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Updates and time line. Only major updates and changes in the content meaning of key couplets, diagnoses, or comparative information will be listed here.
11.i.2019. Many updates, mainly catching up with the past 16 years of literature. Additionally, an old error was found by Ryan Perry in the subfamily key, which is now fixed. New Nearctic records for Dermatopelte and Ophelimus are provided, plus an updated classification for Entedoninae. Entiinae, the replacement name for the junior homonym Euderinae, is now being used.
26.x.2003. I posted greatly improved AutoMontage figures in the following diagnoses: Achrysocharoides, Ametallon, Ceranisus, Edovum, Holcopelte, Perditorulus, Thripobius, Carlyleia, Parasecodella, Alveoplectrus, Diglyphomorpha, and Necremnus. Their accompanying key couplets will have the photos too. The other genera will receive similar upgrades gradually.
13.x.2003. I noticed and corrected some errors in the subfamily (Eul) key: couplet 10 should have stated "Postmarginal vein" where it states "Submarginal vein." Couplet 14 should state "submarginal vein" where it states "premarginal vein."
5.x.2003. Version 1.5. Massive update, providing new information for every genus, new figures for several, and incorporating A.V. Gumovsky's (2001) taxonomic changes. The printable version is vastly improved, and is up to date again. Proacrias has been added to the Entedoninae key because I have found it from the state of Jalisco, Mexico.
1.ii.2003. Asecodes and similar genera are updated, to better reflect the differences between this genus and Closterocerus especially, and also Neochrysocharis, Ionympha, and Omphale. A major revision of the key is in process, in preparation for an expansion to world genera, as well as the upcoming addition of more original figures and a more accurate section distinguishing Omphale, Closterocerus, Neochrysocharis, Asecodes, and smaller related genera.
2.x.2002. Updated couplet 4 of the subfamily key so that dwarf Cirrospilus and Aulogymnus should be more easily separable from Entedoninae. The junction between the submarginal and premarginal veins is more obviously broken in dwarf specimens of those two genera, so that one is better off relying upon the presence of parallel scutellar grooves, especially when the number of scutellar setae is not easily discernable. It is unfortunate that no perfect morphological differences between the Cirrospilus group and Entedoninae are apparent, but these steps should successfully separate all but perhaps a very few specimens.
22.vi.2002. Updated Euplectrus and Platyplectrus pages to reflect new observations concerning their distinction. Fixed links that open new pages so that they no longer need JavaScript, using the target function instead. This will make the site more easily navigable by those whose browsers do not use JavaScript, and allow several new pages to be open at once using these links, instead of just one.
16.vi.2002. Serguei V. Triapitsyn corrected the entry and key couplet for Goetheana to better reflect its generic limits. Particularly, the scape in males is only grossly enlarged in G. shakespearei Girault, not at all or only moderately so in other species.
11.vi.2002. Added statements about Pediobius and Euplectrus vs. Platyplectrus in the problems page. Revised the justifications page to more accurately reflect my attitudes and goals and remove problematic statements (which I apologize for).
17.v.2002. First uploading of the page onto the Internet.
10.iii.2002. Completion of version 1.0, including complete key to Nearctic genera of Eulophinae, Entedoninae and Euderinae.
Acknowledgments
First, I thank my friends, bosses, and co-workers at the University of California at Riverside, who have been patient enough to discuss keying philosophy with me and listen to my lengthy rants. These include John Pinto, Gary Platner, John Heraty, Dave Hawks, Doug Yanega, Serguei Trjapitsyn, Jutta Burger, Tom Prentice, Kathleen Campbell, Jung-Wook Kim, Gevin Kenney, Matt Buffington, James Munro, Albert Owen, and Jeremiah George. John Heraty also reviewed the key pre-release and made many helpful suggestions that have been incorporated into the current version.
I also thank the people at The National Museum of Natural History Systematic Entomology Laboratory for allowing my visit and making it pleasant and productive, for the loan of specimens, and for discussing with me various taxonomic problems in the family and the philosophy and difficulties of constructing keys. These include Mike Schauff, Mike Gates, Eric Grissell, David Smith, Terry Nuhn, and Tami Carlow.
Finally, I thank the people at the entomological collections that I have visited and/or borrowed material from. This includes:
John Noyes, Andy Polaszek, Neil Springate, Stuart Hine, and Suzanne Lewis at The Natural History Museum, London.
Christer Hansson at Lund Museum, Sweden.
Jim Woolley at Texas A&M University.
Lynn Kimsey and Steve Heydon at the University of California, Davis.
Robert Zuparko at The California Academy of Sciences.
If I forgot anyone, please let me know and I will include you!
Roger A. Burks
October 5, 2003