AW Insect Book: Sawflies, Wasps, Bees & Ants (Hymenoptera)

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 2:19 pm

Doryctine Braconid Wasp
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea. Family: Braconidae. Subfamily: Doryctinae

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 2:58 pm

Family Ichneumonidae (Ichneumon Wasps)
The Ichneumonidae is one of the most species rich families of all organisms with an estimated 60000 species in the world. An estimated 12100 species of Ichneumonidae occur in the Afrotropical region (Africa south of the Sahara and including Madagascar).
Ichneumon wasps are mostly slender-bodied wasps with at least 16-segmented antennae that are more than half the length of the body, the middle ones sometimes white or yellow. In females, the abdomen may end in a long ovipositor used in some species to drill into plant stems to reach the host. Hind trochanters are 2-segmented. Most species are black, yellow or brown, or patterns of these colours. Vein 2m-cu of the forewing is present in 95% of Ichneumonidae. Base of cubital vein lacking, 1st submarginal and 1st discoidal cells fused. The resulting vein structure is sometimes called "horse head" shape. This boot-shaped submarginal cell in the forewing is diagnostic of the family. They are distinguished from the similar Braconidae by the absence of a square cell on the fore wing.
Ichneumonids parasitize larvae and pupae. Idiobiont or Koinobiont endo or ectoparasitoids of immature insects (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera, Hymenoptera, Rhaphidioptera, Trichoptera) or Chelcerata (Araneae and Pseudoscorpionida eggs, adult Araneae).

Links:
WaspWeb: Ichneumonidae of the Afrotropical Region

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 3:31 pm

Subfamily Banchinae
Banchinae are a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. All Bachinae are endoparasitoids (Koinobiont) of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera larva.
Diagnosis: Clypeus nearly always separated from face, anterior part of submetapleural carina usually produced as a strong lobe, propodeum often with only posterior transverse carina present or carinae absent, female hypopygium large and triangular in lateral view, ovipositor with subapical notch.

Links:
WaspWeb: Banchinae of the Afrotropical Region

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 3:56 pm

Ichneumon Wasp Syzeuctus sp., possibly Syzeuctus peringueyi
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea. Family: Ichneumonidae. Subfamily: Banchine. Tribe: Atrophini

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park

Ichneumon wasps of the genus Syzeuctus are endoparasitoids of moth larvae (Brachodidae, Noctuidae, Psychidae, Pyralidae, Sessiidae, Tortricidae).

Links: WaspWeb Syzeuctus

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:13 pm

Subfamily Cremastinae

Cremastinae are a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.

Distribution: Worldwide.
Diversity: 800 species in 35 genera

Biology: Endoparasitoids (Koinobiont) of butterfly and moth (Lepidoptera) and sometimes beetle (Coleoptera) larva living in concealed situations such as tunnels, buds, galls or leaf rolls.

Diagnosis: Clypeus separated from face by a groove. Ventro-posterior corner of propleuron with a strongly produced lobe touching or overlapping pronotum. Meso- and metatibial spurs separated from tarsomere 1 by a sclerotized bridge. Metasomal tergite I with spiracle near apex. Metasoma strongly compressed laterally. Ovipositor always longer than apical height of metasoma, with dorsal subapical notch. Face usually pale.

Links:
WaspWeb: Cremastinae of the Afrotropical Region

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:13 pm

Cremastine Ichneumon Wasp
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea. Family: Ichneumonidae. Subfamily: Cremastinae

© BluTuna
Male, Garden in Johannesburg

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:13 pm

Subfamily Cryptinae
Cryptinae are a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae and may be encountered in virtually all terrestrial habitats. This is the largest subfamily of Ichneumonidae, with currently 365 genera and more than 4660 species distributed worldwide.
Most are idiobiont ectoparasitoid of Holometabola pupae or prepupae. Some species are koinobiont or endoparasitoids, and some species parasitize the egg masses of Araneae and Pseudoscorpionida.
Diagnosis: Clypeus separated from face by groove, its apical margin usually evenly rounded. Sternaulus of mesopleuron usually long and reaching mesocoxa. Metasomal tergite I without glymma, spiracles usually situated behind middle of tergite. Metasoma cylindrical to dorsoventrally depressed. Ovipositor without subapical notch.

Links:
WaspWeb: Cryptinae of the Afrotropical Region

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:16 pm

Cryptine Ichneumon Wasp
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea. Family: Ichneumonidae. Subfamily: Cryptinae

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:16 pm

Cryptine Ichneumon Wasp
Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea. Family: Ichneumonidae. Subfamily: Cryptinae

Post by **Toko** » Sat Dec 06, 2014 4:28 pm

Subfamily Pimplinae
Pimplinae are a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. Most are Idiobiont ectoparasitoids of pupae or larvae of Holometabola insects. Hosts are killed or paralyzed by venom injected during oviposition. A few Pimplinae parasitize adult spiders and egg sacs (Araneae).
Diagnosis: Clypeus separated from face by a groove, usually with apical half thin and apical margin notched, giving a bilobed appearance. Propodeum often with carina reduced, with few or no area defined. Metasomal tergite I usually short and wide, with glymma, spiracle at middle. Ovipositor without dorsal notch.

Links:
WaspWeb: Pimplinae of the Afrotropical Region

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