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Keys
to the Adults of Superfamilies of Hymenoptera
(derived
fr. Boucek, 1988; Clausen, 1923; Crawford, 1909;
Gauld
& Bolton, 1988; Hill, 1923; Masner & Dessart, 1967;
Noyes
& Valentine, 1989; Riek, 1970 & Yoshimoto, 1984 by E. F. Legner)
[Please refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]
1a. Body without a marked constriction between
the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments, resulting in abdomen being
broadly joined to thorax (Figs. A-F);
long-winged, fore wing with an enclosed anal cell and/or rounded
projections on metanotum present; hind wing
usually has at least 3 closed cells...........(SYMPHYTA).....2
1b. Body with a constriction between the 1st and
2nd abdominal segments, given the appearance of abdomen
almost always being narrowly joined to thorax (Figs.
A-D) (may be obscured in some taxa (Fig. E), but
these have no enclosed cells in the fore wing);
long-winged, short-winged or wingless, if long-winged then
fore wing without an enclosed anal cell; hind
wing usually has 2 or less closed basal cells; rounded
projections on metanotum not present; ovipositor
not developed into a sting .(APOCRITA-Parasitica)..7
1c. Same as previous (1b) except that ovipositor
not used for egg-laying but rather developed into a weapon for
injecting venom and used for hunting, defense and
aggression (sting); eggs emitted
from apical gastral
segments, at base of sting (Figs.
A-D)...................................................... .(APOCRITA--Aculeata)....35
2a. Antennae inserted on ventral side of head
adjacent to mouth (Fig. A); anal cell of for wing indistinct
.......................................................................................................................................................Orussoidea
2b. Antennae inserted on anterior side of head
well above mouth; fore wing with enclosed anal cell distinct
........................................................................................................................................................................3
3a. Fore wing with Rs branches (Fig. A);
antennae highly modified with 3rd segment long and broad, followed by 9
or more slender threadlike segments (Fig.
B)..................................................................................Xyeloidea
3b. Fore wing with Rs unbranched; antennae
various, never with both the 3rd segment long and broad and the
remaining flagellar segments
threadlike.........................................................................................................4
4a. Fore tibia with either a single apical spur,
or with two spurs of unequal length, the shorter of which is almost
vestigial...........................................................................................................................................................5
4b. Fore tibia with two well developed, but
unequal apical
spurs................................................................................6
5a. Rounded projections on metanotum absent (Fig.
A); abdomen terminally laterally compressed, anteriorly
slightly constricted between 1st and 2nd segments
(Fig. B) ...........................................................Cephoidea
5b. Rounded projections on metanotum present
(Fig. A); abdomen cylindrical or depressed, not constricted
anteriorly (Figs. B-C); antennae inserted under
broad frontal ridge below eyes, just above mouth; small
insects (8-14 mm.
long)....................................................................................................................Siricoidea
6a. Pronotum in dorsal view with hind margin
somewhat straight (Fig. A); fore wing with vein 2r-rs present;
labrum concealed (Fig. B); mid and hind tibiae
with preapical spurs and antennae with >18 segments (Fig.
C)........................................................................................................................................Megalodontoidea
6b. Pronotum in dorsal view with hind margin
much bowed (Fig. A), or if weakly bowed then fore wing with 2r-rs
absent; vein 2r-rs otherwise present or absent;
labrum exposed (Fig. B); mid and hind tibiae without
preapical spurs, or if such spurs are present,
then antennae with fewer than 10 segments; antennae othewise
with 3-32 segments, often with 9 or
less..............................................................................Tenthredinoidea
7a. Segment 1 of abdomen forming a node or
scale, or first two segments nodiform, so segment 2 is fully separated
(both dorsally and ventrally) from segments 1 and
3 (Fig. A)..........................................Formicoidea (part)
7b. Segment 1 of abdomen not scale-like, if
rarely slightly nodiform then with segment 2 closely lying close to
segment
3........................................................................................................................................................8
8a. Segment 1 of abdomen inserted high up on
propodeum so distance between propodeal socket and insertion of
hind coxa is ca. equal to or greater than
distance between socket and hind margin of metanotum (Figs. A-
B)....................................................................................................................................................................9
8b. Segment 1 of abdomen inserted low down on
propodeum so distance between propodeal socket and insertion of
hind coxa is very much less than distance between
socket and hind margin of metanotum........................10
9a. Antennae with 14 or less segments; fore wing
with costal cell distinct (Figs. A-B), hind wings lack closed cells,
venation usually much reduced; abdomen attached
high above hind coxae on thorax.................Evanioidea
9b. Antennae with 18 or more segments, usually
filiform, unspecialized; fore wing with costal cell indistinct or
absent, veins C, Sc, R and Rs fused between wing
base and pterostigma (Fig. A); sternites of abdomen
weakly sclerotized........................
