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                                       Key to the Chalcidoidea of the Czech & Slovak Republics

                                 Palearctic Area (Czech & Slovak Republics):

 

                                                             (derived fr. Ashmead, 1904, Nikolskaya, 1952, Peck et al., 1964

                                                                                     & Thomson, 1876 by E. F. Legner)

                                                                                                     (Email Contacts)

 

 

     [This key is in a form commonly used in North America.  If the statement is true, proceed to the designated couplet,

whereas if it is false, go to "b" portion of the couplet.  Numbers in parentheses refer to previous couplet read].

 

[Please refer to <Guide> for illustrations (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]

 

 

1a.    Only vein of wing ending at front margin as stigmal-like enlargement (prestigma); legs with one trochanter;

     antennae with 12 segments, without differentiated club or ring segments, attached near mouth (Figs. A-B)

     ......................................................................................................................................................male  Bethylidae

 

1b.    Wing venation different from previous; if vein enlarged near margin, antennal segment fewer or ring segments

     developed; legs usually clearly with 2 trochanters.................................................................................................2

 

2a (1).    Abdomen with long, 2-segmented petiole; wing reticulately alveolate (Fig. A), petiolate, with long

     marginal fringe, venation reduced; pronotum reaches tegulae .................................................Mymarommatidae

 

2b.    Petiole of abdomen with one segment or indistinct, hidden; wing not as above; pronotum does not reach

     tegulae, separated by usually triangular prepectus (except Perilampus and Eucharitidae......................................3

 

3a (2).    Tarsi with only 3 segments; antennae short, at most with 2 funicular segments; body usually ca. 0.5 mm.

     long; postmarginal vein absent; wing disc often with hairs in radiating rows (Fig. A)...........Trichogrammatidae

 

3b.    Tarsi with 4-5 segments; other characteristics different from previous..............................................................4

 

4a (3).    Antennae attached far from each other (Figs. A-B), long, without ring segments, male filiform, female with

     ovoid club; frons with transverse suture above antennae extending along inner eye margin; base of wings often

     narrowed & petiolate, margin frequently with long fringe; body usually shorter than 1 mm, not metallic

     ..............................................................................................................................................................Mymaridae

 

4b.    Antennae usually attached near each other (except some encyrtids), nearer to each other than to eyes, often

     short, usually with one to several ring segments (Fig. A); head always without distinct transverse suture above

     antennae; wings not petiolate, fringe usually short................................................................................................5

 

5a (4).    Hind coxa huge, triangular, unusually disk-like and flattened (Fig. A); wings extend beyond sessile

     abdomen, wedge-shaped or almost parallel-sided; antennae at most with 10 segments, usually branched in male;

     female funicle with 3 segments; tarsi with 4 or 5 segments; body mostly steel-black or with yellowish markings

     (Fig. B)..................................................................................................................................................Elasmidae

 

5b.    Hind coxa never unusually disk-like or flattened; other characters also different from previous.....................6

 

6a (5).    Hind femur much enlarged, ventrally toothed (Figs. A-B); hind tibia arched; body medium to large, heavily

     sclerotized, mainly without metallic hue...............................................................................................................7

 

6b.    Hind femur normal, only very seldom enlarged and dentate in which case the body is slim, metallic and the

     hind tibia is straight (curved only in Podagrion, Fig. A) .....................................................................................8

 

7a (6).    Wings longitudinally folded as in wasps; ovipositor long, curved dorsally along abdomen; tegulae

     narrowly extended forward; body with black and yellow stripes (Fig. A)..........................................Leucospidae

 

7b.    Wings not folded; ovipositor not prominent in European species; tegulae scale-like, not produced; abdomen

     always without yellow markings (Fig. A)............................................................................................Chalcididae

 

