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                          Key to Families of Hymenoptera in Great Britain

                                         (derived from Borror & Delong, 1964; Borror et al., 1989; Clausen, 1940;

                                              Gauld & Bolton, 1988; Hill, 1923 & Richards, 1977 by E. F. Legner)

                                                                                           (Email Contacts)

 

 

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

 

 

1a.    Abdomen broadly attached to thorax, no marked constriction between 1st and 2nd abdominal segments;

cenchri (two rounded prominences with roughened surface to engage fore wings when folded over

abdomen) present except in Cephidae, in which the first abdominal tergite is centrally divided by a

membranous slit (Fig. A); front tibia usually with 2 apical spurs; a closed anal cell often present in fore

wing; larva with continuous gut; thoracic (except Orussus) and, usually, abdominal legs present

........................................................ .......................Symphyta......2  (see Benson, 1951 for key to families).

 

1b.    Abdomen deeply constricted between 1st segment (propodeum) and 2nd (first abdominal) except in a few

minute Chalcidoidea with very reduced wing venation; cenchri never present and first abdominal tergite

never with a membranous slit extending to its base; fore tibia with only one apical spur with 2 in the

Ceraphronoidea; fore wing with no closed anal cell; larva with rectum not connected to front part of gut

before pupation (except sometimes in last instar); legs absent..............................................Apocrita......10

 

2a.    Antennae with 3 segments of normal thickness, 3rd very long and made up of several fused, followed by a

thread-like flagellum of at least 9 segments; head without hypostomal bridge; fore wing (Fig. A) with Rs

forked (always in British species); male genitalia inverted (= strophandrious) [in British species, normal (=

orthandrious) in some American species], parameres with cupped disks and with articulation to parameral

plates (Fig. B).............................................................................................................(Xyeloidea)....Xyleidae

 

2b.    Antennae not as previously described, Rs in fore wing not forked....................................................................3

 

3a.    Antennae with 11 or more segments except in Orussidae &&, in which segment 9 is swollen and longer than

any of the others; head with hypostomal bridge; male genitalia normal......................................................4

 


3b.    Antennae with 10 segments or less except in Diprionidae, which have antennae serrate or comb-like (Athalia,

Fenella and Heteranthrus, Tenthredinidae, may have 10-15 antennal segments but lack the following

characters which are found in some or all families under couplet 4:  pronotum with hind margin straight,

insect >11.0 mm. long, fore tibia with 1 (not 2) apical spur, antennae inserted below the eyes and apparent

clypeus).  Head without hypostomal bridge (the Cimbicidae, in which a bridge-like condition may appear

to be present, have capitate antennae); male genitalia inverted, parameres without cupping

disks.........................................................................................................................(Tenthredinoidea)......9

 

4a.    Antennae not inserted on ventral side of head; cenchri present; in genitalia of %%, the parameres with cupping

disks and articulate to parameral plates........................................................................................................5

 

4b.    Either antennae inserted ventrally beneath eyes and below the apparent clypeus (Orussoidea) or cenchri absent

(Cephoidea); in % genitalia, parameres without cupping disks and not articulate but fused to parameral

plates.............................................................................................................................................................8

 

5a.    Pronotum with hind margin almost straight, the emargination being no deeper than the length of tegula;

abdomen strongly flattened dorso-ventrally ............................................................(Megalodontoidea)....6

 

5b.    Pronotum with hind margin deeply emarginate, more deeply than length of tegula; abdomen cylindrical

.............................................................................................................................................(Siricoidea)......7

 

6a.    Antennae flabellate; fore wing without separate Sc; 2nd abdominal tergite not medially divided (uncertain

British group).....................................................................................(Megalodontoidea)  Megalodontidae

 

6b.    Antennae setaceous; fore wing (Fig. A) with separate Sc; 2nd abdominal tergite divided medially (Fig.