.............................................................................Ichneumonoidea (part)
10a. Fully winged
insects...........................................................................................................................................11
10b. Short-winged or wingless insects.......................................................................................................................25
11a. Fore wing with one enclosed cell, or without
any enclosed cells (Figs. A-O) sternites of abdomen usually
heavily sclerotized; fore, mid & hind tarsi
with 3
segments.........................................................................12
11b. Fore wing with two or more cells clearly
delineated by veins (Figs.
A-I).........................................................19
12a. Fore wing with membrane reticulate; hind
wing vestigial, with a forked apex; segments 1 and 2 of abdomen
cylindrical, slender, forming a 2-segmented
petiole (Fig. A) (body length <1mm); pronotum short, does not
reach tegula; many meatallic species
..............................................................................Chalcidoidea (part)
12b. Fore wing membrane not reticulate; hind wing
fully developed though often very narrow, but never with a
forked apex; abdomen with at most first segment
cylindrical and slender so that petiole, if present, has 1
segment........................................................................................................................................................13
13a. Hind wing with a distinct stalk (Figs. A-B);
pronotum short, does not reach tegula; many metallic species
........................................................................................................................................Chalcidoidea (part)
13b. Hind wing not
stalked.......................................................................................................................................14
14a. Mesosoma (= propodeum + metathorax) with
pronotum not extending back to tegulae (Fig. A); wings without
enclosed cells; pronotum short, does not reach
tegula; many metallic species (Figs. B-C) .......................
........................................................................................................................................Chalcidoidea (part)
14b. Mesosoma with pronotum extending back to
almost touch tegulae (Fig. A); wings with or without closed
cells..............................................................................................................................................................15
15a. Antennae inserted in center of face, their
sockets separated from the clypeus by more than 2X their own
diameter.......................................................................................................................................................16
15b. Antennae inserted on face close to clypeus,
their sockets separated from clypeus by ca. their own diameter or
less...............................................................................................................................................................17
16a. Antennae not inserted on a promontory or
"shelf," those of female without a very elongated scape; fore wing
venation characteristic (Figs. A-C), with a
rather large radial cell, that is either open anteriorly, or the only
enclosed cell in the wing; costal cell broad,
anteriorly open, posteriorly bordered by a vein from which
arises a long stub of Rs & M; stigma absent;
filiform antennae with 1st segment slightly smaller than 2nd,
or with 2nd segment small and 1st and 3rd
segments smaller; abdomen compressed laterally
..........................................................................................................................................Cynipoidea (part)
16b. Antennae inserted on facial promontory or
"shelf," those of female geniculate, elbowed antennae, scape more
than 3X as long as wide; fore wing without venation,
or with a single linear vein, without a distinguishable
radial cell, or if one is indicated then it is
not defined distally and costal cell is only enclosed cell; if
present, vein delineating costal cell posteriorly
is without a stub of Rs & M (Figs. A-B); Fore wings with
no closed basal cell; hind wings lack closed
cells (Fig. C); abdomen attached near propodeum base,
contiguous with or close to hind coxae; abdomen
cylindrical or almost so; no metallic forms
..................................................................................................................................Proctotrupoidea (part)
17a. Head distinctly prognathous; tergite 1 of
abdomen as long as following tergites, separated from sternite,
posteriorly overlapping tergite 2 (Fig.
