HomeWasp classificationExpeditionsLinksFigWebBiodiversity ExplorerPermits

Megastigmus Dalman

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera;  Superfamily: Chalcidoidea; Family: Torymidae; Subfamily: Megastigminae)

Megastigmus Dalman, 1820. Type speciesPteromalus bipunctatum Swederus 1795.

 

Megastigmus aculeatus (Swederus,1795) (Afrotropical, Nearctic, Palaearctic)

 

Megastigmus hypogeus (Hussey,1956) (Kenya)

 

Megastigmus somaliensis Hussey,1956 (Ethiopia, Somalia)

 

Megastigmus thomseni (Hussey,1956) (South Africa)

 

Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hussey,1956) (Canary Islands, South Africa, U.S.A.)

Megastigmus zebrinus Grissell, 2006 (South Africa [introduced], Australia)

 

Megastigmus species

Distribution

Worldwide.

Biology

Parasitoid, inquiline or phytophage (gall former, seed predator).

References

Boucek, Z. 1978. A study of the non-podagrionine Torymidae with enlarged hind femora, with a key to the African genera (Hymenoptera). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 41: 91-134.

Dalman, J.W. 1820. Försök till Uppställning af Insect-familjen Pteromalini, i synnerhet med afseen de på de i Sverige funne Arter. Kungliga Svenska Vetenskapsakademiens Handlingar 41(1):178.

Doganlar, M. & Hassan E. 2010. Review of Australian species of Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) associated with Eucalyptus, with descriptions of new species. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences 4(10): 5059-5120.

Grissell, E.E. 2006. A new species of Megastigmus Dalman (Hymenoptera: Torymidae), galling seed capsules of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnhardt (Myrtaceae) in South Africa and Australia. African Entomology 14(1): 88-92.

Grissell, E.E. & K.R. Hobbs. 2000. Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hussey) (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) in California: Methods of introduction and evidence of host switching, pp.265-278. In The Hymenoptera: Evolution, biodiversity and biological control. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne, Australia.

Grissell, E.E. & Prinsloo, G.L. 2001. Seed-feeding species of Megastigmus (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) associated with Anacardiaceae. Journal of Hymenoptera Research, 10, 271-279.

Habeck, D.H., F.D. Bennett, & E.E. Grissell. 1989. First record of a phytophagous seed chalcid from Brazilian peppertree in Florida. Florida Entomologist 72: 378-379.

Hussey, N. W. 1956. A new genus of African Megastigminae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society London (B) 25: 157-162.

Scheffer, S. & Grissell, E.E. 2003. Tracing the geographic origin of Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae): anAfrican wasp feeding on a South American plant in North America. Molecular Ecology 12: 415–421.

Wheeler, G.S., L.M. Massey & M. Endries. 2001. The Brazilian peppertree drupe feeder

Megastigmus transvaalensis (Hymenoptera: Torymidae): Florida distribution and impact.

Biological Control 22: 139-148.

Credits

Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums) or © Vida van der Walt (header image).

 

Next genus: Neomegastigmus


Web author Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

Copyright 2004-2011 Iziko Museums

customisable counter