The
hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is a large order (biology), order of insects, comprising the sawfly, sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are Par ...
n family Platygastridae (sometimes incorrectly spelled Platygasteridae) is a large group (over 4000 species) of exclusively
parasitoid
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...
wasps, mostly very small (1–2 mm), black, and shining, with geniculate (elbowed)
antenna
Antenna ( antennas or antennae) may refer to:
Science and engineering
* Antenna (radio), also known as an aerial, a transducer designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic (e.g., TV or radio) waves
* Antennae Galaxies, the name of two collid ...
e that have an eight-segmented
flagellum
A flagellum (; ) is a hairlike appendage that protrudes from certain plant and animal sperm cells, and from a wide range of microorganisms to provide motility. Many protists with flagella are termed as flagellates.
A microorganism may have f ...
. The wings sometimes lack venation, though they may have slight fringes of
seta
In biology, setae (singular seta ; from the Latin word for "bristle") are any of a number of different bristle- or hair-like structures on living organisms.
Animal setae
Protostomes
Annelid setae are stiff bristles present on the body. Th ...
e.
The traditional subfamilies are the
Platygastrinae
Platygastrinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae.
Genera
'' Acerotella'' - '' Aceroteta'' - '' Allostemma'' - '' Allotropa'' - '' Almargella'' - '' Amblyaspis'' - '' Anectadius'' - '' Anirama'' - '' Annettella'' ...
and the
Sceliotrachelinae. The former subfamily includes some 40 genera, all of which are
koinobionts on
cecidomyiid flies; the wasp oviposits in the host's egg or early instar larva, and the wasp larva completes development when the host reaches the prepupal or pupal stage. The latter subfamily is much smaller, including some 20 genera, and they typically have the rudiments of a vein in the forewings. They are generally
idiobiont
In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionary strategies within parasiti ...
s, attacking the eggs of either
beetle
Beetles are insects that form the order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 400,000 describ ...
s or
Hemiptera
Hemiptera (; ) is an order (biology), order of insects, commonly called true bugs, comprising over 80,000 species within groups such as the cicadas, aphids, planthoppers, leafhoppers, Reduviidae, assassin bugs, Cimex, bed bugs, and shield bugs. ...
.
Platygastridae is one of seven extant families in the superfamily
Platygastroidea
The Hymenopteran superfamily of parasitoid wasps, Platygastroidea, has often been treated as a lineage within the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, but most classifications since 1977 have recognized it as an independent group within the Proctotrupo ...
. For a brief period of time, Scelionidae was considered a subfamily of Platygastridae, but the classification has been revised based on molecular and morphological evidence.
Sceliotrachelinae
Sceliotrachelinae includes the genus ''Aphanomerus'', which includes a number of species:
*''Aphanomerus aureus'' (Dodd, 1914)
*''Aphanomerus bicolor'' (Perkins, 1905)
*''Aphanomerus flavus'' (Dodd, 1914)
*''Aphanomerus niger'' (Perkins, 1905)
*''Aphanomerus nigriceps'' (Dodd, 1914)
*''Aphanomerus pusillus'' (Perkins, 1905)
*''Aphanomerus rufescens'' (Perkins, 1905)
*''Aphanomerus sordidus'' (Dodd, 1914)
''Aphanomerus pusillus'', a wasp native to
Queensland
)
, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia, has proven effective against the "pandanus planthopper", or ''
Jamella australiae
Flatidae are a family of fulgoroid planthoppers. They are cosmopolitan in distribution and are distinguished from others in the superfamily by a combination of characters. Like all other planthoppers, they suck phloem sap of plants. Some spe ...
'', which has decimated populations of ''
Pandanus tectorius
''Pandanus tectorius'' is a species of ''Pandanus'' (screwpine) that is native to Malesia, Papuasia, eastern Australia, and the Pacific Islands. It grows in the coastal lowlands typically near the edge of the ocean. Common names in English inclu ...
'' along the coasts of northern
New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
and Queensland.
Trissolcus
''Trissolcus'' is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are at least 180 described species in ''Trissolcus''. They parasitize eggs of Pentatomorpha.
Species
These species belong to the genus ''Trissolcus'':
* '' Tri ...
'' sp. on '' Chinavia'' eggs
References
*Peter N. Buhl and David G. Notton, 2009 A revised catalogue of the Platygastridae of the British Isles ''Journal of Natural History'' Vol. 43, Nos. 27-28,1651-170
External links
a citrus blackfly parasitoid, ''Amitus hesperidum''on the
University of Florida, UF /
IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
''Baeus latrodecti'' Dozier on the
UF /
IFAS Featured Creatures Web site
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1950117
Apocrita families
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