A).........................................................................Bethyloidea (part)
17b. Head hypognathous; tergite 1 of abdomen
shorter than the following apparent tergite (which may be a
syntergite),
or the two fused and tergite 1 visible as a ridged anterior rim of the first
apparent tergite; tergite
1 usually
fused with sternite to form a ring at anterior end of
abdomen......................................................18
18a. Wing venation greatly reduced; fore wing
with long vein along anterior margin, this vein distally with a
curved stigmal branch, sometimes with a large
pterostigma (Figs. A-B); fore tibia with two
spurs............................................................................................................................Ceraphronoidea (part)
18b. Fore wing without any venation, or with a
short vein that does not reach to level of middle of wing, or if with
a long vein, then this is proximally separated
from anterior margin of wing, and its stigmal branch is almost
straight; pterostigma not present (Fig. A), hind
wings lack closed cells; fore tibia with a single spur;
propodeum reaches to tegula; abdomen attached
near propodeum base, contiguous with or close to hind
coxae, abdomen cylindrical or almost so; elbowed
antennae.......... ..........................Proctotrupoidea (part)
19a. Tarsi with well developed membranous pads
(Fig. A); antennae with 26-27 segments; fore wing with 10
enclosed cells (Fig. B).............................................................................................................Trigonalyoidea
19b. Tarsi without membranous pads, or if
vestiges present then antennae with fewer than 14 segments; antennae
otherwise with various numbers of segments, if
more than 14 then fore wing with 7 or fewer enclosed cells;
fore wing otherwise with 1-10 enclosed
cells...............................................................................................20
20a. Fore wing with costal cell indistinct or
absent, veins C, Sc, R. and Rs fused or contiguous from wing base to
pterostigma; hind wing without a distinct lobe at
the base) Figs. A-E); antennae usually with 16 or more
segments
(rarely with as few as 12), and with a small small ringlike segments (= anelli)
somewhat differentiated
from proximal end of 1st flagellar
segment........................................Ichneumonoidea (part)
20b. Fore wing with costal cell usually visible,
though sometimes not bordered anteriorly by a vein, rarely when
costal cell is virtually eliminated then a
distinct lobe is present at the base of the hind wing; this lobe
otherwise present or absent; antennae with 10-15
segments, without small anelli differentiated from
proximal end of 1st flagellar segment (except in
one taxon with a broad costal cell).................................21
21a. Fore wing with costal cell open, not
delineated by a vein along anterior margin of wing; pterostigma absent;
abdomen laterally compressed (Fig.
A)............... .............................................................Cynipoidea (part)
21b. Fore wing with costal cell enclosed,
bordered anteriorly by a vein, or if this vein is rarely absent the
pterostigma is present, or costal cell is
indistinct or absent; pterostigma otherwise present, or uncommonly,
absent; abdomen cylindrical or
depressed...................................................................................................22
22a. First tergite of abdomen short, fused with
sternite to form a ring-like, highly sclerotized segment; second
tergite (or syntergite) longer than tergites 1
and 3+ combined; spiracles not present at least on first and
apparent second gastral tergites; fore wing
usually with 2 enclosed cells (costal and radial) (Fig. A), rarely
with up to 3 more enclosed cells (thus a max. of
5) (Fig. B), no closed basal cell...................................
...................................................................................................................................Proctotrupoidea (part)
22b. First tergite of abdomen quite long, not
fused with sternite to form short ring-like segment; second tergite not
longer than tergites 1 and 3+ combined; first and
second segments of abdomen with distinct spiracles
(though these may be positioned ventrally on
laterotergite); fore wing usually with 6 or more enclosed
cells, rarely with 2-5 and then always with basal
and subbasal cells enclosed, costal cell usually enclosed,
radial cell sometimes not
enclosed..............................................................................................................23
23a. Fore wing with radial cell either not
indicated or open distally, and without any complete cubital (submarginal)
cells; fore wings have at least 1 closed basal
cell; hind wing without enclosed cells (Figs. A-C)
...........................................................................................................................................Bethyloidea (part)
23b. Fore wing with an enclosed radial cell, and
with at least one enclosed cubital cell; hind wing generally with
two or three enclosed
cells..........................................................................................................................24
24a. Pronotum with upper hind corner widely
separated from tegulae, and lower down the side with a pronounced
pronotal lobe covering mesothoracic spiracle
(Figs. A-B) .....................................Apoidea & Sphecoidea
24b. Pronotum with upper hind corner reaching to
or close to tegula, with or without a pronounced pronotal lobe
(Fig.
