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Key to Families of Hymenoptera in Great
Britain
(Derived from Borror & Delong, 1964; Borror et al., 1989;
Clausen, 1940;
Gauld & Bolton, 1988; Hill, 1923 & Richards, 1977 by E.
F. Legner)
(Email Contacts)
[Please refer to <Guide> for additional illustrations & <Hymenoptera> for order details]
Superfamily placement may differ among specialists.
Note: Not all illustrations are
of species found in Great Britain:
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1a. Abdomen broadly attached to thorax, no
marked constriction between 1st and 2nd
abdominal segments; cenchri (two rounded prominences with roughened surface
to engage fore wings when folded over abdomen) present except in Cephidae,
in which the first abdominal tergite is centrally divided by a membranous
slit; front tibia usually with 2 apical
spurs; a closed anal cell often present in fore wing; larva with continuous
gut; thoracic (except Orussus) and,
usually, abdominal legs present .......... Symphyta ...... Symphyta (Chalastogastra)--sawflies
& horntails (Sawflies, mostly phytophagous) <General Characteristics>
(see Benson, 1951 for key to families).
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1b. Abdomen deeply
constricted between 1st segment (propodeum) and 2nd (first
abdominal) except in a few minute Chalcidoidea with very reduced wing
venation; cenchri never present and first abdominal tergite never with a
membranous slit extending to its base; fore tibia with only one apical spur
with 2 in the Ceraphronoidea; fore wing with no closed anal cell;
larva with rectum not connected to front part of gut before pupation
(except sometimes in last instar); legs absent..... Apocrita..... Apocrita Aculeata
(stinging Hymenoptera)
[Characteristics]
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2a. Antennae with 3 segments
of normal thickness, 3rd very
long and made up of several fused, followed by a thread-like flagellum of
at least 9 segments; head without hypostomal bridge; fore wing with Rs
forked (always in British species); male genitalia inverted (=
strophandrious) [in British species, normal (= orthandrious) in some American
species], parameres with cupped disks and with articulation to parameral
plates,,,,,, (Xyeloidea) ........ Xyelidae (Details)
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2b. Antennae not as previously described, Rs
in fore wing not forked
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3a. Antennae with 11 or more
segments except in Orussidae &&, in
which segment 9 is swollen and longer than any of the others; head with
hypostomal bridge; male genitalia normal..................
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3b. Antennae with 10 segments
or less except in Diprionidae, which have antennae serrate or comb-like (Athalia, Fenella and Heteranthrus,
Tenthredinidae, may have 10-15 antennal
segments but lack the following characters which are found in some or all
families under couplet 4: pronotum with hind margin straight,
insect >11.0 mm. long, fore tibia with 1 (not 2) apical
spur, antennae inserted below the eyes and apparent clypeus). Head without hypostomal bridge (the Cimbicidae,
in which a bridge-like condition may appear to be present, have capitate
antennae); male genitalia inverted, parameres without cupping disks
............. (Tenthredinoidea) <Overview>;
<Adults> (Details)
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4a. Antennae not inserted on ventral side
of head; cenchri present; in genitalia of %%, the
parameres with cupping disks and articulate to parameral plates
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4b. Either antennae inserted ventrally
beneath eyes and below the apparent clypeus (Orussoidea) or cenchri absent
(Cephoidea); in genitalia,
parameres without cupping disks and not articulate but fused to parameral
plates
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5a. Pronotum with hind margin almost
straight, the emargination being no deeper than the length of tegula;
abdomen strongly flattened dorso-ventrally .............. (Megalodontoidea)
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5b. Pronotum with hind margin deeply
emarginate, more deeply than length of tegula; abdomen cylindrical
............... (Siricoidea) (Details)
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6a. Antennae flabellate; fore wing without
separate Sc; 2nd abdominal tergite not medially
divided (uncertain British group) ............. (Megalodontoidea) (Details)
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6b. Antennae setaceous; fore wing with
separate Sc; 2nd abdominal tergite divided medially
(Megalodontoidea) Pamphiliidae (Details)
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7a. Fore wing with 1st
abscissa of Rs directed towards base of wing, last abscissa
recurved; mesoscutum much longer than scutellum; tegula minute, hidden;