8a (6).    Antennae not geniculate (= elbowed), without differentiated ring segments or club (Fig. A); head small;

     pronotum dorsally hidden, laterally fused with prepectus; thorax short and high; scutellum sometimes forked;

     abdomen high, rudder-shaped, petiole slim (Fig. B)..........................................................................Eucharitidae

 

8b.    Antennae clearly geniculate; pronotum larger, prepectus usually well defined...............................................9

 

9a (8).    Body shorter than one mm., dorsally flattened, shining black; scutellum transversely ribbonlike;

     propodeum in middle with shining triangular area (Fig. A); antennae with 2-4 ring segments and long, undivided

     club but without funicle (Fig. B) ........................................................................................................Thysanidae

 

9b.    Body not as previous; propodeum never with triangular, flat area; scutellum only rarely strongly transverse;

     antennae usually differently shaped than previous............................................................................................10

 

10a (9).  Hind coxa usually at least 3X larger than front (Figs. A-B); pronotum large; parapsidal grooves complete;

     postmarginal vein developed; radius usually short, often capitate; antennae with 13 segments (in European

     insects).................................11

 

10b.    Hind coxa only a little larger than front; other characteristics partially different from previous.................12

 

11a (10).    Thorax rather densely punctate, interstices reticulate or rugulose, faintly shining; parapsidal grooves

     somewhat deep; abdomen shining, finely sculptured, sometimes shrunken; ovipositor often long; body somewhat

     slim (Fig. A).........................................................................................................................................Torymidae

 

11b.    Thorax shining, sparsely punctate, weakly and transversely rugulose; parapsidal grooves shallow; abdomen

     often coarsely sculptured, in male often pitted (Fig. A), in female conical with epipygium long but ovipositor

     short, hidden; body robust; antennae very short (Fig. B).....................................................................Ormyridae

 

12a (10).    Pronotum dorsally rectangular, large; body usually not metallic, black, sometimes marked with yellow;

     parapsidal grooves complete; abdomen convex, not shrunken; postmarginal, marginal and radial veins

     developed; thorax often coarsely punctate (Fig. A)...........................................................................Eurytomidae

 

12b.    Pronotum narrowed dorsally, at least in middle, or body distinctly metallic and thorax then reticulate;

     abdomen often shrunken....................................................................................................................................13

 

13a (12).    Body about one mm. or less in length, not metallic; antennae at most with 8 evident segments (except

     ring segments), short; marginal vein long; radial and postmarginal veins indistinct, reduced; parapsidal grooves

     complete; abdomen broadly sessile; tarsi mostly with 5 segments, rarely 4 segments.......................Aphelinidae

 

13b.    Body with other characteristics; postmarginal or radial vein, or body, distinctly developed.......................14

 

14a (13).    Tarsi with 4 segments; antennae at most with 9 distinct segments; veins distinct but postmarginal

     sometimes reduced or absent; front tibial spur short, straight ............................................................Eulophidae

 

14b.    Tarsi with 5 segments, rarely 4; if 4, then antennae have at least 11 segments (Tetracampinae) or marginal,

     postmarginal and radial veins indistinct (Arrhenophagus); front tibia usually with a distinctly bent spur.........15

 

15a (14).    Mesoscutum entirely and regularly convex or flat, without impressed grooves (rarely linear parapsidal

     grooves indicated); scuto-scutellar suture mostly straight; axillae transverse, usually forming uniform arch with

     scutellum (Fig. A); mesopleuron convex, not impressed; middle basitarsus enlarged, middle spur long; antennae

     without ring segments (or if with some, then funicle lacking) (Figs. B-D) .........................................Encyrtidae

 

15b.    Mesoscutum not regularly convex, parapsidal grooves at least anteriorly impressed or otherwise formed;

     axillae usually sloping backwards; antennae with ring segments; if mesoscutum and mesopleuron convex, then

     antennae with one ring segment...........................................................................................................................16

 