A)................................................................................................................................Vespoidea (part)
25a. Antennae with 16 or more segments, somewhat
filiform, unspecialized; sternites of abdomen weakly
sclerotized, tending to dry with median
longitudinal fold.......... ..............................Ichneumonoidea (part)
25b. Antennae with 15 or fewer segments,
sometimes filiform and unspecialized, often geniculate with elongated
scape and clavate distal segments; sternites of
abdomen heavily sclerotized..............................................26
26a. Fore, mid and hind tarsi with 3
segments.............................................................................Chalcidoidea (part)
26b. All tarsi with 4 or 5
segments............................................................................................................................27
27a. Upper hind corner of pronotum separated from
tegula by a prepectus................... ............Chalcidoidea (part)
27b. Upper hind corner of pronotum somewhat
touching tegula, or with tegula absent..........................................28
28a. First segment of abdomen somewhat conical,
not dorsally fused with tergite 2; tergites 1 and 2 with
spiracles.......................................................................................................................................................29
28b. First segment of abdomen cylindrical or
annular, or minute, indistinct, fused dorsally with tergite 2; tergites 1
and 2 without
spiracles.................................................................................................................................31
29a. Antennae with 10
segments.....................................................................................................Bethyloidea (part)
29b. Antennae with 11-13
segments.........................................................................................................................30
30a. Head prognathous and dorsoventrally
flattened; clypeus with a median ridge extending between antennae
...........................................................................................................................................Bethyloidea (part)
30b. Head hypognathous, not dorsoventrally
flattened; clypeus lacking a median ridge that extends between
antennae................................................................................................................................Vespoidea (part)
31a. Antennae never geniculate, the scape only slightly
longer than broad, and slightly shorter than first flagellar
segment; abdomen laterally
compressed..............................................................................Cynipoidea (part)
31b. Female (the most commonly encountered
short-winged or wingless sex) with antennae geniculate, the scale
elongated, at least twice the length of the first
flagellar segment; abdomen of both sexes cylindrical or
depressed.......................................................................................................................................................32
32a. Anterior tibia with two apical
spurs..................................................................................Ceraphronoidea (part)
32b. Anterior tibia with one apical
spur.....................................................................................................................33
33a. Antennal socket separated from clypeus by
its own diameter or less; first segment of abdomen with tergite and
sternite separate; tergite 8 without spiracle;
antennae with 12 or fewer segments ..........................................
....................................................................................................................................Proctotrupoidea (part)
33b. Antennal socket separated from clypeus by
more than twice its own diameter; first segment of abdomen with
tergite and sternite fused; tergite 8 with
spiracle; antennae almost always with 13 or more segments
.......................................................................................................................................................................34
34a. Abdomen, particularly in females, laterally
compressed; antennae of female with 14 segments, of male 13
segments; ovipositor concealed; head without
shelf-like process; cerci absent; ovipositor opening
ventral..................................................................................................................................Cynipoidea (part)
34b. Abdomen usually cylindrical; antennae with
various numbers of segments, if with 14 segments in female or
13-segments in male then ovipositor exposed or antennae
attached to a shelf-like process of the face; cerci
present; ovipositor opening terminal
.........................................................................Proctotrupoidea (part)
35a. Have fully developed functional
wings..............................................................................................................36
35b. Wingless or
short-winged...................................................................................................................................49
36a. Pronotum posterodorsally usually separated
from mesonotal anterior margin by a somewhat well developed
groove; pronotum posterolaterally remote from the
tegulae, and lower down the side with a pronounced
posterior lobe which covers the mesothoracic
spiracle (Fig. A); posteroventrally the pronotum closely
coadapted to the anterior mesopleural margin and
reflexed mesally below, behind the fore coxae
.......................................................................................................................................................................36
36b. Pronotum posterodorsally contiguous with the
mesonotal anterior margin, lacking a groove; pronotum
posterolaterally almost reaching the tegulae
(Fig. A) with or without a distinct posterior lobe which covers
the mesothoracic spiracle; if pronotum
posteroventrally closed coadapted to the anterior mesopleural
margin then it is not reflexed
below..............................................................................................................38
37a. Fore wing with a fold traversing 1m-cu
between 1st and 2nd discal (= discoidal) cells, usually through a clear
area (bulla), this fold discrete from the radial
fold in the submarginal (= cubital) cells (Fig. A). Basitarsi
enlarged, those of hind legs expanded and
flattened in anterior view, wider than following segments and
usually only slightly narrower than hind tibiae
(Fig. B). Body setae plumose
(branched), or partly so;
pronotal lobe reaches or almost reaches
tegula..................................................................................Apoidea
37b. Fore wing with a fold traversing the 2nd
abiscissa of M, between the second discal (discoidal) and 2nd or 3rd
submarginal (cubital) cells, usually through a
clear area, this fold linking with the radial fold in the
submarginal (cubital) cells (Fig. A). Basitarsi not enlarged, those of hind legs
slender, not flattened in
anterior view, usually much narrower than the
hind tibiae (Fig. B-D). Body setae
simple and unbranched
all over; ;pronotal lobe does not reach
tegula................................................................................Sphecoidea
38a. Antennae distinctly geniculate, elbowed
between scape and funiculus. Body with
1-2 reduced separated node
like or scale like segments between mesosoma (=
propodeum + metathorax) and abdomen (= dorsal hump
or node) (Fig.