B)............................................................................................................(Megalodontoidea)  Pamphiliidae

 

7a.    Fore wing with 1st abscissa of Rs directed towards base of wing, last abscissa recurved; mesoscutum much

longer than scutellum; tegula minute, hidden; neck short (Fig. A)............................(Siricoidea)  Siricidae

 

7b.    Fore wing with 1st abscissa of Rs directed towards apex of wing, last abscissa not recurved; mesoscutum

hardly longer than scutellum with axillae; tegula normal though rather small; neck long (Fig. A)

............................................................................................................................(Siricoidea)  Xiphydriidae

 

8a.   Antennae with 11 linear segments in %; 10 segments in &, with 9th large and 10th very small; no constriction

between 1st and 2nd abdominal segments; fore wing with no enclosed anal cell; hind wing without cross-

veins r-m or m-cu (uncertain British group)...........................................................(Orussoidea)  Orussidae

 

8b.    Antennae with 16-30 segments, filiform or slightly clavate; slight constriction between 1st and 2nd abdominal

segments; fore wing with closed anal cell; hind wing with cross veins r-m and m-cu present (Fig. A)

..................................................................................................................................(Cephoidea)  Cephidae

 

9a.    Antennae with 3 segments, 3rd very long; fore wing with cross vein 2r absent (Fig. A) ................................

..........................................................................................................................(Tenthredinoidea)  Argidae

 

9b.    Antennae with 4 segments, 3rd very long, 4th minute; fore wing with cross vein 2r present, cell IM of a

peculiar pear shape (Fig. A).................................................................(Tenthredinoidea)  Blasticotomidae

 

 


9c.    Antennae with 4-5 segments followed by a very strongly marked club which may show traces of

segmentation; sides of abdomen carinate; fore wing with cross vein 2r present..........................................

......................................................................................................................Tenthredinoidea)  Cimbicidae

 

9d.    Antennae typically with 9 segments, rarely with as few as 7 or with 10-15; sides of abdomen not carinate; fore

wing often with cross vein 2r present (Fig. A) .....................................(Tenthredinoidea)  Tenthredinidae

 

9e.    Antennae with 13 or more segments, serrate in &, comb-like in %; fore wing with cross vein 2r absent (Fig.

A)................................................................................................................(Tenthredinoidea)  Diprionidae

 

10a.    Wings fully developed....................................................................................................................................11

 

10b.    Wings very much reduced or absent...............................................................................................................62

 

11a.    Hind wings without anal or vannal lobe, except in Evaniidae, in which the abdomen is attached at the top of

the propodeum (Fig. A), in most Braconidae, Microgasterinae, in which antennae have 18 segments and

some Proctotrupidae, in which the fore wing venation is characteristic (Fig. B); costa of hind wing not or

imperfectly developed except (apparently) in some Evanioidea and Proctotrupoidea; hind femur with a

trochantellus (= an apparent 2nd segment to trochanter which is part of femur) except in some Cynipoids,

Chalcidoids and Proctotrupoids; last visible tergite and sternite of & not apposed except in Proctotrupoidea,

some Cynipoidea and, less distinctly, Trigonaloidea; ovipositor, which is often elongated, is partly

exposed, at least in ventral view, except in Evaniidae, most Cynipoidea and most Proctotrupoidea; in the

Trigonalidae the ovipositor is reduced; tergite 8 fully exposed and resembling 7 except in a few Braconidae

and Proctotrupoidea................... ........................................................................Apocrita-- Parasitica.....12

 

11b.    Hind wing with an anal or vannal lobe, except in Formicidae, in which the segment of the abdomen formes a

scale or node and in % Mutillidae which have a felt line (Fig. A) on the 2nd abdominal tergite and in the

Vespinae; the lobe is defined only by a small excision in the Chrysididae and Cleptidae; costal vein of hind

wing often developed; hind femur without a trochantellus though in a few groups the base of femur may be

ringed by a sulcus; last visible tergite and sternite of & apposed, except in Ceropales (Pompilidae) and a

few parasitic bees (e.g., Melecta); ovipositor (sting) entirely hidden, tergite 8 retracted and partly

desclerotized (except Dryinidae); antennae with 13 segments or less....................Apocrita-- Aculeata....42