neck short .............. (Siricoidea)
Siricidae
(Details)
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7b. Fore wing with 1st
abscissa of Rs directed towards apex of wing, last abscissa not
recurved; mesoscutum hardly longer than scutellum with axillae; tegula normal
though rather small; neck long ............. (Siricoidea) (Details) Xiphydriidae
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8a. Antennae with 11 linear
segments in %; 10 segments in &, with 9th large
and 10th very small; no constriction between 1st and 2nd
abdominal segments; fore wing with no enclosed anal cell; hind wing without
cross-veins r-m or m-cu (uncertain British group)
.............. (Orussoidea) Orussidae <Overview>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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8b. Antennae with 16-30
segments, filiform or slightly clavate; slight constriction between 1st and 2nd abdominal
segments; fore wing with closed anal cell; hind wing with cross veins r-m
and m-cu present ............... (Cephoidea) Cephidae (Details)
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9a. Antennae with 3
segments, 3rd very long; fore wing with cross vein 2r absent
.............. (Tenthredinoidea) Argidae (Details)
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9b. Antennae with 4
segments, 3rd very long, 4th
minute; fore wing with cross vein 2r present,
cell IM of a peculiar pear shape
.............. (Tenthredinoidea)
<Overview>; <Adults> Blasticotomidae
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9c. Antennae with 4-5 segments
followed by a very strongly marked club which may show traces of
segmentation; sides of abdomen carinate; fore wing with cross vein 2r present
.......... Tenthredinoidea) Cimbicidae (Details)
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9d. Antennae typically with 9
segments, rarely with as few as 7 or with 10-15; sides of
abdomen not carinate; fore wing often with cross vein 2r present
........... .(Tenthredinoidea) Tenthredinidae <Overview>;
<Adults> (Details)
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9e. Antennae with 13 or more
segments, serrate in &,
comb-like in %; fore wing with cross vein 2r absent
............ (Tenthredinoidea) Diprionidae (Details)
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10a. Wings fully developed
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10b. Wings very much reduced or absent
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11a. Hind wings without anal or vannal
lobe, except in Evaniidae, in which the abdomen is attached at the top of
the propodeum, in most Braconidae, Microgasterinae, in which antennae have 18 segments
and some Proctotrupidae, in which the fore wing venation is characteristic;
costa of hind wing not or imperfectly developed except (apparently) in some
Evanioidea and Proctotrupoidea; hind femur with a trochantellus (= an
apparent 2nd segment to trochanter which is part of femur) except in some
Cynipoids, Chalcidoids and Proctotrupoids; last visible tergite and
sternite of & not apposed except in Proctotrupoidea, some
Cynipoidea and, less distinctly, Trigonaloidea; ovipositor, which is often
elongated, is partly exposed, at least in ventral view, except in Evaniidae,
most Cynipoidea and most Proctotrupoidea; in the Trigonalidae the
ovipositor is reduced; tergite 8 fully
exposed and resembling 7 except
in a few Braconidae and Proctotrupoidea ............ Apocrita -- Parasitica (Details)
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11b. Hind wing with an anal or vannal lobe,
except in Formicidae, in which the segment of the abdomen formes a scale or
node and in % Mutillidae which have a felt line on the 2nd
abdominal tergite and in the Vespinae; the lobe is defined only by a small
excision in the Chrysididae and Cleptidae; costal vein of hind wing often
developed; hind femur without a trochantellus though in a few groups the
base of femur may be ringed by a sulcus; last visible tergite and sternite
of & apposed, except in Ceropales
(Pompilidae) and a few parasitic bees (e.g., Melecta);
ovipositor (sting) entirely hidden, tergite 8
retracted and partly desclerotized (except Dryinidae); antennae with 13 segments
or less .............. Apocrita-- Aculeata (Details)
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12a. Abdomen attached near top of
propodeum; fore wing with costal cell wide, pterostigma present; hind wing
with a strong vein along its fore margin and with no enclosed cells
(sometimes one such cell in non-British species); abdomen with spiracles on
segments 1 & 8, pygostyles present; antennae
with 13-14 segments ............. (Evanioidea) <Overview> (Details)
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12b. Abdomen normally attached near bottom
of propodeum (if attached about 1/2 way up
the propodeum (= Cenocaelius and Paxylomma of
