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Keys to the Families & Subfamilies

 

of Canadian Chalcidoidea

 

(Derived fr. Yoshimoto 1984 by E. F. Legner)

(Email Contacts)

 

 

[This key is in a form commonly used in North America.    If the statement is true accept the information shown, and proceed to linked couplet if present for additional information.

If statement is false, go to "b" portion of the couplet]

 

 

[Also more illustrations may be found in <Guide> (Powerful connections use <Guide-2>)]

 

 

CHALCIDOIDEA FAMILIES          SUBFAMILIES (Mostly Pteromalidae)

 

 

                                  CHALCIDOIDEA FAMILIES

 

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1a.    Petiole with 2 segments ; fore wings with a slender stalk and entirely reticulate; antennal sockets close to each other at level of dorsal eye margins. Mymarommatidae            <Habits>; <Adults> &  <Juveniles>

 

2

1b.    Petiole with 1 segment, or abdomen broadly attached; fore wings if having a slender stalk then not reticulate ; antennal sockets distinctly separated from each other, if close to each other then ventrad to dorsal eye margins

 

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2a.    Antennal sockets much nearer inner orbits of eyes than to each other except in subfamily Eubroncinae ; frons with transverse suture just above antennal sockets, with supra-orbital suture extending from either end of this along inner orbits of eyes ; venation greatly reduced, with marginal vein short and stigmal vein rudimentary; stigmal vein usually not extending beyond middle of wing length  ...Mymaridae

       <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

3

2b.    Antennal sockets not nearer to inner orbits of eyes than to each other; frons without transverse suture, though possibly with frontal fork; venation usually more developed with distinct stigmal and postmarginal veins, stigmal vein usually extending beyond middle of wing length.

 

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3a.    Tarsi with 3 segments; body stocky, 0.5-1.0 mm.; post marginal vein absent ; antennal funicle with --2 segments ; setae of fore wing arranged in longitudinal rows in several species.     Trichogrammatidae     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

4

3b.    Tarsi with 4-5 segments; body slender, or if stocky then body 1-5 mm; postmarginal vein rudimentary, slightly acute or elongated ; antennal funicle with 0-7 segments; setae of fore wing rarely arranged in longitudinal rows.

 

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4a.    Hind coxa huge, flat, plate-like ; hind tibia often with rhomboidal pattern of setae       Eulophidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>  &   Elasmidae <Habits>; <Adults>

       & <Juveniles>  (part)

 

5

4b.    Hind coxa typical or huge but not flattened ; hind tibia lacks rhomboidal pattern of setae.

 

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5a.    Gaster broadly attached, with basal segment as wide as propodeum; propodeum with triangular median area; scutellum transversely ribbon-like

      Signiphoridae     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

6

5b.    Gaster more narrowly attached, at most with basal segment at least slightly narrower than propodeum , or petiolate; propodeum without triangular median area; scutellum rarely transversely ribbon-like.

 

7

6a.    Hind tarsus with 4 segments.

 

10

6b.    Hind tarsus with 5 segments.

 

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7a.    Winged forms with marginal vein shorter than broad or indistinct ; mesoscutum evenly convex, without notauli (= paired longitudinal furrows); mid coxae inserted at or slightly in front of middle  of mesepisternum      Encyrtidae  (part)     <Habits>;

       <Adults-1> & <Adults-2>; &  <Juveniles>

 

8

7b.    Winged forms with marginal vein distinctly longer than broad ; mesoscutum with incomplete to complete notauli; mid coxae inserted at or near hind end of mesepisternum.

 

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8a.    Gaster sessile, with base of gaster almost as broad as propodeum; fore wing with stigmal and postmarginal veins reduced, indistinct ; body not metallic; scutellum lacks submedian grooves.     Aphelinidae  (part)   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

9

8b.    Gaster petiolate ; fore wing with stigmal and postmarginal veins distinctly developed; body usually  partly metallic; scutellum usually with submedian grooves.

 

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9a.    Antenna with 11-12 segments, with 6 funicle segments; propodeum with at least several hairs on median 1/3rd, these inclined toward midline.    Tetracampidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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9b.    Antenna with at most 10 distinct segments and 2-4 funicle segments; propodeum with median 1/3rd not hairy     Elasmidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

        & Eulophidae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

11

10a.    Hind femur with serrated ventral edge , or with one or more distinct teeth, usually decidedly swollen.

 

14

 10b.    Hind femur without serrations or teeth, not swollen.