 

12a.    Abdomen attached near top of propodeum; fore wing with costal cell wide, pterostigma present; hind wing

with a strong vein along its fore margin and with no enclosed cells (sometimes one such cell in non-British

species); abdomen with spiracles on segments 1 & 8, pygostyles present; antennae with 13-14 segments

............................................................................................................................................(Evanioidea)....17

 


12b.    Abdomen normally attached near bottom of propodeum (if attached about 1/2 way up the propodeum (=

Cenocaelius and Paxylomma of Braconidae), the costal cell in fore wing is obliterated.............................13

 

13a.    Fore wing with pterostigma and antennae usually with more than 16 segments, scape short (except

Streblocera).  Hind wing with at least 2 enclosed cells except Neorhacodes (Ichneumonidae, Fig. A) and

some Braconidae, which have the costa and radius fused in fore wing up to the pterostigma and sometimes

ca. 20 antennal segments or (Paxylomma) the first 2 segments of abdomen much longer than broad and the

hind basitarsus thickened; trochantellus distinct, at least on hind leg; spiracles on abdominal segments 1-8,

or Braconidae, Sigalphinae (Chelonus, etc.) 1-6; pygostyles present..........................................................14

 

13b.    Antennae with not more than 16 segments; fore wing with no true pterostigma except in Heloridae and

Proctotrupidae, in which the costal cell is wide (Figs. A-B), and the Ceraphronidae (Fig. C), in which the

axillae are on the same level as the central part of the scutellum (Fig. D); venation generally reduced; hind

wing with no enclosed cells except in some Diapriidae and Ibaliidae, in which either the head is greatly

produced forwards or the costal cell of the fore wing is wide; trochantellus often indistinct or absent; in &&

tergites 9 & 10 indistinguishably fused, except in some Proctotrupidae and Ceraphronidae.......................15

 

14a.    Fore wing (Fig. A) with costal cell wide, Rs + M complete and cross veins 3r-m, 2r-m, Rs and 2m-cu present;

tarsi with plantar lobes; last visible tergite and sternite almost apposed, ovipositor reduced and hidden,

abdominal tergite 9 in && retracted with the central part membranous; tergite 10 not separately developed;

mandibles with 4 large teeth on the right, 3 on the left one; antennae with more than 20 segments in the one

British species) (Fig. B)...................................................................................(Trigonaloidea)  Trigonalidae

 

14b.    Fore wing with costal cell almost or quite obliterated, at least one of cross-veins 3r-m, 2r-m, Rs and 2m-cu

absent; tarsi without plantar lobes; last visible tergite and sternite of & abdomen not clearly apposed,

ovipositor usually clearly exserted and abdominal tergite 9 often not retracted........(Ichneumonoidea)....19

 

15a.    Either fore wing with well-developed costa or the edge of abdomen sharp and curved downwards, or head

much produced forwards and antennae inserted on shelf-like process; pronotum either obtuse below but

with a narrow posteroventral process which meets its opposite from the other side beneath the fore coxae,

or pronotum is fully coadapted to mesepisternum; abdomen rarely compressed, spiracles on abdominal

segments 1, 1 & 8, or 1-6; last visible tergite and sternite of & apposed, pygostyles present; ovipositor

hidden except in Proctotrupidae, in which it projects inside the enlarged pygostyles (Fig. A); antennal

scape usually long, if short then a pterostigma present.................................................Proctotrupoidea....20

 

 

15b.    Fore wing with no pterostigma; proximal part of costa not developed, except weakly in Ibaliidae, which have

a short antennal scape; abdomen with spiracles on segments 1 & 8, last visible tergite and sternite of & not

apposed; ovipositor exposed, at least below, except in most Cynipoidea in which abdomen is usually

compressed laterally ...................................................................................................................................16