Braconidae), the costal cell in fore wing is obliterated
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13a. Fore wing with pterostigma and
antennae usually with more than 16
segments, scape short (except Streblocera). Hind wing with at least 2 enclosed
cells except Neorhacodes
(Ichneumonidae, Fig. A) and some Braconidae, which have the costa and
radius fused in fore wing up to the pterostigma and sometimes ca. 20 antennal
segments or (Paxylomma) the
first 2 segments of abdomen much longer than broad and the hind
basitarsus thickened; trochantellus distinct, at least on hind leg;
spiracles on abdominal segments 1-8, or Braconidae, Sigalphinae (Chelonus, etc.) 1-6;
pygostyles present
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13b. Antennae with not more than 16 segments;
fore wing with no true pterostigma except in Heloridae and Proctotrupidae,
in which the costal cell is wide, and the Ceraphronidae, in which the
axillae are on the same level as the central part of the scutellum;
venation generally reduced; hind wing with no enclosed cells except in some
Diapriidae and Ibaliidae, in which either the head is greatly produced
forwards or the costal cell of the fore wing is wide; trochantellus often
indistinct or absent; in && tergites
9 & 10 indistinguishably fused, except
in some Proctotrupidae
and Ceraphronidae
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14a. Fore wing with costal cell wide, Rs + M complete and cross veins
3r-m, 2r-m, Rs
and 2m-cu present; tarsi with
plantar lobes; last visible tergite and sternite almost apposed, ovipositor
reduced and hidden, abdominal tergite 9 in &&
retracted with the central part membranous; tergite 10 not
separately developed; mandibles with 4 large
teeth on the right, 3 on the left one; antennae with
more than 20 segments in the one British species) ........... (Trigonaloidea)
Trigonalidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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14b. Fore wing with costal cell almost or
quite obliterated, at least one of cross-veins 3r-m, 2r-m, Rs
and 2m-cu absent; tarsi without
plantar lobes; last visible tergite and sternite of & abdomen
not clearly apposed, ovipositor usually clearly exserted and abdominal
tergite 9 often not retracted .............. (Ichneumonoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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15a. Either fore wing with well-developed
costa or the edge of abdomen sharp and curved downwards, or head much produced
forwards and antennae inserted on shelf-like process; pronotum either
obtuse below but with a narrow posteroventral process which meets its
opposite from the other side beneath the fore coxae, or pronotum is fully
coadapted to mesepisternum; abdomen rarely compressed, spiracles on
abdominal segments 1, 1 & 8, or 1-6; last
visible tergite and sternite of & apposed,
pygostyles present; ovipositor hidden except in Proctotrupidae, in which it
projects inside the enlarged pygostyles; antennal scape usually long, if
short then a pterostigma present ............. (Proctotrupoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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15b. Fore wing with no pterostigma;
proximal part of costa not developed, except weakly in Ibaliidae, which
have a short antennal scape; abdomen with spiracles on segments 1 & 8, last
visible tergite and sternite of & not
apposed; ovipositor exposed, at least below, except in most Cynipoidea in
which abdomen is usually compressed laterally
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16a. Pronotum lateroventrally pointed and
closely coadapted to mesepisternum, posteriorly extending back to tegulae;
fore wing with cell R-1 mostly
complete; antennae with scape short and with 12-16 segments;
trochantellus usually not developed; abdomen in & with
tergite 9 retracted and desclerotized; abdomen usually compressed
laterally, pygostyles absent ............. (Cynipoidea) <Overview> (Details) [See Subfamilies]
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16b. Pronotum lateroventrally rounded, not
closely coadapted to mesepisternum, posteriorly usually distinctly
separated from tegulae; fore wing with cell R-1 not
defined by proper veins or absent; antennal scape usually long (not clearly
so in some Mymaridae); antennae with 13 segments
or less; trochantellus often present; abdomen rarely compressed, with
pygostyles in & central portion of tergite 9 exposed
and pigmented .......... (Chalcidoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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17a. Hind wing with anal lobe; fore wing
not longitudinally folded, cross vein 2m-cu and 2r-m absent; antennae
inserted well above clypeus, with 13
segments; abdomen short,
compressed, with a long, abrupt petiole and a short, often hidden,
ovipositor; propleura not meeting dorsally and forming a neck ............
