegula.........................................................................................................................20
20a.
Scutellum with projection; tegula
sculptured......................................................Eurytomidae (Heimbrinae)
20b.
Scutellum without projection; tegula
smooth..........................................................Eurytomidae (Rileyinae)
21a.
Pronotum not visible in dorsal view, covered by distinctly arched
scutum; abdomen like a rudder, on long
petiole.......................................................................................................Eucharitidae...(Subfamilies: 22)
21b.
Pronotum visible in dorsal view, scutum not heavily arched; abdomen
usually elongated and petiole usually
not visible (petiolate
forms
occur)..............................................................................................................23
22a.
Prepectus fused to
pronotum..............................................................................Eucharitidae (Eucharitinae)
22b.
Prepectus not fused to
pronotum.........................................................................Eucharitidae (Oraseminae)
23a.
Abdomen covered by first two terga (or seemingly covered by single tergum);
body short and squat; head
with well defined
clypeus and at least 1 mandible with 2 teeth ................Perilampidae (Subfamilies: 24)
23b.
Abdomen with 3 or more readily visible terga; body usually elongated;
head variable but usually with
inconspicuous clypeus
and small mandibles with 3-4 teeth.......................Pteromalidae...(Subfamilies:
25)
24a.
Prepectus not fused to pronotum; suture clearly
visible............................ ..Perilampidae (Chrysolampinae)
24b.
Prepectus fused to pronotum (suture absent or
faint).........................................Perilampidae (Perilampinae)
25a.
Axillae (ax) advanced far forward of scutellum or cuts a distinct angle
into side lobe of scutum...................26
25b. Axillae
not extended forward of scutellum, or if slightly advanced, does not cut a
distinct angle into side lobe
of
scutum.......................................................................................................................................................28
26a.
Axillae enlarged, nearly meeting medially; body covered with white,
scale-like setae ................Pteromalidae
(Eutrichosomatinae)
26b.
Axillae not enlarged, not close medially; body without white, scale-like
seta ...............................................27
27a.
Scutellum posterior without triangular "projection" and with
parallel dorsal grooves .....................................
...................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (Colotrechninae)
27b.
Scutellum posterior with triangular "projection" (is part of
metanotum) and without apparent dorsal
grooves........................................................................................................Pteromalidae (Macromesinae)
28a.
Head in dorsal view with posterior ocelli touching sharp occipital edge
..............Pteromalidae (Eunotinae)
28b.
Head in dorsal view with posterior ocelli distant from rounded occipital
margin; if doubtful, then head with
curved black
spines.....................................................................................................................................29
29a.
Head with projection between antennae, visible both from above and side
(antennae not shown) ...................
...................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (Cerocephalinae)
29b.
Head without interantennal
projection............................................................................................................30
30a.
Head and thorax dorsally with black, curved spines; hind coxae with find
transverse carinae .........................
.............................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (Diparinae)
30b.
Head and thorax may have setae, but not black spines; hind coxae
sculptured or smooth, without transverse
carinae..........................................................................................................................................................31
31a.
Body typically elongated (1-2 cm.); head with ridged, raised areas
between eye and scrobal basin. (Very
rare
in North
America).........................................................................................Pteromalidae (Leptofoeninae)
31b.
Body less elongated (usually less than 1 cm.); head without ridged,
raised area between eye and scrobal basin
(commonly collected in
North
America)......................................................................................................32
32a.
Eyes divergent ventrally, parallel dorsally; pronotum often, though not
always, longer than wide ...................
........................................................................................................................Pteromalidae (Cleonyminae)
32b.
Eye margins mostly parallel; pronotum always wider than
long.....................................................................33
33a.
Either eyes, head, and thorax densely covered with setae, or scutellum largely
polished and with only 2 pairs
of bristles (rare in
North American collections)
..........................................................................................34
33b.
Eyes not densely covered with setae, head and thorax occasionally so;
scutellum rarely with paired bristles,
but if so there are 3 or
more pairs and they are inconspicuous
...................................................................35
34a.
Eyes, head and thorax densely covered with setae..............................................Pteromalidae (Herbertinae)
34b.
Eyes not covered with setae; scutellum largely polished and with 2 pairs
of prominent bristles ......................
...............................................................................................................................................Tetracampidae
35a.
Sides of head ("cheeks") laterally
carinate.............................................................Pteromalidae (Asaphinae)
35b.
Sides of head rounded laterally............................................Pteromalidae (Pteromalinae / Miscogasterinae)
36a.
Cercus at apex of gaster; fore and midcoxae separated (midcoxa posterior
to midpoint of mesopleuron);
axillae (ax) do not meet
medially (if so, at least as long as wide); marginal vein longer than stigmal
or
postmarginal...............................................................................................................................................37
36b.