 


16a.    Pronotum lateroventrally pointed and closely coadapted to mesepisternum, posteriorly extending back to

tegulae; fore wing (Figs. A-C) with cell R-1 mostly complete; antennae (Fig. D) with scape short and with

12-16 segments; trochantellus usually not developed; abdomen in & with tergite 9 retracted and

desclerotized; abdomen usually compressed laterally, pygostyles absent.........................(Cynipoidea)....26

 

16b.    Pronotum lateroventrally rounded, not closely coadapted to mesepisternum, posteriorly usually distinctly

separated from tegulae (Figs. A-B); fore wing with cell R-1 not defined by proper veins or absent; antennal

scape usually long (Figs. C-D) (not clearly so in some Mymaridae); antennae with 13 segments or less;

trochantellus often present; abdomen rarely compressed, with pygostyles in & central portion of tergite 9

exposed and pigmented...................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)....28

 

17a.    Hind wing with anal lobe; fore wing not longitudinally folded, cross vein 2m-cu and 2r-m absent; antennae

inserted well above clypeus, with 13 segments; abdomen (Fig. A) short, compressed, with a long, abrupt

petiole and a short, often hidden, ovipositor; propleura not meeting dorsally and forming a neck (Figs. B-

C) ............................................................................................................................(Evanioidea)  Evaniidae

 

17b.    Hind wing with no anal lobe; antennae with 13 segments in %, 14 in &; abdomen long, gradually clavate,

ovipositor exserted, often long; propleura meeting above and forming a neck...........................................18

 

18a.    Fore wing not longitudinally folded, with cross veins 2m-cu and 2r-m present; antennae inserted just above

clypeus.....................................................................................................................(Evanioidea)  Aulacidae

 

18b.    Fore wing longitudinally folded, with cross veins 2m-cu and 2r-m absent (Fig. A); antennae inserted well

above clypeus (Fig. B)....................................................................................(Evanioidea)  Gasteruptiidae

 

19a.    Fore wing (Fig. A) with cross vein 2m-cu almost invariably present; Rs+M interrupted; hind wing with cross

vein r-m meeting Rs after that vein leaves Sc+R (including Agriotypus and Neorhacodes; the latter would

key to the Braconidae but the fore wing (Fig. B) is characteristic) (Figs. C-D)........................ .................

...............................................................................................................(Ichneumonoidea)  Ichneumonidae

 

19b.    Fore wing (Fig. A) without cross vein 2m-cu; hind wing (Fig. B) with cross vein r-m meeting Sc+R before

the separation of Rs (includes Alysiinae, Aphidiinae and Paxylommatinae) (Figs. C-D)

......................................................................................................................(Ichneumonoidea)  Braconidae

 

20a.    Sides of abdomen acute or distinctly margined; antennae with not more than 12 segments; front tibia with one

spur........................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Scelionidae....21

 

20b.    Sides of abdomen rounded of if, in some Belytinae, more acute, the antennae have 14-15 segments

......................................................................................................................................................................22

 


21a.    Antennae with 10 or rarely fewer segments; fore wing without marginal or stigmal veins, often also without

submarginal vein (Fig. A)........................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Platygastridae

 

21b.    Antennae with 11 or 12 segments, or with 7-8 and an unsegmented club; if with 10, stigmal vein present

(Figs. A-B).....................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Scelionidae

 

22a.    Fore tibia with 2 spurs; antennae inserted very low down, at clypeal margin, with 9-11 segments, scape very

long; radial cell in fore wing not enclosed, pterostigma sometimes developed; scutellum usually with a

frenum and with axillae in same plane as main surface............................................(Ceraphronoidea).....23

 

22b.    Front tibia with one spur; antennae inserted near middle of face, with 11-15 segments, scape usually short;

radial cell in fore wing normally closed; scutellum without a frenum and axillae not in same plane as main

surface .......................................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)....24

 

