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Key to Superfamilies, Families and Some
Subfamilies
of
Parasitic Hymenoptera
(derived
from Trjapitzin, 1982 by S. V. Trjapitzin & E. F. Legner)
[This key is in a form commonly used
in Eastern Europe. If the statement is
true, proceed to the next line,
whereas if it
is false, go to the line shown in parentheses].
[Please
refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]
1 (10). Hind wings with anal lobe (Fig. A).
2 (5). Hind wings with 1-2 closed cells (Fig. A); abdominal segment 1
separated ventrally from the 2nd segment
by a deep
groove; abdomen glittering, sparsely setose, its middle part
widest..........................................................................................................................................
(Scolioidea)
3 (4). Fore wings with an unclear pterostigma (Fig. A); last visible
sternite of male extended into 3 spines; eyes
kidney-shaped;
females always winged; larval parasitoids of lamellicorn
beetles.......................................................................................................................(Scolioidea)-- Scoliidae
4 (3). Fore wings with a clear pterostigma (Fig. A); last visible
sternite of male with a hooked spine; eyes not
kidney-shaped;
females sometimes wingless; larval parasitoids of lamellicorn beetles
............................
................................................................................................................................(Tiphioidea)-- Tiphiidae
5 (2). Hind wings without closed cells.
6 (7). Abdomen 3-4, seldom with 5 segments, concave ventrally, so that
the insect can roll itself into a ball; fore
wings with a
more complicated venation; body color brilliant, metallic; body length 2-15 mm;
in nests of
solitary bees
& wasps........................ ..............................................................(Bethyloidea)-- Chrysididae
7 (6). Abdomen with 7-8 segments; fore wings with 2 elongated cells at
base and a small pterostigma (Fig. A)
..................................................................................................................................................(Bethyloidea)
8 (9). Head prognathous; antennae with 12-13 segments, attached at
oral margin; legs not long, fore tarsi with
simple claws;
wings sometimes not developed; body usually black, seldom brown, 1-8 mm long;
larval
parasitoids
of Coleoptera & less frequently Lepidoptera
.................................(Bethyloidea)
-- Bethylidae
9 (8). Head hypognathous; antennae with 10 segments, attached at
margin of clypeus; legs thin, with mobile
claws; wings
often not developed; body ginger, brown to black, 2-8 mm long; parasitoids of
leafhoppers...........................................................................................................(Bethyloidea)-- Dryinidae
10 (1). Hind wings without anal lobe, with almost straight posterior
margin.
11 (16). Fore wings usually with several closed cells and pterostigma;
antennae not geniculate (= elbowed),
multisegmented;
body black, ginger or often with light spots
........................................(Ichneumonoidea)
12 (13). Fore wings with 2nd nrs-vein (Fig. A); junction between
abdominal segments 2 and 3 mobile; body
length
averages 10-25 mm; parasitoids in pupae of Lepidoptera, larvae of Coleoptera;
puparia of Diptera,
often in
pupae of Hymenoptera & spider cocoons (Figs. A-B)........(Ichneumonoidea)-- Ichneumonidae
13 (12). Fore wings without 2nd nrs-vein.
14 (15). Abdominal segments 1-3 short, sometimes only segment 1 longer;
junction between abdominal segments
2 & 3
immobile; fore wing venation usually more complicated (Fig. A); body length
averages 5-15 mm;
parasitoids
in larvae of Lepidoptera & Coleoptera (sometimes in adult beetles), puparia
of Diptera (Figs. A-
D).............................................................................................................(Ichneumonoidea)-- Braconidae
15 (14). Abdominal segments 1-3 long; junction between abdominal
segments 2 & 3 mobile; fore wing venation
usually less
complicated (Fig. A); body usually not longer than 5 mm; parasitoids in aphids
....................................................................................................................(Ichneumonoidea)-- Aphidiidae
16 (11). Fore wing venation usually reduced, often without closed cells
[in Cynipoidea, however, at least with a
closed radial
cell (Figs. A-B), in some Proctotrupoidea with several closed cells (Fig. C);
antennae with not
more than 18
segments.
17 (40). Mesoscutum reaches tegulae laterally (Fig. A); body mostly
black or brown.
18 (25). Thorax humped, with scutellum strongly convex, often with deep
sculpturing; antennae not geniculate,
with 11-18
segments; abdomen compressed laterally; fore wing without pterostigma, with few
cells
.....................................................................................................................................................(Cynipoidea)
19 (20). Abdomen long, foliaceous (leaf-shaped); radial cell of fore
wing not less than 9X longer than wide (Fig.