(Evanioidea) Evaniidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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17b. Hind wing with no anal lobe; antennae
with 13 segments in %, 14 in &; abdomen
long, gradually clavate, ovipositor exserted, often long; propleura meeting
above and forming a neck
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18a. Fore wing not longitudinally folded,
with cross veins 2m-cu and 2r-m present;
antennae inserted just above clypeus ............... (Evanioidea) Aulacidae <Habits>;
<Adults> (Details)
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19a. Fore wing with cross vein 2m-cu almost
invariably present; Rs+M interrupted; hind wing with cross vein r-m
meeting Rs after that vein leaves Sc+R (including Agriotypus and Neorhacodes; the
latter would key to the Braconidae but the fore wing is characteristic) ...............
(Ichneumonoidea) Ichneumonidae <Habits>; <Adults-1> &
<Adults-2> & <Adults-3>; &
<Juveniles>
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19b. Fore wing without cross vein 2m-cu; hind
wing with cross vein r-m
meeting Sc+R before the separation of Rs (includes Alysiinae,
Aphidiinae and Paxylommatinae) .......... (Ichneumonoidea) Braconidae <Habits>;
<Adults-1> & <Adults-2> &
<Adults-3>
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20a. Sides of abdomen acute or distinctly
margined; antennae with not more than 12 segments;
front tibia with one spur ........... (Proctotrupoidea) Scelionidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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20b. Sides of abdomen rounded of if, in
some Belytinae, more acute, the antennae have 14-15 segments
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21b. Antennae with 11 or 12
segments, or with 7-8 and an
unsegmented club; if with 10, stigmal
vein present ........... (Proctotrupoidea)
Scelionidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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22a. Fore tibia with 2 spurs;
antennae inserted very low down, at clypeal margin, with 9-11
segments, scape very long; radial cell in fore wing not enclosed,
pterostigma sometimes developed; scutellum usually with a frenum and with
axillae in same plane as main surface ............... (Ceraphronoidea) <Overivew> (Details)
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22b. Front tibia with one spur; antennae
inserted near middle of face, with 11-15
segments, scape usually short; radial cell in fore wing normally closed;
scutellum without a frenum and axillae not in same plane as main surface
............. (Proctotrupoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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23a. Tibial spurs 2, 1, 2; all spurs
comb-like; large one of fore tibia not 2-forked;
antennae with 9-10 segments in && and 10-11 in %%;
abdominal petiole visible as a short ring, tergite 6 with
oval patch of dense reticulation ............. (Ceraphronoidea) Ceraphronidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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23b. Tibial spurs 2, 2, 2; the
large, comb-like one of fore tibia, forked; antennae with 11 segments
in both sexes; abdominal petiole shorter, usually hidden by the next
segment, tergite 6 without a patch of dense
reticulation ............. (Ceraphronoidea) Megaspilidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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24a. Fore wing with no true pterostigma, though the parastigma is sometimes
thickened or else the abdomen is long petiolate; antennae with 11-15 segments
inserted far above clypeus on a
frontal shelf or strong prominence [except in Ismarus in which
they are inserted normally at about the middle of face, but this genus has
venation of forewing much as in Fig. A and an enclosed cell in the hind
wing] ............. (Proctotrupoidea)
Diapriidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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24b. Fore wing with a pterostigma; antennae
not inserted on a frontal shelf, usually nearer clypeus or at middle of
face
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25b. Antennae with 13
segments, inserted at middle of face, scape short; fore wing with a closed,
normally very small, radial cell; ovipositor long ...........
(Proctotrupoidea) Proctotrupidae (= Serphidae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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26a. Larger species, cell R-1 closed in
fore wing and 9X as long as broad; hind basitarsus 2X as long
as remaining segments together; largest segment of abdomen one of 4-6, two or
more small tergal plates preceding the large one .........
(Cynipoidea) Ibaliidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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26b. Smaller species, cell R-1 not
always fully closed, less elongated; hind basitarsus normal; largest
segment of abdomen 2 or 3, or
these fused, at most one small tergal plate preceding the large one
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27a. Rs+M, when present in fore wing,
directed towards M+Cu rather than Sc+R; if the 2nd or 3rd
tergites are long and form half the abdomen, the scutellum has an apical
cup-like depression; abdomen sometimes long petiolate (Includes Eucoilinae
& Anacharitinae) ............... (Cynipoidea) Figitidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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27b. Rs+M, when present in fore
wing, directed towards the mid point between M+Cu and Sc+R; 2nd or 2nd & 3rd
tergites usually the largest and forming 1/2 of
abdomen, which is never long petiolate
(includes Charipinae)............ (Cynipoidea) Cynipidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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28a. Hind wings linear, base forming a
stalk, wings with long fringes; ovipositor sometimes issuing almost at tip
of abdomen; antennae without annelli (includes Mymaromminae) ............