Cercus anterior to apex of gaster; fore & mid coxae nearly touching
(mid coxa anterior to middle of
mesopleuron); axillae (ax) meet medially;
marginal vein usually shorter than stigmal or postmarginal
........................................................................................................................................................Encyrtidae
37a.
Prescutal sutures rarely visible, do not meet; prepectus flat, not
projected .....Eupelmidae...(Subfamilies: 38)
37b. Prescutal
sutures meet medially; prepectus inflated and projected forward
..........................Tanaostigmatidae
38a.
Lack membranous area anterior to mid coxal
insertion................................... Eupelmidae (Metapelmatinae)
38b.
With membranous area (m) anterior to midcoxal
insertion..............................................................................39
39a.
Scutum wider than pronotum, with anterolateral shoulders produced
....................Eupelmidae (Calosotinae)
39b.
Scutum not much wider than pronotum, with anterolateral shoulders
indistinct ....Eupelmidae (Eupelminae)
40a.
Usually 1 mm. or longer; body often metallic or dark in color; abdomen
narrowly joined at propodeum
(petiole may or may not
be apparent); tarsi always with 4 segments; postmarginal vein present or
absent.............................................................................................................................................................41
40b.
Usually 1 mm or less in length; body mostly pale yellow to white,
sometimes with dark markings or wholly
dark, but not metallic;
abdomen broadly joined to propodeum; postmarginal vein absent; tarsi usually
with
3-5 segments (if 4
segments, then club large and undivided or wing fringed with long setae, or
middle tarsi
with only 4 segments)
...................................................................................................................................45
41a.
Hind coxa greatly enlarged; posterior scutellum with triangular, usually
translucent flap overhanging
propodeum; hind tibia with irregular, linear, or
diamond-shaped patterns of setae; habitus as shown .
.........................................................................................................................................................Elasmidae
41b.
Hind coxa not greatly enlarged (normal); posterior scutellum without
overhanging triangular flap; hind tibia
without irregular setal
patterns................ ......................................................Eulophidae..(Subfamilies: 42)
42a.
Scutellum with 1 pair of setae; submarginal vein with 2 setae; face
usually with scrobal and facial grooves
..............................................................................................................................Eulophidae (Entedoninae)
42b.
Scutellum with 2 pairs of setae (rarely 3 or more); submarginal with 3
or more setae (rarely with 1 or 2); face
usually without distinct
grooves...................................................................................................................43
43a.
Fore wing with bare area posterior to marginal vein with single row of
setae; usually with 2-3 "lines of
setae"
radiating from stigmal
vein.....................................................................................Eulophidae (Euderinae)
43b.
Fore wing usually evenly setose posterior to marginal vein without row
of setae; rarely with any "lines of
setae" radiating
from stigmal, when present, usually only
..........................................................................44
44a.
Postmarginal vein usually absent; scutellum often with paired submedian
grooves that divide the scutellum
into 3 distinct
pieces..........................................................................................Eulophidae (Tetrastichinae)
44b.
Postmarginal vein present; scutellum without submedian grooves, rarely
with lateral grooves, when present at
extreme lateral
margins..........................................................................................Eulophidae (Eulophinae)
45a.
Tarsi with 3 segments; setae on wings usually arranged in rows; stigmal
vein usually elongated; antennae
short and with few
discernible funiculars, male with elongated antennal "setae."
........................................
.......................................................................................................................................Trichogrammatidae
45b.
Tarsi with 4-5 segments; setae on wings largely absent, evenly covering
wings, orwith only a few bare spots
or rows present; stigmal
vein short and not obviously divergent from wing margin; antennae variable, but
usually with discernible
funicles (if not, then with large undivided
club)..................................................46
46a.
Propodeum without median triangular area; scutellum (sc) not transverse (anterior,
posterior sides not
parallel), axillae (ax)
distinct from scutellum, rarely meeting medially; club of antenna almost always
segmented (a few species
here have antennae like Signiphordae).
Axillae (ax) do not meet medially,
generally widely separated;
prescutal sutures (n) present; (antennal club in Eretmocerus large and
undivided, tarsi with 4
segments)...............................................................................................Aphelinidae
46b.
Propodeum with triangular median area (ma); scutellum (sc) transverse
(sides parallel), axillae either united
with scutellum or widely
separated; club of antenna elongated and not segmented ..............Signiphoridae
REFERENCES:
Grissell, E. E. &
M. E. Schauff. 1990. A Handbook of the Families of Nearctic
Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera).
Publ. Ent. Soc. Wash.. Cushing-Malloy, Ann Arbor, MI. 85 p.