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Cirrospilus Westwood, 1832 comparative info return to: prev home
Face with transverse groove at mid-height (can be difficult to discern). Vertex usually not distinctly arched above upper eye margin (exceptions include C. coachellae Gates). 2 funicular segments, 3 claval segments. Notauli complete and straight or weakly curved, reaching scutellar margin or ending in axillae very near scutellar margin; sidelobes with narrow scapular flange reaching or nearly reaching scutellar margin; half or less of dorsal surface of axillae anteriad of scutellar margin; scutellum flat, with parallel submedian grooves that may be difficult to discern. Postmarginal vein equal to or shorter than stigmal vein length; stigma round, with uncus about its own length from stigmal apex; forewing usually without fuscate markings (many exceptions). Compare with: Aulogymnus, Diaulinopsis, Zagrammosoma, Diglyphus.

1a: Cirrospilus vittatus Walker color variants (dark markings represent dark or metallic green color)

2a: Cirrospilus vittatus forewing

Biology: Primary or secondary parasitoids leaf-miners, leaf-rollers, and gall-makers.

Comments: Very large genus.

Comparative information:

Aulogymnus: Uncus separated by more than its own length from stigmal apex (typically much more), or rarely absent (check both wings, because the character may vary in an individual or series). Stigma distinctly elongate. Scutellar grooves, when distinguishable, very close together. Flagellum often with 3 or more funicular segments. Body generally arched and stout (flattened in most Cirrospilus). Some species are problematic because of a general similarity to Aulogymnus and a medium-length stigma, and it is not clear at this time where these species should be placed without host information.

Diaulinopsis: Postmarginal vein 2x stigmal vein length or more. Males with greatly expanded scape. Color of dorsum uniform metallic or dark except near wing base, while Cirrospilus are usually extensively yellow.

Zagrammosoma: Notauli incomplete or ending in anterior half of axillae, the dorsal surface of which are advanced almost entirely anteriad of scutellar margin. The notauli are very short and curve sharply towards the axilla, where in Cirrospilus they are nearly straight, ending in the scutellar margin or nearly so. Also, the scapular flange of each mesoscutal sidelobe in Cirrospilus extends as a narrow projection to the scutellar border or near it, while in Zagrammosoma the scapular flange is a very tiny extension ending near the axillar apex. Vertex always extending high above upper eye margin (occurs in a few Cirrospilus as well). Forewing always with fuscate markings.

Diglyphus: Notauli incomplete or ending in anterior half of axillae, color usually almost entirely metallic or dark.

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References

Askew, R.R. 1968. Hymenoptera 2. Chalcidoidea section (b). Handbooks for the Identification of British Insects. 8(2)b.

Boucek, Z. 1959. A study of central European Eulophidae, II: Diaulinopsis and Cirrospilus (Hymenoptera). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae. 33: 171-194.

Gates, M.W. 2000. A new species of Cirrospilus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) from the southwestern United States and Mexico. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 102(1): 58-61.

Gordh, G. 1978. Taxonomic notes on Zagrammosoma, a key to the Nearctic species and descriptions of new species from California (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 80: 344-359.

Image credits: 1a, 2a: Gordh (1978).