(Chalcidoidea) Mymaridae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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28b. Not as previously described
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29a. Axillae advanced strongly in front of
anterior margin of scutellum and usually in front of tegulae; tarsi usually
with 3-4 segments
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29b. Axillae not or little advanced in
front of anterior margin of scutellum; tarsi with 5
segments.
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30a. Hind coxa much enlarged, hind femur
compressed; tarsi with 4
segments; marginal wing vein long. ............. (Chalcidoidea) Elasmidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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30b. Hind coxa not enlarged
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31b. Mid coxa lying well behind the mid
line of mesopleuron, with no groove on the underside of the thorax
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32a. Tarsi usually with 4 segments
but with 5 in most Aphelininae and a few females of other groups; fore
wing narrower, pubescence not in rows or lines ............
(Chalcidoidea) Eulophidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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32b. Tarsi with 3
segments; fore wing very broad, pubescence usually in rows or lines, marginal
and stigmal veins forming a single curve ........... (Chalcidoidea) Trichogrammatidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniiles>
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33a. Mesepisternum little sculptured, large
and almost completely covering the mesepimeron (except in some %
Eupelmidae); mid tibial spur usually enlarged (spur enlarged in the above % which
have a short pronotum)
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33b. Mesepisternum not enlarged, of about
the same width as the mesepimeron; mid tibial spur rarely longer than the
bigger hind tibial one (except in some Cleonyminae which have a long
pronotum)
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34a. Mesonotum in && with
center of scutum depressed or flat, notauli (= two grooves emanating from front
margin of scutum) impressed at least anteriorly and usually long; males
with scutum usually convex and notauli often much shorter but in them the
mesepisternum is not enlarged; marginal vein of fore wing long
.............. (Chalcidoidea) Eupelmidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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34b. Mesoscutum somewhat convex, notauli not more than feebly
indicated; mesepimeron enlarged; marginal vein in fore wing as long as
submarginal; scutellum transversely linear; mid tibia with long bristles
............. (Chalcidoidea) Encyrtidae & Signiphoridae (=
Thysanidae)
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35a. Mandibles sickle-shaped, usually with 1-2 inner teeth;
thorax very convex, scutellum usually produced backwards; abdomen
compressed, usually with a long petiole (uncertain British group)
............ (Chalcidoidea) Eucharitidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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35b. Mandibles stout, with 3-4 teeth at
apex; thorax rarely convex
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36a. Hind coxa large, 2-3X longer
than front one
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36b. Hind coxa not so conspicuously longer
than front one
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37b. Hind femur with at most one tooth
beneath
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38a. Notauli present; abdomen not coarsely punctured,
ovipositor usually long and exserted ........... (Chalcidoidea) Torymidae (except Megastigminae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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38b. Notauli very faint or absent; abdomen usually
with rows of coarse punctures, ovipositor short .............
(Chalcidoidea) Ormyridae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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39a. Pronotum short, transversely linear,
or elongated but much narrowed in front; mesoscutum usually reticulate; usually
metallic insects (including Miscogasterinae, Spalangiinae and Cleonyminae;
the elongated pronotum and flattened dorsal side of abdomen in the last
named subfamily are sometimes regarded as family characters) .............
Chalcidoidea) Pteromalidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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39b. Pronotum wide, quadrate, scarcely
narrower than mesoscutum, which is often coarsely punctured
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40a. Stigmal vein thickened into a very
large knob, if not thickened, still with ovipositor elongated; otherwise
rather like Eurytomidae ............. (Chalcidoidea) Torymidae (Megastigminae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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40b. Stigmal vein not so thickened;
ovipositor short
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41a. Abdomen in %% long
petiolate and antennae somewhat verticillate; abdomen in && rounded
or ovate, somewhat compressed, 2nd
tergite never very large, last sternite usually produced; black or
yellowish insects .............. (Chalcidoidea) Eurytomidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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41b. Abdomen small,
subtriangular, short petiolate, 2nd or
fused 2nd and 3rd tergites covering most of its
surface; antennae not verticillate; thorax large but short; somewhat
metallic insects ...........
