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Lyciscidae
Lyciscidae is a family of chalcid wasps. The genera comprising this family were previously placed in the Cleonyminae subfamily of a paraphyletic Pteromalidae. Description and biology Many species have metallic green, blue and bronze colours, and stout hind legs and fore legs. The females of most species have a tapered abdomen and a long ovipositor suited to accessing hosts concealed in wood; they are often encountered on trunks or branches of trees. Many are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles of the families Buprestidae (jewel beetles), Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles), and Curculionidae (weevils). However, some '' Agamerion'' species are parasitoids of cockroach egg masses, ''Epistenia'' species parasitize twig-nesting aculate wasps and bees, and '' Marxiana grandiosa'' is a hyperparasite of braconid wasps (which are, in turn, parasitoids of wood-boring beetles).Gibson, G.A., 2003. Phylogenetics and classification of Cleonyminae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae). Associa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chalcid Wasp
Chalcid wasps (, , for their metallic colour) are insects within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, part of the order Hymenoptera. The superfamily contains some 22,500 known species, and an estimated total diversity of more than 500,000 species, meaning the vast majority have yet to be discovered and described. The name "chalcid" is often confused with the name "chalcidid", though the latter refers strictly to one constituent family, the Chalcididae, rather than the superfamily as a whole; accordingly, most recent publications (e.g.,) use the name "chalcidoid" when referring to members of the superfamily. Most chalcid wasps are parasitoids of other insects, though other life styles are known, with the herbivorous fig wasps acting as pollinators. Various species are used as biological pest control agents or in scientific research. Description Chalcidoids are generally small wasps, averaging 1.5 mm in length and usually being less than 3 mm. The body is often metallic in colour. Th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