A); 2nd
segment of hind tarsi with an obtuse spine; thorax with transverse lines
dorsally; body ginger or
black, 7-14
mm long; larval parasitoids of
horntails...............................................(Cynipoidea)-- Ibaliidae
20 (19). Abdomen shorter, not foliaceous; radial cell of fore wing
markedly shorter (Fig. A); 2nd segment of hind
tarsi without
an obtuse spine; body less than 7 mm long.
21 (22). Scutellum with a medial elevated, sharply limited rounded or
oval, bowl-like formation; body black, 0.8-
4.5mm long;
parasitoids in puparia of Diptera (Fig. A)
......................................(Cynipoidea)-- Cynipidae
(Eucoilinae)
22 (21). Scutellum without a medial bowl-like formation.
23 (24). First abdominal tergite of female short laterally, usually less
than 1/2 length of abdomen (Fig. A); body
more slender,
black, 1.5-5.0 mm long; parasitoids in pupae of Diptera, larvae of Coleoptera,
sometimes in
cocoons of
Neuroptera...................
........................................................................(Cynipoidea)-- Figitidae
24 (23). First abdominal tergite of female laterally at least equal to
1/2 length of abdomen (Fig. A); body usually
shorter and
more solid, black or brown, 1.0-1.75 mm long; scutellum usually smooth, seldom
pitted at
base;
secondary parasitoids of aphids ...........................(Cynipoidea)-- Alloxystidae (= part
of Cynipidae)
25 (18). Thorax not humped; antennae usually geniculate, with not more
than 16 segments; body usually black;
ore wing
venation variable, sometimes with pterostigma or closed cells............................(Proctotrupoidea
& Ceraphronoidea)
26 (29). Abdomen fringed laterally, or with a sharp margin; antennae
attached at oral foramen.
27 (28). Fore wings with developed marginal and radial veins (Fig. A);
antennae with 11-12, seldom 10,
segments;
body 0.6-6.0 mm long; parasitoids in eggs of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Tabanidae,
Orthoptera &
spiders
(Figs. B-C)...................................
..................................................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Scelionidae
28 (27). Fore wing venation
almost absent (Fig. A); antennae with 7-10 segments; body 0.5-3.0 mm long;
parasitoids
in gall flies (often polyembryonic), seldom parasitoids of whiteflies &
mealybugs (Fig. B)
.............................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Platygastridae
29 (26). Abdomen rounded laterally, not fringed or without a sharp
margin.
30 (33). Antennae attached at frontal projection; fore wings without pterostigma
(Fig. A)...........................
....................................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Diapriidae
31 (32). Female antennae with 11-13 segments, male antennae with 13-14
segments; fore wings with a strongly
shortened
venation; body 1-5 mm long; parasitoids in larvae & puparia of Diptera,
sometimes in ant
nests.........................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
(Diparinae)
32 (31). Female antennae with 15, seldom 14, segments, male antennae
with 14 segments; fore wings with a more
developed
venation (Fig. A); body 2.0-5.5 mm long; parasitoids in puparia of Diptera
.................................................................................................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Diapriidae (Belytinae)
33 (30). Antennae usually attached close to oral foramen.
34 (37). Fore wings usually with pterostigma, often with closed cells; antennae
usually not geniculate.
35 (36). Antennae with 13 segments; fore wings with a vein along
pterostigma (Fig. A); ovipositor often long;
body 2-8 mm
long; parasitoids in larvae of Coleoptera......................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Proctotrupidae
36 (35). Antennae with 16 segments; fore wings with 2 large cells (Fig.
A); ovipositor not projecting; body 4.0-6.5
mm long;
parasitoids in larvae of Neuroptera
.............................................(Proctotrupoidea)-- Heloridae
37 (34). Fore wings usually often without pterostigma; if with
pterostigma, then venation strongly reduced;
antennae
geniculate............................................................................................................(Ceraphronoidea)
38 (39). Fore wings without pterostigma (Fig. A); female antennae with
9-10 segments, male antennae with 10-11
segments;
body 0.5-2.5 mm long; parasitoids in gall flies, sometimes in ant nests
.............................................................................................................(Ceraphronoidea)-- Ceraphronidae
39 (38). Fore wings with a large pterostigma (Fig. A); antennae with 11
segments in both sexes; body 1.0-4.5 mm
long;
parasitoids in aphids, coccids (secondary parasitoids), gall flies, Syrphidae
& sometimes in ant
nests..........................................................................................................(Ceraphronoidea)-- Megaspilidae
40 (17). Mesoscutum not reaching tegulae laterally (Fig. A); fore wing
venation without closed cells; antennae
usually
geniculate, not more than 13 segments, usually with 1-3 ring
segments....................(Chalcidoidea)
41 (44). Species very small, often less than 1 mm long; egg parasitoids.
