Key to Superfamilies & Families of Hymenoptera
Palearctic Area
(Email Contacts)
(Derived fr. Boucek, 1988; Clausen, 1923; Crawford, 1909;
Gauld & Bolton, 1988; Hill, 1923; Masner & Dessart, 1967;
Noyes & Valentine, 1989; Riek, 1970 & Yoshimoto, 1984 by
E. F. Legner)
[Please refer to <Guide> for additional illustrations & <Hymenoptera> for order details]
Not all illustrations are of species found in the Palearctic
area.
Placement in families may differ among specialists, but family
names remain constant.
Navigate directly to:
References
1a. Body without a marked
constriction between the 1st and 2nd abdominal segments, resulting in abdomen being broadly
joined to thorax; fully winged (= macropterous) insects, fore wing with an
enclosed anal cell and/or rounded projections on metanotum present; hind
wing usually with at least 3 closed cells; (Hymenoptera wing
venation ............. (SYMPHYTA) <General
Characteristics>
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1b. Body with constriction
between 1st and 2nd abdominal segments
(which may be secondarily obscured in some groups, giving the
appearance of abdomen almost always being narrowly joined to thorax, but
these have no enclosed cells in fore wing); fully winged insects, wings
nonfunctional and greatly reduced (= brachypterous) or absent, if fully
winged then fore wing without enclosed anal cell; rounded projections on
metanotum not present; ovipositor without a sting. ........ .( APOCRITA
.......... Parasitica) (Details)
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1c. Same as previous (1b) except that ovipositor not used for egg-laying but rather
developed into a weapon for injecting venom and used for hunting, defense
and aggression (sting); eggs emitted from apical gastral segments, at base
of sting ......... (APOCRITA -......- Aculeata) (Details)
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SYMPHYTA (Chalastogastra)--sawflies
& horntails
(Sawflies, mostly phytophagous) <General Characteristics>
2b. Antennae inserted
on anterior side of head well above mouth; fore wing with enclosed anal
cell distinct
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3a. Fore wing with Rs
branched; antennae highly modified with 3rd
segment long and stout, followed by a filament of 9 or more slender segments
......... (Xyeloidea) Xyelidae (Details)
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3b. Fore wing with Rs
unbranched; antennae various, never with both the 3rd segment long and stout and the remaining flagellar segments
forming a slender filament
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4a. Fore tibia with
either a single apical spur, or with 2 very
unequal spurs, the shorter of which is almost a vestige
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4b. Fore tibia with 2 well-developed, subequal apical spurs
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5a. Cenchri absent;
abdomen terminally laterally compressed, anteriorly slightly constricted
between 1st and 2nd segments ..... (Cephoidea) Cephidae (Details)
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5b. Cenchri present;
abdomen cylindrical or depressed, not constricted anteriorly ............(Siricoidea) (Details)
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6a. Pronotum in dorsal
view with hind margin somewhat straight; fore wing with vein 2r-rs present; labrum concealed; mid
and hind tibiae with preapical spurs and antennae with 18 or more segments ........
(Megalodontoidea) Megalodontidae & Pamphiliidae (Details)
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6b. Pronotum in dorsal
view with hind margin strongly bowed, or if weakly bowed then fore wing
with 2r-rs absent; vein 2r-rs otherwise present or absent;
labrum exposed; mid and hind tibiae without preapical spurs, or if such
spurs present, then antennae with fewer than 10 segments; antennae otherwise with 3-32 segments, often with 9 or less .............. (Tenthredinoidea) <Overview>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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7a. Segment 1 of abdomen forms a node or scale, or first 2 segments nodiform, so segment 2 is
deeply separated (both dorsally and ventrally) from segments 1 & 3
............ (Vespoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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7b. Segment 1 of abdomen not scale-like, if rarely slightly nodiform then
with segment 2 closely adapted to segment 3
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8a. Segment 1 of abdomen inserted high up on propodeum so gab tween
propodeal foramen and insertion of hind coxa is about equal to or greater
than gap between foramen and hind margin of metanotum
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8b. Segment 1 of abdomen inserted low down on propodeum so gap between
propodeal foramen and insertion of hind coxa is very much less than gap
between foramen and hind margin of metanotum.