A)..............................................................................................................Formicoidea (part)
38b. Antennae not geniculate, not elbowed between
scape and funiculus. Body without
separated node like or scale
like segments between mesosoma (= propodeum +
metathorax) and abdomen..........................................39
39a. Fore wing usually with a complete closed
marginal (= radial) cell which is bounded by tubular veins, and with
at least one complete submarginal (cubital) cell;
hind wing with 2-3 complete cells (Figs. A-D)
......................................................................................................................................................................40
39b. Fore wing with marginal (radial) cells open,
often with only a stub of tubular vein arising from the stigma;
without any complete submarginal (cubital) cells;
hind wing with much reduced venation, at most with an
open costal cell but without complete cells
posterior to this although up to 3 tubular veins may be present
(Figs. A-E)
...................................................................................................................................................46
40a. Distal quarter or more of wing membranes
longitudinally grooved (striated), with a densely corrugated
appearance; fore wings usually have extensive
venation; first discoidal cell shorter than submedian cell;
hind wings
have at least 1 closed basal cell; pronotum does not reach tegula (Fig.
A)..................Scolioidea
40b. Distal quarter or more of wing membranes
plain, without a densely corrugated appearance............................41
41a. Mesopleuron with a straight diagonal groove
which traverses the mesopleural scrobe (Figs. A-B); eyes round
or oval; antennae filiform............................................................................................................Pompiloidea
41b. Mesopleuron lacking a straight diagonal
groove which transverses the mesopleural scrobe............................42
42a. Fore wing with an elongated and very obvious
discal (discoidal) cell (Fig. A), the wing like a fan from base to
apex, and folded longitudinally when at rest
(Figs. B-D). Glossa and paraglossa
terminating in small
clerotized pads; pronotum touches tegula; eyes
deeply notched or if round, then antennae clavate . ..............................................................................................................................................Vespoidea......43
42b. Fore wing lacking an elongated discal
(discoidal) cell, the wing not like a fan from base to apex, not folded
longitudinally in repose. Glossa and paraglossa without apical
sclerotized pads.......................................44
43a. Tibiae of middle legs with a single spur. Pretarsal claws 2-forked (Fig. A). mandibles elongated and crossing
over when closed, not simply overlapping (Fig. B)
...............................................Vespoidea (Eumenidae)
43b. Tibiae of middle legs with two spurs. Pretarsal claws simple. Mandibles short, transverse when closed, but
not crossing over (Fig.
A)...........................................................................................Vespoidea (Vespidae)
44a. Hind wing with a well developed claval indentation
marking the limits of the claval lobe, and with a very large
lobe at the wing base which is at least 1/2 the
length of the claval (Fig. A). Male
subgenital plate
terminating in an upcurved spine. Females with widely separated middle coxae
and 2-forked pretarsal
claws
.............................................................................................................Tiphioidea
(Tiphiidae) (part)
44b. Hind wing without lobes or without a claval
indentation marking the limits of the claval lobe; in the latter the
lobe at the wing base small and less than 1/2 the
length of the claval area (Fig. A).
Subgenital plate of
males lacking an upcurved spine. Females with contiguous middle coxae and
simple or dentate pretarsal
claws............................................................................................................................................................45
45a. Distal antennal segments thicker than
proximal so that the antennae appears clubbed (Fig. A). Abdomen with
yellow maculae and body weakly hairy. Pretarsal claws
dentate............................Tiphioidea (Sapygidae)
45b. Distal antennal segments narrower than
proximal so that the antennae tapers apically (Fig. A). Abdomen
without yellow maculae and body densely
hairy. Pretarsal claws edentate or
2-forked ...............................
...................................................................................................................Tiphioidea (Mutillidae) (males)
46a. Antennae with 10
segments..............................................................................................................................47
46b. Antennae with 12-13
segments.........................................................................................................................48
47a. Antennae arising from a high anteriorly
projecting prominence on the head, the antennal insertions widely
separated from the clypeus which is situated
ventral to them (Fig. A).........................................................
...........................................................................................................Bethyloidea (Embolemidae) (males)
47b. Antennae not arising from a high anteriorly
projecting prominence on the head, the antennal insertions located
close to the posterior clypeal margin (Fig.
A)........ .....................................Bethyloidea (Dryinidae) (part)
48a. Abdomen with 3-5 segments visible (Figs.
A-D). Body heavily sculptured and
brightly metallic....................
.............................................................................................................................Bethyloidea (Chrysididae)
48b. Abdomen with more than 5 segments visible
(Fig. A). Body not heavily sculptured
nor brightly metallic
....................................................................................................................Bethyloidea (Bethylidae) (part)
49a. Antennae distinctly geniculate, elbowed
between scape and funiculus. Body with
1-2 conspicuously separated
node like or scale like reduced segments between
mesosoma (= propodeum + metathorax) and abdomen (=