 

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11a.    Gaster striped yellow and black with dense thimble-like punctations; fore wing longitudinally folded as in vespoid wasp; female with ovipositor recurved over gaster dorsum     Leucospidae     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

12

11b.    Gaster not striped yellow and black and finely sculptured, except for thimblelike punctations in Ormyridae; fore wing not folded longitudinally; female ovipositor protrudes slightly from gaster or at least is not  recurved over gaster.

 

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12a.    Prepectus invisible or represented by small, inconspicuous plate near tegula; body not metallic, usually black or with white, yellow, or red markings; thorax coarsely sculptured.     Chalcididae     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

13

 12b.    Prepectus large and conspicuous ; body usually metallic; thorax usually finely sculptured.

 

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13a.    Inner margins of eyes diverge decidedly ventrally; antennae inserted below ventral margins of eyes.     Pteromalidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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13b.    Inner margins of eyes at most only slightly diverging ventrally; antennae inserted at least slightly above ventral margins of eyes.     Torymidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

15

 14a.    Mesopleuron greatly enlarged and swollen ; mid tibial spur large and thickened; basal segments of mid tarsus of females thickened, and at least 1st segment with 2 rows of short, stout ventral spines.

 

16

14b.    Mesopleuron not enlarged and swollen ; mid tibial spur usually not thickened and without ventral spines ; basal segments of mid tarsus of female not thickened, and segments without spines  above.

 

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15a.    Mid coxae inserted at about middle of mesopleuron; gaster straight (in dried specimens) and usually short and stocky; mesonotum usually evenly convex , though rarely with linear notauli; winged forms with marginal vein usually short or obsolete.

       Encyrtidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults-1> & <Adults-2>; &  <Juveniles>

 

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15b.    Mid coxae inserted at or behind posterior end of mesopleuron; gaster usually elongated, typically U-shaped in dried specimens; mesonotum broadly depressed at least posteriorly; winged forms with marginal vein longer (much longer than stigmal vein).     Eupelmidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

17

16a.    Prepectus fused with and lying in same plane as lateral part of pronotum; thorax usually high and short in ateral view; gaster usually with tergites 1 & 2 somewhat concealing posterior ones.

 

18

16b.    Prepectus not fused with and not lying in same plane as lateral part of pronotum; thorax usually not high and  short in lateral view; gaster usually with more than 2 visible tergites.

 

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17a.    Pronotum clearly visible in dorsal view, though narrow ; mandibles not sickle-shaped; petiole usually short, transverse, at most 2X as wide as long; gaster typically triangular.     Pteromalidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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17b.    Pronotum not visible in dorsal view, hidden by decidedly convex mesoscutum ; mandibles sickle-shaped ; petiole longer than broad, often very much so; gaster typically shaped like a rudder.     Eucharitidae     <Habits>; <Adults> &  <Juveniles>

 

19

18a.    Body not metallic; pronotum ca. 1/2 as long as mesonotum , or longer; thorax usually with distinct thimble-like punctation , or if finely sculptured, then antennae with 4-6 funicle segments.

 

20

18b.    Body at least partially metallic; pronotum definitely less than 1/2 length of mesonotum; thorax finely sculptured and antennae with 7-9 funicled segments.

 

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19a.    Body usually with obvious thimblelike punctation , but if finely sculptured, then antennae inserted above ventral margin of eyes ; face without interantennal crest; marginal vein of fore wing at most 3X length of stigmal vein ; propodeum often flattened medially or with medial longitudinal channel; genae sometimes with sharp edges.   Eurytomidae     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

27

19b.    Body finely sculptured and antennae inserted at or below ventral margin of eyes; face with intrantennal crest; marginal vein of fore wing 4X or more as long as stigmal vein ; propodeum without medial longitudinal channel, sometimes evenly convex; genae rounded.     Pteromalidae   (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>        (for Subfamilies, go to 27a)

 

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20a.    Gaster with transverse rows of pits at least on middle segments ; females with ovipositor only slightly exserted from apex of gaster.   Ormyridae   <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

21

20b.    Gaster smooth, without transverse rows or pits; female ovipositor sometimes projects greatly from gaster apex.

 

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21a.    Gaster sessile, with petiole not visible and with base of gaster almost as broad as propodeum ; body not metallic; antenna (excluding ringlike anelli) with at most 8 segments; winged forms with stigmal and postmarginal veins reduced, indistinct ; minute insects, usually 1.0 mm. or less in length .... Aphelinidae  (part)

       <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

22

21b.    Gaster constricted at junction with propodeum , petiole present, though possibly wider than long; body often at least partially metallic; antenna (excluding ringlike anelli) with more than 8 segments; winged forms with stigmal and postmarginal veins developed ; insects usually much longer than 1.0 mm.

 

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 22a.    Males only:  mid tibial spur noticeably longer than hind tibial spurs.

         Eupelmidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

23

22b.    Males & females:  mid tibial spur shorter or at most only slightly longer than inner hind tibial spur.

 

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23a.    Hind coxa large, elongated, 2/3rds or more as long as femur , in cross section triangular, with dorsal edge angular; female ovipositor much exserted from gaster apex , possibly longer than body; mesepimeron often with sinuate posterior margin ; fore wing sometimes with knob-like stigma.     Torymidae  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> &

        <Juveniles>

 

24

23b.    Hind coxa smaller, in cross section somewhat circular, with dorsal edge rounded; female with ovipositor only slightly exserted from abdomen apex; mesepimeron with posterior edge straight or evenly curved; fore wing without knob-like stigma.

 

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24a.    Propodeum usually pilose, with median 1/3rd having several hairs that converge toward midline ; fore tibial spur straight.     Tetracampidae  (part)     <Habits>;

        <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

27

24b.    Propodeum with at least median 1/3rd bare ; fore tibial spur usually strongly curved.     Pteromalidae   (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>  (For subfamilies,

       go to 27a)

 

40

25a.    Prepectus firmly fused with pronotum ; gaster convex, in form of high triangle   Perilampidae    <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>  [Yoshimoto, 1984 considered this Perilampinae, as subfamily of Pteromalidae = Chrysolampinae].

 

26

 25b.    Prepectus not fused with pronotum; gaster not in form of high triangle.

 

27

26a.    Antenna attached close to clypeus, with 8-10 segments, none being ringlike; body usually not metallic.

 

28

26b.    Antenna attached high above clypeus, or, if antenna attached close to clypeus, then hind femur enlarged with ventral edge serrate; antenna with 11-13 segments (except in Eunotinae = 6-10 segments) and with 0-3 ringlike segments; body usually metallic.

 

 

 

                              SUBFAMILIES (Mostly Pteromalidae)

 

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27a.    Body entirely black ; head, pronotum, and mesoscutum with conspicuous piliferous punctures.     (Pteromalidae:  Spalangiinae)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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 27b.    Body entirely or partly yellowish; body lacking piliferous punctures.

        (Pertomalidae: Cerocephalinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

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28a.    Fore wing with radial cell fully or partly developed ; hind wing without distinct stigma; vein sometimes translucent.     (Pteromalidae:  Brachyscelidiphaginae)

     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

29

  28b.    Fore and hind wings without previous combination of characters.

 

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 29a.    Propodeal spiracles located about midway between anterior and posterior angles of propodeum ; antennae inserted at each side of clypeus, near mouth edge.

      (Pertomalidae: Ceinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

30

  29b.    Propodeal spiracles closer to anterior end of propodeum; antennae inserted far from edge of mouth.

 

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 30a.    Vertex with 6-12 large conspicuous bristles ; scutellum with 4 long bristles, usually longitudinally marked with parallel fine impressed lines.      (Pteromalidae:

       Diparinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

31

 30b.    Vertex without large conspicuous bristles; scutellum with 4 or more bristles, usually not longitudinally marked with parallel fine impressed lines.

 

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 31a.    Head crescent-shaped; first tergite large, quadrate, extends over more than 1/2 of gaster; anterior margin of costal cell decidedly curved, meeting base of marginal vein, thus appearing as incised ; scutellum large, usually extends posteriorly beyond gaster base.     (Pteromalidae:  Eunotinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

32

 31b.    Head not crescent-shaped; first tergite not large and quadrate, extending over less than 1/2 of gaster; anterior margin of costal cell not very curved and without incision; scutellum normal, does not extend beyond gaster base.

 

33

  32a.    Notauli of mesoscutum complete, meeting transcutal suture.

 

44

  32b.    Notauli of mesoscutum incomplete, not reaching transcutal suture.

 

34

  33a.    Funicle of antenna with 7 segments.

 

36

  33b.    Funicle of antenna with 5-6 segments.

 

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 34a.    Mid tarsus of female with 4 segments; fore and hind tarsi with 5 segments; face of male and female with longitudinal impressed line mesad of malar groove, extending from eye to mouth edge.     (Pteromalidae:  Macromesinae)     <Habits>;  <Adults>

 

11

   34b.    Mid tarsus of both sexes with 5 segments; face without longitudinal impressed line.

 

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 35a.    Head and thorax yellow and black, not metallic; head projects forward; postmarginal vein longer than stigmal vein.     (Pteromalidae:  Miscogastrinae)

       (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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 35b.    Head and thorax metallic; head not projecting forward; postmarginal vein short or not developed.     (Pteromalidae:  Eutrichosomatinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

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 36a.    Parastigma of fore wing similar in thickness to submarginal vein ; antennae inserted below to well below ventral eye margin.     (Pteromalidae:  Asaphinae)   <Habits>; <Adults>

 

37

 36b.    Parastigma of fore wing distinctly different in thickness from submarginal vein ; antennae usually inserted at or above ventral margin of eye.