(Chalcidoidea) Perilampidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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42a. Hind wings with no cells enclosed by
veins; pronotum obtuse below and not closely coadapted to mesepisternum;
abdominal spiracles on segments 1-7 or 1-8
(Dryinidae); both sexes have same number of antennal segments
.............. Chrysidoidea (= Bethyloidea) <Overview> (Details)
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42b. Hind wing with one or more cells
enclosed by veins; abdominal spiracles on segments 1-8; nearly
always more antennal segments in than in previous
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43a. Hind wing without an anal lobe and
first segment of abdomen forming a scale or node, or the first 2 segments
nodiform and the 2nd segment deeply separated from
the third both above and below ............ Vespoidea (= Formicoidea) Formicidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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43b. Hind wings with an anal lobe except in
Mutillidae, in which there is a felt line
at the side of the 2nd
abdominal segment; 1st segment of abdomen not
scale-like; if nodiform, then the next segment is closely co adapted to the
3rd
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44a. Pronotum produced back to or almost to
the tegulae with no conspicuous lobe concealing the anterior thoracic
spiracle
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44b. Pronotum not produced back to the
tegulae but usually forming at a lower level a conspicuous lobe over the anterior
thoracic spiracle
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45a. Fore wing usually (always in British species) longitudinally folded in
repose, cell M+Rs+M long, longer than cell M; glossa and paraglossa
ending in pigmented pads; eyes emarginate .......... (Vespoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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45b. Fore wing not longitudinally folded in
repose, cell M+Rs+M shorter; glossa and paraglossa without pads;
eyes usually not emarginate
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46a. Mandibles long, crossing one another when
at rest; mid tibia with one spur; tarsal claws 2-forked;
hind wing with an anal lobe; solitary species .............
(Vespoidea) Eumenidae <Habits>; <Adults>
& <Juveniles>
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46b. Mandibles short
and broad, lying transversely, one above the other; mid tibia with 2 spurs; tarsal
claws simple; hind wing (in Vespinae) with no anal lobe; social species
........... (Vespoidea) Vespidae <Habits>; <Adults>
& <Juveniles>
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47a. Mesopleuron divided obliquely by a
suture running from near upper posterior corner, downwards and forwards; pronotum
obtuse below and loosely overlapping mesopleuron; legs long, hind femur
especially so .......... (Pompiloidea)
Pompilidae (= Psammocharidae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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47b. Mesopleuron not so
divided; pronotum usually acute below (not in Tiphia) and coadapted
to mesopleuron; legs usually short and stout ............ (Scolioidea) <Overview>]
[formerly (Pompiloidea) <Overview>]
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48b. Pubescence, at least in part (e.g.,
near anterior thoracic spiracles), plumose or branched; hind tarsi usually somewhat
widened and often densely pubescent ............ (Apoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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49a. Antennae with 10 segments
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49b. Antennae with 12-13 segments
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50a. Antennae not inserted on a prominence
but near to dorsal margin of clypeus; female with chelate fore tarsi (except Aphelopus),
sometimes apterous or brachypterous ........... (Bethyloidea) Dryinidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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50b. Antennae inserted on a prominence high
above clypeus; female apterous; male winged with relatively complete
venation ............ (Bethyloidea)
Embolemidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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51a. Abdomen with 7 exposed
segments; rarely metallic insects (in Britain); pronotum usually parallel-sided;
head somewhat prognathous ............ (Bethyloidea) Bethylidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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51b. Abdomen with 3-5 exposed
segments; largely metallic insects (always in British species); head
orthognathous; antennae with 13 segments
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52a. Abdomen with 3 exposed
segments, venter concave; pronotum short but wide; propodeum normally with
sharp lateral keels or teeth; sculpture usually coarse .............