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APOCRITA
Parasitica - Non-Stinging Hymenoptera
(Details)
9b. Antennae with 18 or more segments; fore wing with costal cell obliterated,
veins C, Sc, R, and Rs fused between wing base
and pterostigma ............ (Ichneumonoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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10a. Fully winged
insects
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10b. Brachypterous or wingless insects
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11a. Fore wing with one
enclosed cell, or without any enclosed cells
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11b. Fore wing with 2 or more cells clearly delineated by veins
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12a. Fore wing with
membrane reticulate (like a network); hind wing vestigial, with a forked
apex; segments 1 & 2 of abdomen cylindrical, slender, forming a 2-segmented petiole; body length <1 mm ............... (Chalcidoidea) (part)
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12b. Fore wing membrane
not reticulate; hind wing fully developed though often very narrow, but
never with a forked apex; abdomen with at most 1st segment cylindrical and slender so petiole, if present, has
one segment
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13b. Hind wing not stalked
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14a. Alitrunk (=
mesosoma) with pronotum not extending back to tegulae; wings without
enclosed cells ............... (Chalcidoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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14b. Alitrunk with
pronotum extending back to almost touch tegulae; wings with or without
closed cells
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15a. Antennae inserted
in center of face, their sockets separated from the clypeus by more than 2X their own diam.
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15b. Antennae inserted
on face close to clypeus, their sockets separated from clypeus by about
their own diam. or less
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16a. Antennae not
inserted on a promonotory or "shelf," those of && without a very elongated scape;
fore wing venation characteristic, with a fairly large radial cell, that is
either open anteriorly, or the only enclosed cells in the wing; costal cell
broad, anteriorly open, posteriorly bordered by a vein from which arises a
long stub of Rs&M ................ (Cynipoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details) [See Subfamilies]
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16b. Antennae inserted
on facial promontory or "shelf," those of && geniculate (elbow-shaped), scape
more than 3X as long as wide; fore wing
without venation, or with a single linear vein, without a discernible
radial cell, or if one is indicated then it is not defined distally and
costal cell is only enclosed cell; if present, vein delineating costal cell
posteriorly is without a stub of Rs&M ..... (Proctotrupoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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17a. Head distinctly
prognathous (= long axis of head continuing the line of the long axis of
the body); tergite 1 of abdomen as long as following
tergites, separated from sternite, posteriorly overlapping tergite 2 ..... (Chrysidoidea) (part)
<Overview> (Details)
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17b. Head hypognathous
(= long axis at right angles to long axis of body); tergite 1 of abdomen shorter than following apparent tergite (which may
be a syntergite), or the two fused and tergite 1 visible as a ridge anterior rim of the first apparent tergite;
tergite 1 usually fused with sternite to
form a ring at anterior end of abdomen
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18a. Fore wing with vein
along anterior martin, this vein distally with a curved stigmal branch,
sometimes with a large pterostigma; fore tibia with 2 spurs ............ (Ceraphronoidea) (part) <Overivew> (Details)
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18b. Fore wing without
any venation, or with a short vein that does not reach to level of middle
of wing, or if with a long vein, then this is proximally separated from
anterior margin of wing, and its stigmal branch is almost straight;
pterostigma not present; fore tibia with a single spur .............. (Proctotrupoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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19b. Tarsi without
plantar lobes, or if vestiges present then antennae with fewer than 14 segments; antennae otherwise with various numbers of segments,
if more than 14 then fore wing with 7 or fewer enclosed cells; fore wing otherwise with 1-10 enclosed cells
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20a. Fore wing with
costal cell obliterated, veins C, Sc, R and Rs
fused or contiguous from wing base to pterostigma; hind wing without
distinct anal lobe; antennae usually with 16 or more
segments (rarely with as few as 12), and
with a small anellus somewhat differentiated from proximal end of 1st flagellar segment ..... (Ichneumonoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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20b. Fore wing with
costal cell usually visible, though sometimes not bordered anteriorly by a
vein, rarely when costal cell is virtually obliterated then a distinct anal
lobe present on hind wing; anal lobe otherwise present or absent; antennae
with 10-15
segments, without a small anellus differentiated from proximal end of 1st flagellar segment (except in one taxon with a broad costal
cell)
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21a. Fore wing with
costal cell open, not delineated by a vein along anterior margin of wing;
pterostigma absent; abdomen laterally compressed ....... (Cynipoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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21b. Fore wing with