23a.    Tibial spurs 2, 1, 2; all spurs comb-like; large one of fore tibia not 2-forked; antennae with 9-10 segments in

&& and 10-11 in %%; abdominal petiole visible as a short ring, tergite 6 with oval patch of dense

reticulation............................. ...............................................................(Ceraphronoidea)  Ceraphronidae

 

23b.    Tibial spurs 2, 2, 2; the large, comb-like one of fore tibia, forked; antennae with 11 segments in both sexes;

abdominal petiole shorter, usually hidden by the next segment, tergite 6 without a patch of dense

reticulation (Fig. A)................. .................................................................(Ceraphronoidea)  Megaspilidae

 

24a.    Fore wing (Fig. A) with no true pterostigma, though the parastigma is sometimes thickened or else the

abdomen is long petiolate; antennae with 11-15 segments inserted (Fig. B) far above clypeus on a frontal

shelf or strong prominence [except in Ismarus in which they are inserted normally  (Fig. C) at about the

middle of face, but this genus has venation of forewing much as in Fig. A and an enclosed cell in the hind

wing] (Fig. D)................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Diapriidae

 

24b.    Fore wing with a pterostigma; antennae not inserted on a frontal shelf, usually nearer clypeus or at middle of

face..............................................................................................................................................................25

 

25a.    Antennae with 15 segments; venation (Fig. A) characteristic; abdomen long, petiolate (Fig. B)

........................................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Heloridae

 

25b.    Antennae with 13 segments, inserted at middle of face, scape short (Fig. A); fore wing with a closed,

normally very small, radial cell (Fig. B); ovipositor (Fig. C) long (Fig. D)................................................

...............................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)  Proctotrupidae

 


26a.    Larger species, cell R-1 closed in fore wing and 9X as long as broad (Fig. A); hind basitarsus 2X as long as

remaining segments together (Fig. B); largest segment of abdomen one of 4-6, two or more small tergal

plates preceding the large one (Fig. C) ....................................................................(Cynipoidea)  Ibaliidae

 

26b.    Smaller species, cell R-1 not always fully closed, less elongated; hind basitarsus normal; largest segment of

abdomen 2 or 3, or these fused, at most one small tergal plate preceding the large one (Fig. A)

.....................................................................................................................................................................27

 

27a.    Rs+M, when present in fore wing, directed towards M+Cu rather than Sc+R (Fig. A); if the 2nd or 3rd

tergites are long and form half the abdomen, the scutellum has an apical cup-like depression (Fig. B);

abdomen sometimes long petiolate (Fig. C) (Includes Eucoilinae & Anacharitinae) (Fig. D)

...................................................................................................................................(Cynipoidea)  Figitidae

 

27b.    Rs+M, when present in fore wing, directed towards the mid point between M+Cu and Sc+R (Fig. A); 2nd or

2nd & 3rd tergites usually the largest and forming 1/2 of abdomen, which is never long petiolate (Fig. B)

(includes Charipinae) (Fig. C) ...............................................................................(Cynipoidea)  Cynipidae

 

28a.    Hind wings linear, base forming a stalk, wings with long fringes (Fig. A); ovipositor sometimes issuing

almost at tip of abdomen; antennae without annelli (includes Mymaromminae) (Figs. A-B)

...........................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Mymaridae

 

28b.    Not as previously described............................................................................................................................29

 

29a.    Axillae advanced strongly in front of anterior margin of scutellum and usually in front of tegulae (Fig. A);

tarsi usually with 3-4 segments....................................................................................................................30

 

29b.    Axillae not or little advanced in front of anterior margin of scutellum (Figs. A-B); tarsi with 5 segments...33

 

30a.    Hind coxa much enlarged, hind femur compressed; tarsi with 4 segments; marginal wing vein long.