(Bethyloidea) Chrysididae (Chrysidinae) <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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52b. Abdomen with 4-5 exposed segments,
venter slightly convex; pronotum elongated, somewhat narrowed anteriorly;
sculpture finer; not metallic insects
........... (Bethyloidea) Chrysididae (Cleptinae) <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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53a. Second abdominal tergite with lateral
felt lines; female apterous; male hind wing without anal lobe (forewing in
Fig. B); body usually well punctured and with conspicuous patches of
pubescence ............ (Tiphioidea) [Now in Vespoidea] Mutillidae
(= now in Sapygidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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53b. Second abdominal tergite without lateral
felt lines; male hind wings with an anal lobe and body often smooth,
shining and nearly bare
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54a. First and 2nd
abdominal tergites not separated by a constriction, 1st and 2nd
sternites with only a feeble constriction between them; mesosternum simple;
female winged ............ (Tiphioidea)
[Now in Vespoidea] Sapygidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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54b. First and 2nd
abdominal segments separated by a deep constriction and/or the mesosternum with 2 laminae which
overlie or project between the bases of the mid coxae; female often
apterous (includes Methochinae & Myrmosinae) .............
(Tiphioidea) [Now in Vespoidea] Tiphiidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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55a. Antennal socket connected with
fronto-clypeal suture by 2 sutures;
glossa acute, labial palpi with segments equal or the first alone, elongated
and flattened; mid coxa externally much shorter than distance from its
summit to posterior wing base (as in Fig. B); females and many males with a
pygidial area ............. (Apoidea)
Andrenidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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55b. Antennal socket connected with fronto-clypeal
suture by a single suture; labial palpi variable but rarely with first
segment alone elongated
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56a. Fore wing with first sector of M
curved; labial mentum and submentum virtually absent; labial palpi usually with
all segments similar; mesepisternum usually with a complete anterior
oblique suture; metanotum horizontal; mid coxa externally much shorter than
distance from its summit to posterior wing base ......... (Apoidea) Halictidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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56b. Fore wing with first sector of M
straight; labial mentum and submentum present
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57a. Glossa bilobed; labial submentum
elongated, not -V-shaped; anterior oblique suture present on mesepisternum;
mid coxa externally much shorter than distance from its summit to posterior
wing base .............
(Apoidea) Colletidae (= Hylaeidae) <Habits>;
<Adults>
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57b. Glossa acute, often elongated; labial
submentum V-shaped; anterior oblique suture very rarely complete, usually
absent
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58a. Labial palpi with segments similar and
cylindrical; galea short; mid coxa, except in Macropis, much shorter
than distance from its summit to posterior wing base ...........
(Apoidea) Melittidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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58b. Labial palpi with first two segments
elongated and sheathing; galea very elongate; mid coxa, except in a few
parasitic Apidae, 2/3rds as
long as distance from its summit to posterior wing base
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59a. Labrum longer than broad and widened
to a broad articulation with clypeus; subantennal suture at outer edge of socket;
fore wing with two submarginal cells, usually of about the same length;
last abdominal tergite nearly always without a pygidial area; scopa (=
dense brush of hairs), when present, on abdominal sternites ............
(Apoidea) Megachilidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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59b. Labrum usually broader than long; if
not, narrowed basally to a short articulation with clypeus; subantennal
suture at inner edge of socket; fore wing usually with 3, rarely
with 2 or 2 submarginal cells; if 2, the
second is usually much shorter than first; pygidial area often present;
scopa, when present, on hind legs, rarely also on abdominal sternites
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60a. Scopa of female forming a pollen
basket on the hind tibia and inner apical margin of tibia with a comb
(except in Psithyrus); pygidial plate absent; social species .............
(Apoidea) Apidae <Habits>; <Adults>
& <Juveniles>
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60b. Scopa of female not forming a pollen
basket on the hind tibia which has no apical comb
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61a. Pygidial plate nearly always present
in && and usually in %%; clypeus
protruberant, lateral portions seen from below bent posteriorly and lying parallel
to long axis; fore coxa a little broader than long ............
(Apoidea) Anthophoridae (= Nomadidae) <Habits>; <Adults>
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61b. Pygidial plate
absent; clypeus not protruberant, lateral portions seen from beneath
transverse rather than longitudinal; fore coxa transverse .......