 

39

 37a.    Antennae with 13 segments, often with 2 ringlike segments and 6 funicle segments , or 3 ringlike segments and 5 funicle segments.

 

38

 37b.    Antennae with 10-12 segments, often with 2 ringlike segments and 5 funicle segments, without ringlike segments and with 6 funicle segments, or with 3-4 ringlike segments and 3 funicle segments.

 

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 38a.    Hind femora greatly swollen, with ventral serration or dentate; eyes greatly divergent ventrally; antennae inserted below ventral eye margin.    (Pteromalidae:  Chalcedectinae = Yoshimoto's  Pteromalidae  (Chalcedectini: Cleonyminae) )

       <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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 38b.    Hind femora normal, without ventral serration or dentate; eyes not divergent ventrally; antennae inserted above ventral eye margin.      (Pteromalidae:

       Miscogastrinae)  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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 39a.    Antennae inserted above middle of face; antennal sockets closer to anterior ocellus than to clypeus; head subglobose.     (Pteromalidae:  Panstenoninae)    <Habits>; <Adults>

 

40

 39b.    Antennae inserted below middle of face; sockets halfway between frontal ocellus and anterior clypeus 40a.    Marginal vein of fore wing more than 3.5-6X as long as stigmal vein ; gaster petiole definitely sculptured margin; head not subglobose.     (Chrysolampinae)

 

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 40a.    Marginal vein of fore wing more than 3.5-6X as long as stigmal vein ; gaster petiole definitely sculptured.     (Chrysolampinae)    Perilampidae    <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>  [Yoshimoto 1984 considered this Perilampinae, as subfamily

       of Pteromalidae = Chrysolampinae].

 

41

 40b.    Marginal vein of fore wing at most 3X as long as stigmal vein; petiole, if present, with surface moderately sculptured to smooth.

 

42

  41a.    Fore wing with postmarginal vein longer than marginal vein.

 

43

  41b.    Fore wing with postmarginal vein not longer than marginal vein.

 

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  42a.    Prepectus narrow laterally  (Pteromalidae:  Pteromalinae)  (part)  <Habits>; <Adults>

 

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  42b.    Prepectus broad laterally.     (Pteromalidae:  Miscogasterinae)  (part)

       <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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  43a.    Gaster petiolate.     (Pteromalidae:  Miscogasterinae)  (part)     <Habits>;

        <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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  43b.    Gaster sessile or subsessile.     (Pteromalidae:  Pteromalinae)  (part)

       <Habits>; <Adults>

 

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44a.    Head with crests on face and frons ; inner orbits of eyes straight; clypeus with conspicuous radiating striae covering face and genae.     (Pteromalidae:  Cratominae)

       <Habits>; <Adults>

 

45

44b.    Head without crests on face and frons; inner orbits of eyes not straight; clypeus without conspicuous radiating striae.

 

46

  45a.    Antennae with 10-12 segments.

 

47

  45b.    Antennae with 13 segments.

 

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 46a.    Antennae inserted at or below level of ventral eye margin, with or without ringlike segments; club with 2-3 segments, not acutely pointed.      (Pteromalidae:

       Miscogastrinae)  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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 46b.    Antennae inserted above level of ventral eye margin, with 2-3 ringlike segments; club solid or with indistinct segments, acutely pointed.     (Pteromalidae:  Pteromalinae)  (part)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

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  47a.    Hind tibia with 2 apical spurs; axillae produced forward beyond scutellar base

       (Pteromalidae:  Colotrechinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

24

  47b.    Hind tibia with single apical spur; axillae rarely produced forward beyond

         scutellar base.

 

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 48a.    Antennae with 1 ringlike segment; body, including eyes, wings, and gaster, densely hairy; pronotum as long as broad, narrower than mesoscutum. (Pteromalidae:  Cleonyminae)     <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>

 

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48b.    Antennae with 2-3 ringlike segments; body not densely hairy; pronotum broader than long, narrower than or as broad as mesoscutum. Pteromalidae: Pteromalinae)     <Habits>; <Adults>

 

 

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     REFERENCES:

 

     Yoshimoto, C. M.  1984.  The Insects and Arachnids of Canada, Part 12.  The Families and Subfamilies of

           Canadian Chalcidoid Wasps.  Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea.  Biosys. Res. Ins., Res. Br. Canada,

            Publ. 1760.  149 p