16a (15).    Mesopleuron in female convex (as in Encyrtidae), not impressed; similarly, middle basitarsus and tibial

     spur enlarged; mesonotum often impressed; scuto-scutellar suture in female straight, allowing movement of

     dorsal sclerites; antennae always with one ring segment and 7 funicular segments; male with parapsidal grooves

     deep, complete and pleuron usually shallowly impressed..................................................................Eupelmidae

 

16b.    Mesopleuron always impressed; mesoscutum with parapsidal grooves complete or merely anteriorly

     indicated, immobile against scutellum; scuto-scutellar suture not straight; middle tibial spur small; antennae often

     with 2 or more ring segments................................................................................................................................17

 

17a (16).    Thorax high and short, dorsally either coarsely punctate or finely striate, always without reticulate

     punctations; antennae short, with one ring segment and 7 transverse funicular segments; abdomen often

     transversely convex (Figs. A-B)..........................................................................................................Perilampidae

 

17b.    Thorax usually not high and short; if so, then mesoscutum and scutellum reticulate or antennae different...18

 

18a (17).    Pronotum large, bell-shaped, hind margin indistinct and closely joined to mesoscutum; parapsidal

     grooves complete (Figs. A-B); antennae with 11-12 segments; male tarsi often with 4 segments; front tibial spur

     small.................................................................................................................................................Tetracampidae

 

18b.    Pronotum usually small, not bell-shaped, hind margin always evident; parapsidal grooves often incomplete;

     tarsi always have 5 segments; front tibial spur distinct, bent....................................................Pteromalidae  (for

     subfamilies go to couplet 19)

 

 

Subfamilies of Pteromalidae:

 

19a.    Antennae without ring segments, with 8-10 segments (club as one), attached close to mouth (Figs. A-C);

     parapsidal grooves complete; usually not metallic insects; sculpture not reticulate............................................20

 

19b.    Antennae with one or more ring segments; if indistinct, then body metallic or other characteristics different

     from previous.......................................................................................................................................................21

 

20a (19).    Body entirely black, sometimes faintly metallic, somewhat set with coarse hairy punctures; abdomen

     petiolate; wings always developed (Fig. A) .......................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Spalangiinae)

 

20b.    Body partly yellowish, always without deep punctures, usually smooth; abdomen subsessile; wings usually

     with tufts of stiff hairs and sometimes dwarfed; head often toothed near base of antennae (Fig. A)

     .......................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Cerocephalinae)

 

21a (19).    In females head and thorax at least partly yellowish, with sparse, regularly spaced, long bristles; wings

     usually dwarfed (Fig. A); male antennae very long, with one ring segment and flagellum consisting of 10

     subequal segments, club not differentiated (Fig. B); parapsidal grooves complete; basal tergite very large, convex

     (Fig. C)....................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Diparinae)

 

21b.    Head and thorax usually metallic, not yellowish (except in 2 rare species from southern Europe) and without

     regular, sparse bristles apart from normal hairs; male antennae usually with club formed by several closely

     attached apical segments or at least ring segments present...................................................................................22

 

22a (21).    Antennae unusually slim, with 13 segments (3 ring segments) (Fig. A), radicula at least 2X as long as

     broad, antennal club in male not differentiated; boy shorter than 1.5 mm., shining, dark metallic, not reticulate;

     wings often dwarfed; female abdomen compressed at sides, high; ovipositor somewhat prominent ...............

     ........................................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Ceinae)

 

22b.    Antennae shaped differently than previous; if long and slim, then thorax reticulate; club differentiated in

     male......................................................................................................................................................................23

 

23a (22).    Pronotum in middle at least as long as broad, much narrower than mesoscutum; antenna with one ring

     segment only; front femur somewhat enlarged (Fig. A); wing sometimes dwarfed, otherwise usually maculate;

     male antenna sometimes branched ............................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Cleonyminae), part

 

23b.    Pronotum either shorter or posteriorly not unusually narrower than mesothorax; ring segments usually at least

     2 in number; male antennae never branched........................................................................................................24