............................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Elasmidae

 

30b.    Hind coxa not enlarged...................................................................................................................................31

 

31a.    Mid coxa with base lying before the mid line of mesopleuron (Fig. A), and lying in a groove on the under

side of thorax (Fig. B)........................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Encyrtidae

 

31b.    Mid coxa lying well behind the mid line of mesopleuron, with no groove on the underside of the thorax

.....................................................................................................................................................................32

 

32a.    Tarsi usually with 4 segments but with 5 in most Aphelininae and a few females of other groups; fore wing

narrower, pubescence not in rows or lines (Figs. A-B) ....................................(Chalcidoidea)  Eulophidae

 


32b.    Tarsi with 3 segments; fore wing very broad, pubescence usually in rows or lines, marginal and stigmal veins

forming a single curve (Figs. A-B)...................... ..............................(Chalcidoidea)  Trichogrammatidae

 

33a.    Mesepisternum little sculptured, large and almost completely covering the mesepimeron (Fig. A) (except in

some % Eupelmidae); mid tibial spur usually enlarged (Fig. B) (spur enlarged in the above % which have a

short pronotum)............................................................................................................................................34

 

33b.    Mesepisternum not enlarged, of about the same width as the mesepimeron; mid tibial spur rarely longer than

the bigger hind tibial one (except in some Cleonyminae which have a long pronotum) ........................

......................................................................................................................................................................35

 

34a.    Mesonotum in && with center of scutum depressed or flat, notauli (= two grooves emanating from front

margin of scutum) impressed at least anteriorly and usually long; males with scutum usually convex and

notauli often much shorter but in them the mesepisternum is not enlarged; marginal vein of fore wing long

(Fig. A) ..............................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Eupelmidae

 

34b.    Mesoscutum somewhat convex, notauli not more than feebly indicated; mesepimeron enlarged; marginal

vein in fore wing as long as submarginal; scutellum transversely linear; mid tibia with long

bristles............................. ............................(Chalcidoidea)  Encyrtidae & Signiphoridae (= Thysanidae)

 

35a.    Mandibles sickle-shaped, usually with 1-2 inner teeth; thorax very convex, scutellum usually produced

backwards; abdomen compressed, usually with a long petiole (uncertain British group)

........................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Eucharitidae

 

35b.    Mandibles stout, with 3-4 teeth at apex; thorax rarely convex.......................................................................36

 

36a.    Hind coxa large, 2-3X longer than front one (Fig. A).....................................................................................37

 

36b.    Hind coxa not so conspicuously longer than front one (Fig. A).....................................................................39

 

37a.    Hind femur with a row of teeth beneath (Figs. A-B)...........................................(Chalcidoidea)  Chalcididae

 

37b.    Hind femur with at most one tooth (Fig. A ) beneath.....................................................................................38

 

38a.    Notauli present; abdomen not coarsely punctured, ovipositor usually long and exserted .............................

..................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Torymidae  (except Megastigminae).

 

 

38b.    Notauli very faint or absent; abdomen usually with rows of coarse punctures, ovipositor short

...........................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Ormyridae

 


39a.    Pronotum short, transversely linear, or elongated but much narrowed in front; mesoscutum usually reticulate;

usually metallic insects (including Miscogasterinae, Spalangiinae and Cleonyminae; the elongated

pronotum and flattened dorsal side of abdomen in the last named subfamily are sometimes regarded as

family characters) Figs. A-B)........................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Pteromalidae

 

39b.    Pronotum wide, quadrate (Figs. A-C), scarcely narrower than mesoscutum, which is often coarsely punctured

.....................................................................................................................................................................40

 

40a.    Stigmal vein thickened into a very large knob (Fig. A), if not thickened, still with ovipositor elongated (Fig.

B); otherwise rather like Eurytomidae........................ ........(Chalcidoidea)  Torymidae  (Megastigminae).

 

40b.    Stigmal vein not so thickened; ovipositor short..............................................................................................41

 

41a.    Abdomen in %% long petiolate and antennae somewhat verticillate (Fig. A); abdomen in && rounded or

ovate, somewhat compressed, 2nd tergite never very large, last sternite usually produced (fig. B); black or

yellowish insects........................ .....................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Eurytomidae

 

41b.    Abdomen small, subtriangular, short petiolate, 2nd or fused 2nd and 3rd tergites covering most of its surface;

antennae not verticillate; thorax large but short; somewhat metallic insects (Fig. A) .................................

