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Key to genera of Afrotropical Liopteridae

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

ClassificationIdentification keys

(after Buffington & van Noort, 2012)


1.

Tarsal claws simple, without basal lobes. Metasomal tergite 6 of females longer dorsally than ventrally in lateral view, posterior-ventral margin sinuate, strongly curving forward in lateral view, and not covering ventral portion of T7. Scutellum laterally with auricula (a semilunar, slightly impressed area set off by distinct carinae). Posterolateral pronotal margin not incised, mesopleural triangle not deeply impressed anteriorly (Mayrellinae) ...Paramblynotus

-

 Pro- and meso-tarsal claws with basal, lamellate lobe. Metasomal tergite 6 of females as long ventrally as dorsally in lateral view; posterior margin straight to gently curved forward in lateral view, and  covering ventral portion of T7. Scutellum laterally without auricula (impressed semilunar area). Posterolateral pronotal margin distinctly inflected in front of mesopleural triangle, the latter deeply impressed anteriorly (Oberthuerellinae) ...2


2.

Mesopleural surface not concave; mesopleural impression present; mesopleuron at least partly horizontally strigate ventrally. Anterior metatibial spur shorter than posterior metatibial spur. Metsomal terga 3-5 fused, inter-tergal sutures at least partly invisible ...Xenocynips

-

Mesopleural surface distinctly concave, the concavity forming oblique, shallow femoral groove; mesopleural impression absent; mesopleuron not horizontally strigate ventrally. Metatibial spurs subequal in length, elongate. Metasomal terga 3- 5 not fused, inter-tergal sutures distinct ...3


3.

Pronotal crest produced into conspicuous tooth-like process. Ventral margin of mesopleural impression visible as well defined ventral margin of obliquely costate area of mesopleuron. Lateral depressions of dorsellum completely absent. Metafemoral spine triangular, broad-based, oblique ... Tessmannella  

-

Pronotal crest not produced into conspicuous tooth-like process; crest usually absent, but occasionally present and produced into small, triangular process. Ventral margin of mesopleural impression not marked. Lateral depressions of dorsellum clearly indicated. Metafemoral spine elongate, narrow-based, erect ...Oberthuerella


References

Buffington, M.L. & van Noort, S. 2012. Revision of the Afrotropical Oberthuerellinae (Cynipoidea: Liopteridae). Zookeys 202: 1-154.

Ronquist, F. 1995. Phylogeny and classification of the Liopteridae, an archaic group of cynipoid wasps (Hymenoptera). Entomologica Scandinavica Supplement 46: 1-74.

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).


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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