42 (43). Tarsi with 3 segments; fore wings short, wide, setae arranged
in rows (Fig. A), or narrower with a long
fringe;
antennae with 5-9 segments & with ring segments; body yellow or brown,
0.4-1.2 mm long;
parasitoids
in eggs of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera, Cicadellidae, Coleoptera & other insects
(Fig.
B)............................
........................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Trichogrammatidae
43 (42). Tarsi with 4-5 segments; fore wings narrow, with a long fringe,
venation almost lacking (Fig. A), hind
wings linear
or setiform; antennae long, with 8-13 segments, without ring segments; female
antennae often
with a large nonsegmented club, male
antennae filiform; body black, seldom brown, 0.2-1.4 mm long;
parasitoids in eggs of Odonata,
Cicadellidae, Hemiptera, Lepidoptera, Coleoptera & other insects.. ....
.............................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Mymaridae
44 (41). Species larger, seldom less than 1 mm long.
45 (50). Hind femora strongly dilated, with spines along lower margin;
hind tibiae curved.
46 (47). Fore wings folded longitudinally as in wasps; ovipositor long,
curved onto dorsal surface of abdomen
(Fig. A);
body black with yellow or orange spots, 6-16 mm long; parasitoids in nests of
solitary bees &
wasps..............................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Leucospidae
47 (46). Fore wings not folded longitudinally; if long then ovipositor
straight.
48 (49). Ovipositor long, thin, longer than body (Fig. A); propodeum with
a Y-shaped keel; body metallic, 3-4
mm long;
parasitoids in egg cases of Mantidae ................(Chalcidoidea)-- Torymidae
(genus Podagrion)
49 (48). Ovipositor usually not projecting or covered at base by a long
distal abdominal tergite; body black,
sometimes
brown or with yellow and orange spots, 3-12 mm long; parasitoids in pupae of
Lepidoptera,
puparia of
Diptera, seldom in larvae & pupae of Coleoptera........................(Chalcidoidea)-- Chalcididae
50 (45). Hind femora not dilated strongly; hind tibiae straight.
51 (54). Hind coxae large, 3-edged, usually considerably larger than
fore coxae.
52 (53). Abdomen somewhat oval, often with smooth, glittering tergites;
ovipositor long (Fig. A); body metallic,
1.5-7.0 mm
long; parasitoids in galls of gall flies & wasps, in pupae of Lepidoptera,
puparia of Diptera,
seldom in
larvae & pupae of Coleoptera
........................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Torymidae
53 (52). Abdomen elongated, acute apically; tergites with a convex
characteristic sculpturing; ovipositor slightly
projecting,
covered at base by a long distal abdominal tergite; body metallic, 1.5-7.5 mm
long; parasitoids
in galls of
Cynipoidea (Fig. A) ......................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Ormyridae
54 (51). Hind coxae usually slightly larger than fore coxae.
55 (58). Thorax strongly convex, often markedly larger than abdomen.
56 (57). Abdomen with an unclear or short petiole; two 1st abdominal
tergites long, often hiding other tergites;
scutellum not
strongly convex, rounded at apex or with small spines; fore wings with
postmarginal and
radial veins rather long (Fig. A);
body usually metallic, seldom yellow or black, 1.5-5.0 mm long, seldom up
to 8.0 mm long; parasitoids in
puparia of Diptera & cocoons of Hymenoptera & Neuroptera .............
................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Perilampidae
57 (56). Abdomen with a long petiole; 1st abdominal tergite long,
usually hiding other tergites; scutellum strongly
convex, often
with long spines at apex; fore wings with postmarginal and radial veins very
short; antennae
not
geniculate; body usually metallic, seldom yellow, 3-7 mm long; parasitoids in
ant nests (Fig. A)
....................................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eucharitidae
58 (56). Thorax less strongly convex, usually not larger than abdomen.
59 (62). Mesopleura convex, whole; middle tibiae usually with a thick
and long spur.
