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Bob Copeland's ICIPE Insect of the week (15) background
information on this species: "The insect we feature this
week is a rare species of Torymidae, Echthrodape africana (Burks). It is
endemic to Kenya and, as near as I can tell, has previously been collected only
in the Nairobi area. We captured the species in a Malaise trap set in the Kongór
area of western Kenya, near the Uganda border. With targeted sampling, it is
likely to be found in Uganda and elsewhere. The species is an ectoparasitoid of
allodapine bees (family Apidae) and the type series was reared by Michener from
nests made by small bees of the genus Braunsapis in dead stems of Lantana
camara. Morphologically speaking both adult and larval stages are taxonomically
confusing. The species was described from adult material and originally placed
incorrectly (but with reservations) in the family Perilampidae, later
transferred to the Torymidae. The larva has long erect setae and inflated
pseudopods that may provide support and protection against the rough nest walls.
The distribution of Echthrodape species is disjunct, E. africana
having only a single congeneric species, Echthrodape papuana, known from
Papua New Guinea and Australia. Among torymid parasitoids, E. africana is
the only indigenous species known to parasitize bees in the Afrotropical region.
Thanks to Mike Gates and Petr Jansta for help with the identification." |
