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HYMENOPTERA, Aphidiinae:
Braconidae (Ichneumonoidea) -- <Images> & <Juveniles> Aphidiinae Description & Statistics The Aphidiinae are a subfamily of parasitic wasps that have aphids as their
hosts. The larva of Praon sp. exits from the hollowed shell of the
aphid to pupate in a cocoon, but most Aphidiinae pupate inside the dead
aphid. Some species have been
deployed for biological control of aphids Although they have been considered
as a separate family, the Aphidiinae, they are now grouped with the
Braconidae. Their relationship to
other braconid subfamilies is not presently known. Aphidiinae is a cosmopolitan subfamily
with about 40 genera and 808 species known as of 2010. Diagnostic characters are their filiform
antennae that is rarely moniliform; a transverse clypeus with long setae; the
gaster is rounded lanceolate and the terga 2 & 3 not fused. There is one recurrent vein in the
forewing. Females are mostly lighter
in color than males. Aphidiinae are primary, solitary endoparasitoids of aphids. Adults oviposit in aphid nymphs where the
parasitoids develop, pupating inside the aphid mummy or beneath it. Aphidiids have been deployed in biological
pest control. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = References: Please refer
to <biology.ref.htm>, [Additional
references may be found at: MELVYL
Library] Belshaw, R. & D. L. J. Quicke. 1997. A Molecular Phylogeny of the
Aphidiinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and
Evolution 7(3): 281-293. Marsh, P.
1971. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer.
64: 841-50. Schlinger, I. & J. Hall. 1960.
Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 53:
404-15. Shi, Min & Xue-Xin Chen. 2005. Molecular phylogeny of the Aphidiinae
(Hymenoptera: Braconidae) based on DNA sequences of 16S rRNA, 18S rDNA and
ATPase 6 genes. Eur. J. Entomol. 102: 133-138. Stary,
P. 1960. Acta Ent. Soc. Cech. 57:
238-52. Stary,
P. 1970. Biology of Aphid
Parasites with Respect to Integrated Control. Junk Publ., The Hague, Netherlands. 643 p. |