60 (61). Mesoscutum convex, usually without parapsides; fore wings
usually with a short marginal vein; funicle
not less than
7 segments; tarsi with 5, seldom 4, segments (Fig. A); body metallic, sometimes
yellow or
brown to
black, 1-3 mm long, seldom less than 1 mm long; parasitoids in coccids, seldom
in eggs of
Lepidoptera,
Hemiptera, Coleoptera; in egg cases of cockroaches; in larvae & pupae of
Coleoptera, puparia
of Diptera,
larvae of Neuroptera; in Psillidae; secondary parasitoids of aphids;
polyembryonic parasitoids
in larvae of
Lepidoptera, in nymphs of ticks (Figs. B)...................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Encyrtidae
61 (60). Female mesoscutum flat or compressed, with unclear parapsides;
male mesoscutum sometimes convex,
with complete
parapsides and compressed mesopleura; fore wings with a long marginal vein,
sometimes
shortened; funicle with 7 segments
(Fig. A); tarsi with 5 segments; body metallic, 2.3-10.0 mm long; parasitoids
in eggs of Lepidoptera, Hemiptera & Cicadidae, in coccids,
larvae & pupae of Coleoptera, galls of gall flies,
gall wasps & sawflies, in puparia
of Diptera .............................(Chalcidoidea)--
Eupelmidae
62 (59). Mesopleura with a furrow or impression, not convex; if long,
then spur on middle tibiae not thick.
63 (64). Antennae with 2-4 ring segments and a long unsegmented club,
without a funicle; middle tibiae with a
long serrated
spur (Fig. A); body black, seldom yellow, flattened, usually ca. 1 mm long;
parasitoids in
coccids &
puparia of Leucospis flies, often as secondary
parasitoids................................(Chalcidoidea)--
Signiphoridae
64 (63). Antennae usually with funicular segments and a not long,
frequently 3-segmented club; middle tibiae
with a
shorter, not serrated spur.
65 (76). Axillae not projecting forward beyond the line between tegulae
(Fig. A); tarsi usually with 5 segments;
antennae with
more than 10 segments; fore tibiae with a thicker curved spur.
66 (71). Pronotum usually long, rectangular or narrowing anteriorly.
67 (68). Pronotum rectangular; female abdomen slightly compressed
laterally, with the last tergite slightly
elevated;
male abdomen rounded, with a long petiole (Fig. A); body black, seldom yellow
or yellow-
spotted,
1.5-4.5 mm, sometimes up to 6.0 mm long; parasitoids in larvae of beetles,
galls of gall flies, gall
wasps &
sawflies, in puparia of Diptera, pupae of Hymenoptera; many species are
phytophagous
...........................
.......................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eurytomidae
68 (67). Pronotum often narrowing anteriorly; if rectangular, then body
metallic; abdomen sometimes with a
marked petiole............................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
69 (70). Pronotum narrowing anteriorly; mesoscutum with marked
parapsides; fore wings with a long marginal
vein and
short radial and postmarginal veins; antennal funicle with 5-7 segments, club
usually not
segmented
(Fig. A); body black, 1.5-3.5 mm long; parasitoids in puparia of Diptera......(Chalcidoidea)--
Pteromalidae (Spalangiinae)
70 (69). Pronotum rectangular, narrowing anteriorly, or clearly longer
than wide; mesoscutum usually with
marked, not
always complete parapsides; fore femora sometimes thickened; ovipositor
sometimes
projecting;
antennae with 11-13 segments; body metallic, 2-5 mm long, seldom shorter;
parasitoids in
larvae of
wood-damaging beetles ......................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
(Cleonyminae)
71 (66). Pronotum usually short, transverse.
72 (73). Abdomen with a marked petiole; antennae attached at middle of
face; marginal vein often longer than
radial vein;
postmarginal vein long (Fig. A); hind tibiae usually with 2 spurs; body
metallic, 1.5-5.0 mm
long;
parasitoids in puparia of Diptera; secondary parasitoids of aphids; in eggs of
silkworm moths, in
coccids
..........................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
(Miscogasterinae)
73 (72). Abdomen without a marked petiole.
74 (75). Parapsides complete; antennae attached often at oral margin,
usually with less than 13 segments;
scutellum
sometimes long, strongly projecting backwards (Fig. A); body black or metallic,
1-4 mm long;
parasitoids
in coccids................................. ............................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
(Eunotinae)
75 (74). Parapsides marked only anteriorly (Fig. A); antennae with 13
segments, with 2-3 ring segments; hind
tibiae more
frequently with 1 spur; body usually metallic, 2-6 mm long; parasitoids in
larvae & pupae of
beetles, particularly
bark beetles, in puparia of gall flies & other Diptera, pupae of
Lepidoptera, cocoons of
Hymenoptera,
often in eggs of beetles, in galls of Cynipoidea (Fig.
