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Key to families of Afrotropical Cynipoidea

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera;  Superfamily: Cynipoidea

ClassificationCynipoidea keys

   


1. Metasomal segment four, five or six the largest, when viewed laterally (a & b), with two to four small segments preceding largest segment. Rarely collected …2

 

- Metasomal segment two or three the largest, when viewed laterally (A), or fused into a syntergum (B), with at most only one small segment preceding the largest. Commonly collected …3

 


2. Metasoma, when viewed dorsally, extremely thin, blade-like (a); radial cell of forewing at least nine times as long as broad, closed on front margin (b). Large wasps, exceeding 2 cm in overall length (extra-limital family – one introduced species Ibalia leucospoides in South Africa) …IBALIIDAE

 

- Metasoma, when viewed dorsally, evenly rounded on both sides, often rather stout (A); radial cell of forewing less than nine times as long as broad (B). Small to large wasps, ranging from 2 mm to 1.75 cm ...LIOPTERIDAE

 


3. Pronotal plate present, often projecting forward, with distinct ventro-lateral margins (a, b). Mesoscutum usually smooth (at least dorsally) (b), occasionally microcoriaceous; may be longitudinal carinate (c). Mesopleuron usually smooth (d), often with a single longitudinal carina (d). Scutellum frequently with distinct central plate (a, d), and/or posteriorly directed spine (c, d) ...FIGITIDAE

 

- Pronotal plate absent or reduced, ventro-lateral margins not visible (A). Mesoscutum horizontally striate (A) or coriaceous (B). Mesopleuron distinctly striate to rugose, lacking a distinct longitudinal groove (B). Scutellum never with a cnetral plate or an apical spine (A) …CYNIPIDAE


Reference

van Noort, S, Buffington ML & Forshage, M. 2015. Afrotropical Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera). ZooKeys 493: 1-176. doi: 10.3897/zookeys.493.6353

Credits

Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of South Africa) or Matt Buffington (Systematic Entomology Laboratory, USDA/ARS).


Web author Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

 

Citation: van Noort, S. 2024. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the World. URL: www.waspweb.org (accessed on <day/month/year>).

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