(Apoidea) Anthophoridae (=
Xylocopidae) (= Nomadidae) <Habits>; <Adults>
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62a. Abdominal sternites very membranous,
tending to dry into a longitudinal fold; antennae often multiarticulate
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62b. Abdominal sternites fully sclerotized
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63a. Abdomen with tergites 2 & 3 fused, not
overlapping, its petiole usually broad, if narrow then its dorsal surface
is straight in profile (either a circular space between clypeus and
mandible, as in Fig. A, or mandibles exodont as in Fig. B); tegulae present
.... (Ichneumonoidea) Braconidae <Habits>;
<Adults-1> & <Adults-2> &
<Adults-3> & <Juveniles>
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63b. Abdomen with
tergites 2 & 3 usually separate and
overlapping; if fused, the abdomen is long petiolate and the dorsal surface
of the petiole is curved in profile; no circular space between clypeus and
mandibles, latter not exodont; tegulae often absent .......
(Ichneumonoidea) Ichneumonidae <Habits>; <Adults-1> &
<Adults-2> & Adults-3>; & <Juveniles>
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64a. First or 1st and 2nd segments
of abdomen scale-like or nodiform, distinctly separated from posterior part
of abdomen .............. (Formicoidea)
Formicidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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64b. Abdominal petiole not scale-like nor
composed of 2 nodiform segments
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65a. Head pear-shaped, long axis vertical,
the 10-segmented antennae, which are as long as whole body, arise
from a prominence; abdomen not long petiolate; females ...........
(Bethyloidea) Embolemidae <Habits>;
<Adults>
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65b. Head formed differently or otherwise
not as previous
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66a. Pronotum does not extend back to the
tegulae; tegulae absent in some Trichogrammatidae, but these have only 3 tarsal
segments; pronotum not coadapted to the mesepisternum which has a distinct
postspiracular sclerite ......... (Chalcidoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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66b. Pronotum extends back to tegulae if
these are present; tarsi always with 5 segments;
postspiracular sclerite not distinctly developed
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67a. Antennae with 10 segments
or less
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67b. Antennae with >10 segments
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68a. Females with chelate fore tarsi and 10 antennal
segments; pronotum not coadapted to mesepisternum .............
(Bethyloidea) Dryinidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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68b. Fore tarsi not chelate; pronotum
somewhat distinctly coadapted to mesosternum
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69a. Abdomen compressed laterally,
conspicuously deeper than broad, integument (except for base) mostly smooth
and shining ........ (Cynipoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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69b. Abdomen not compressed laterally;
integument often more sculptured and pubescent
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70a. Head somewhat markedly longer than broad,
usually clearly prognathous; thoracic sutures usually more complete
............. Chrysidoidea (= Bethyloidea)
Bethylidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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70b. Head somewhat less globular or at
least orthognathous
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71a. Antennae not with 12 segments
or, if with 12, they arise from a prominence and the abdomen is long
petiolate or its sides are acutely margined
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71b. Females: antennae with 12 segments
and other characters different than previous ............ (Scolioidea)
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72a. Pronotum fused to mesonotum; abdominal
tergite 2 with a lateral felt line ............. (Tiphioidea) [Now in Vespoidea] Mutillidae (now with Sapygidae) <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>]
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72b. Pronotum separate from mesonotum;
abdominal tergite 2 without a lateral felt line
........... (Tiphioidea) [Now in
Vespoidea] Tiphiidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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REFERENCES:
Benson,
R. B. 1951-1958. Hymenoptera, Symphyta.
handbk. Ident. Brit. Insects 6 (2a, b & c).
Borror,
D. J. & D. M. DeLong. 1964. An Introduction to the Study of Insects. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, NY. 819 p.
Borror,
D. J., G. A. Triplehorn & N. F. Johnson.
1989. An Introduction to the
Study of Insects, 6th ed. Saunders Publ. Co., Phila. 875 p.
Clausen,
C. P. 1940. Entomophagous Insects.
McGraw-Hill Book Co., NY. 688 p. [reprinted 1962 by Hafner Publ. Co., NY.].
Gauld, I.
& B. Bolton. 1988. The Hymenoptera.
British Mus. (Nat. Hist.), Oxford Univ. Press., NY. 332 p.
Hill, C.
C. 1923. Platygaster vernalis Myers, an important parasite
of the Hessian fly. J. Agr. Res. 25: 31-42.
Richards,
O. W. 1977. Hymenoptera Introduction and Key to Families, 2nd ed. Roy Ent. Soc., London. 100 p.
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