 

24a (23).    Wings dwarfed; antennae always with 13 segments; head and thorax metallic green, reticulate;

     parapsidal grooves incomplete.....................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Cleonyminae), part

 

24b.    Wings fully developed...................................................................................................................................25

 

25a (24).    Antennae at most with 12 segments, at least in females.........................................................................26

 

25b.    Antennae with 13 segments, club counted always as 3..................................................................................29

 

26a (25).    Antennae very long, with one ring and 7 long funicular segments, female with 12 and male with 13

     segments; middle tarsus very long, in female with 4 segments; marginal vein about 4X as long as radius

     ....................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Cleonyminae), part

 

26b.    Antennae shorter than previous and other characteristics different................................................................27

 

27a (26).    Parapsidal furrows incomplete; funicular segments transverse, 5 in number.........................................28

 

27b.    Parapsidal furrows complete (Figs. A-B)...........................................................................most (Tridyminae)

 

28a (27).    Ring segments clearly 2 in number; head and thorax very densely, rather deeply, irregularly punctate

     .....................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Cleonyminae), part

 

28b.    Ring segments 3 in number, very short; antenna with 13 segments (Figs. A-B) .............................................

     ............................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Pteromalinae)

 

29a (25).    Parapsidal grooves complete..................................................................................................................30

 

29b.    Parapsidal grooves incomplete, fading out at least in posterior 1/3rd of mesoscutum..................................33

 

30a (29).    Abdomen sessile or subsessile................................................................................................................31

 

30b.    Abdomen distinctly petiolate (Figs. A-B).......................................(Pteromalidae)  most (Miscogasterinae)

 

31a (30).    Antennae with one ring and 7 funicular segments; marginal vein usually several times as long as radius;

     males only............................................................................................................................................................32

 

31b.    Antennae at most with 6 funicular segments; marginal vein usually rather short

     ........................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Tridyminae, part)

 

32a (31).    Parapsidal grooves clearly cut, narrow; thorax usually densely hairy; mesopleuron shallowly impressed

     without different sculpture; radius only rarely somewhat capitate...............................males, family  Eupelmidae

 

32b.    Parapsidal furrows deep but broad; thorax nearly bare; radius strongly clavate, short

     .......................................................................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Tridyminae, part)

 

33a (29).    Abdomen distinctly petiolate...................................................(Pteromalidae)  (most Miscogasterinae)

 

33b.    Abdomen sessile.............................................................................................................................................34

 

34a (33).    Axillae almost entirely anterior to base of scutellum (Fig. A); marginal vein very long, yet postmarginal

     and stigmal unusually short......... .................................................................(Pteromalidae)  (Coleotrechninae)

 

34b.    Axillae not unusually produced anteriorly; stigmal vein not extremely short...............................................35

 

35a (34).    Pronotum bell-shaped, rather long (Fig. A); whole body (including eyes, wings and abdomen) densely

     hairy; antenna with one ring segment and 7 funicular, apical one in female projecting laterally along

     club......................................................................................................................((Pteromalidae)  Cleonyminae)

 

35b.    Pronotum not as previous; whole body never densely hairy..........................(Pteromalidae)  (Pteromalinae)

 

 

REFERENCES:

 

Ashmead, W. H.  1904.  Classification of the Chalcid Flies.  Mem. Carnegie Mus. 1:  225-551, Pittsburgh.

 

Nikolskaya, M. N.  1952.  Chalcids of the Fauna of the U.S.S.R.  Sci. Acad. U.S.S.R., Moskva & Leningrad.

 

Peck, O., Z. Bou…ek & A. Hoffer.  1964.  Keys to the Chalcidoidea of Czechoslovakia (Insecta: Hymenoptera). 

     Mem. Ent. Soc. Canada 34:  120 p.

 

Thomson, C. G.  1876-1878.  Hymenoptera Scandinaviae, Pteromalus 4, 5, Lund Publ.