.........................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)  Perilampidae

 

42a.    Hind wings with no cells enclosed by veins; pronotum obtuse below and not closely coadapted to

mesepisternum; abdominal spiracles on segments 1-7 or 1-8 (Dryinidae); both sexes have same number of

antennal segments............................................................................................................(Bethyloidea)......49

 

42b.    Hind wing with one or more cells enclosed by veins; abdominal spiracles on segments 1-8; nearly always

more antennal segments in %% than in &&...................................................................................................43

 

43a.    Hind wing without an anal lobe and first segment of abdomen forming a scale or node, or the first 2 segments

nodiform and the 2nd segment deeply separated from the third both above and below (Figs. A-D)

.............................................................................................................................(Formicoidea)  Formicidae

 

43b.    Hind wings with an anal lobe except in Mutillidae, in which there is a felt line (Fig. A) at the side of the 2nd

abdominal segment; 1st segment of abdomen not scale-like; if nodiform, then the next segment is closely

coadapted to the 3rd......................................................................................................................................44

 

44a.    Pronotum produced back to or almost to the tegulae with no conspicuous lobe concealing the anterior

thoracic spiracle (Fig. A)..............................................................................................................................45

 

44b.    Pronotum not produced back to the tegulae but usually forming at a lower level a conspicuous lobe (Figs. A-

B) over the anterior thoracic spiracle............................................................................................................48

 


45a.    Fore wing (Fig. A) usually (always in British species) longitudinally folded in repose, cell M+Rs+M long,

longer than cell M; glossa and paraglossa ending in pigmented pads (Fig. B); eyes emarginate

............................................................................................................................................(Vespoidea)......46

 

45b.    Fore wing not longitudinally folded in repose, cell M+Rs+M shorter; glossa and paraglossa without pads;

eyes usually not emarginate..........................................................................................................................47

 

46a.    Mandibles long, crossing one another when at rest; mid tibia with one spur; tarsal claws 2-forked; hind wing

with an anal lobe; solitary species (Fig. A)................... .........................................(Vespoidea)  Eumenidae

 

46b.    Mandibles short and broad, lying transversely, one above the other; mid tibia with 2 spurs; tarsal claws

simple; hind wing (in Vespinae) with no anal lobe; social species (Fig. A)...............(Vespoidea)  Vespidae

 

47a.    Mesopleuron divided obliquely by a suture running from near upper posterior corner, downwards and

forwards (Fig. A); pronotum obtuse below and loosely overlapping mesopleuron (Fig. A); legs long, hind

femur especially so (Fig. B)...... .........................................................................(Pompiloidea)  Pompilidae

 

47b.    Mesopleuron not so divided; pronotum usually acute below (not in Tiphia) and coadapted to mesopleuron;

legs usually short and stout................................................................................................(Scolioidea)......53

 

48a.    Pubescence simple; hind tarsi not broadened (Figs. A-B)..........................................(Sphecoidea)  Sphecidae

 

48b.    Pubescence, at least in part (e.g., near anterior thoracic spiracles), plumose or branched; hind tarsi usually

somewhat widened and often densely pubescent (Fig. A) ...................................................(Apoidea)......55

 

49a.    Antennae with 10 segments.............................................................................................................................50

 

49b.    Antennae with 12-13 segments........................................................................................................................51

 

50a.    Antennae not inserted on a prominence but near to dorsal margin of clypeus (Fig. A); female with chelate

fore tarsi (Fig. B) (except Aphelopus), sometimes apterous or brachypterous (Figs. C-D)

................................................................................................................................(Bethyloidea)  Dryinidae

 

50b.    Antennae inserted on a prominence high above clypeus (Fig. A); female apter