B).....................................
............................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Pteromalidae
(Pteromalinae)
76 (65). Axillae usually projecting forward beyond the line between
tegulae (Fig. A); tarsi usually with 4
segments; antennae
usually with not more than 10 segments; fore tibiae with a thinner straight
spur.
77 (78). Hind coxae large, disc-shaped, dilated; tarsi long, with 4-5
segments; male antennae often ramose; body
black, seldom
yellow or with metallic lustre, 1.3-3.0 mm long; parasitoids in pupae of
Lepidoptera &
Hymenoptera,
in puparia of Diptera
..............................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Elasmidae
78 (77). Hind coxae not disc-shaped, slightly larger than fore coxae.
79 (80). Abdomen with a broad base (Fig. A); tarsi with 4-5 segments;
body yellow or brown, seldom black, 0.5-
1.8 mm long;
parasitoids in coccids (mostly armored scales), whiteflies, aphids; in eggs of
grasshoppers &
leafhoppers
(Figs. B-D)
...............................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Aphelinidae
80 (79). Abdomen with a narrow base or a marked petiole; tarsi more
frequently with 4 segments; body metallic,
seldom yellow
or black, usually longer than 1 mm.
81 (82). Female tarsi with 5 segments, male tarsi more frequently with 4
segments; antennae with 11-12 segments
(without ring
segments); parapsides complete; axillae not clearly projecting forward; body
metallic, 1-3
mm long; parasitoids
in eggs of sawflies, beetles, in puparia of Diptera...(Chalcidoidea)--
Tetracampidae
82 (81). Tarsi always with 4 segments; axillae usually clearly
projecting forward....(Chalcidoidea)--
Eulophidae
83 (88). Submarginal vein broken as passing into marginal vein.
84 (85). Postmarginal vein not developed; mesoscutum usually with a fine
medial longitudinal line; scutellum
often with 2
longitudinal lines (Fig. A); axillae strongly projecting forward; body metallic,
often yellow,
with yellow
spots, brown or black, 1-4 mm long; parasitoids in pupae of Lepidoptera and
sawflies; in
puparia of
Diptera; in gall flies; in larvae, pupae and eggs of Coleoptera, & in other
insects
..............................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eulophidae
(Tetrastichinae)
85 (84). Fore wings usually with postmarginal vein; mesoscutum usually
without a fine medial longitudinal line.
86 (87). Mesoscutum with fine and somewhat straight parapsides; body 1-4
mm long; larval parasitoids of
Cerambycidae,
Buprestidae, sawflies and some Lepidoptera; sometimes secondary parasitoids
...................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eulophidae
(Euderinae)
87 (86). Mesoscutum with deep and curved parapsides or impressions;
parapsidesusually clear anteriorly and as a
groove
posteriorly; body usually metallic, 1-4 mm long; parasitoids in eggs and larvae
of Coleoptera; galls
of gall
flies; mines of Diptera, Lepidoptera and Coleoptera; in thrips; pupae of
Hymenoptera; in
whiteflies...............................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eulophidae
(Entedontinae)
88 (83). Submarginal vein passing into marginal vein smoothly and
without a break, usually longer than marginal
vein;
postmarginal vein usually not developed.
89 (90). Mesoscutum with deep parapsides reaching its posterior margin;
abdomen usually with a marked petiole; male
antennae not
ramose; body black, often with yellow or orange spots or almost completely
yellow, seldom metallic,
1-4 mm long;
parasitoids in mines of Lepidoptera & Coleoptera; on larvae of Lepidoptera;
in galls of Cynipoidea..
..................................................................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eulophidae (Elachertinae)
90 (89). Mesoscutum usually with only faintly marked parapsides; abdomen
usually without a marked petiole;
male antennae
often ramose; body metallic, sometimes yellow or black, 1-4 mm long;
parasitoids in mines
of
Lepidoptera & Diptera; in cocoons & mines of sawflies; on larvae of
Lepidoptera
.......................................
.....................................................(Chalcidoidea)-- Eulophidae (Eulophinae)
REFERENCES:
Trjapitzin,
V. A. 1982. A key for identification of superfamilies, families and some
subfamilies of parasitic
Hymenoptera, p. 237-54. In:
V. A. Trjapitzin, V. A. Shapiro & V. A. Scheptilnikova (eds.),
Parasites and
Predators of Agricultural Crop Pests, 2nd
ed. Kolos Publ., Leningrad. 256 p.