costal cell enclosed, bordered anteriorly by a vein, or if this vein is
rarely absent then pterostigma is present, or costal cell is obliterated;
pterostigma otherwise present, or uncommonly, absent; abdomen cylindrical
or depressed
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22a. First abdominal
tergite short, fused with sternite to form a ring-like, highly sclerotized
segment; 2nd tergite (or syntergite) longer
than tergites 1 & 3+ combined; spiracles not present at least on 1st and apparent 2nd abdominal tergites; fore wing
usually with 2 enclosed cells (costal &
radial), rarely with up to 3 more enclosed cells (thus making
a max. of 5) ......... (Proctotrupoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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22b. First tergite of
abdomen quite long, not fused with sternite to form short ring-like
segment; 2nd tergite not longer than
tergites 1 & 3+ combined; 1st and 2nd segments of abdomen with distinct spiracles (though these
may be positioned ventrally on laterotergite); fore wing usually with 6 or more enclosed cells, rarely with 2-5 and then always with basal and
subbasal cells enclosed, costal cell usually enclosed, radial cell sometimes
not enclosed
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23a. Fore wing with
radial cell either not indicated or open distally, and without any complete
submarginal (cubital) cells; hind wing without enclosed cells .............. Chrysidoidea (= Bethyloidea) <Overview> (Details)
(part)
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23b. Fore wing with
enclosed radial cell, and with at least one enclosed cubital cell; hind
wing usually with 2-3 enclosed
cells
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24a. Pronotum with upper
hind corner widely separated from tegulae, and lower down the side with a
pronounced pronotal lobe covering mesothoracic spiracle ............... (Apoidea) <Overview> (Details)
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24b. Pronotum with
upper hind corner reaching to or close to tegula, with or without a
pronounced pronotal lobe .......... (Vespoidea) (part)
<Overview> (Details)
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25a. Antennae with 16 or more segments, somewhat filiform, unspecialized, sternites
of abdomen weakly sclerotized, tending to dry with median longitudinal fold
.............. (Ichneumonoidea) (part). <Overview> (Details)
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25b. Antennae with 15 or fewer segments, sometimes filiform and unspecialized, often
geniculate with elongated scape and clavate (club-like) distal segments;
sternites of gaster strongly sclerotized
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26b. All tarsi with 4-5 segments
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27b. Upper hind corner
of pronotum somewhat touching tegula, or with tegula absent
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28a. First segment of
abdomen somewhat less conical, not dorsally fused with tergite 2; tergites 1 & 2 with spiracles
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28b. First segment of
abdomen cylindrical or annular, or minute, indistinct, fused dorsally with
tergite 2; tergites 1 & 2 without spiracles
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29b. Antennae with 11-13 segments
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30a. Head prognathous
and dorsoventrally flattened; clypeus with a median carina extending
between antennae ....... (Chrysidoidea) (part) (=
Bethyloidea) <Overview> (Details)
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30b. Head hypognathous,
not dorsoventrally flattened; clypeus lacks a median carina that extends
between antennae ........ (Vespoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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31a. Antennae never
geniculate, the scape only slightly longer than broad, and slightly shorter
than 1st flagellar segment; abdomen
laterally compressed ...... (Cynipoidea) (part) <Overview> (Details)
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31b. Female (the most
frequently encountered brachypterous or apterous sex) with antennae
geniculate, the scape elongated, at least 2X the
length of the 1st flagellar segment; abdomen of
both sexes cylindrical or depressed
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32b. Anterior tibia with 1 apical spur
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33a. Antennal socket
separated from clypeus by its own diam. or less; 1st abdominal segment with tergite and sternite separate;
tergite 8 without spiracle; antennae with 12 or fewer segments ........ (Proctotrupoidea) (part)
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33b. Antennal socket
separated from clypeus by more than 2X its own
diam.; 1st abdominal segment with tergite
and sternite fused; tergite 8 with spiracle; antennae almost
always with 13 or more segments
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34a. Abdomen, especially
when laterally compressed; antennae with 13 or 14 segments segments; ovipositor concealed; head without
shelf-like process; cerci absent; ovipositor opening ventral (Cynipoidea) (part)
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34b. Abdomen usually
cylindrical; antennae with various numbers of segments, if with 13 or 14 segments then ovipositor exposed
or antennae mounted on a shelf-like process of the face; cerci present;
ovipositor opening terminal ............. (Proctotrupoidea) (part)
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(SYMPHYTA) (Chalastogastra)--sawflies
& horntails (Sawflies, mostly
phytophagous)
<General Characteristics>
Tenthredinoidea: <Overview>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
(Argidae,
Blasticotomidae, Cimbicidae, Diprionidae, Tenthredinidae)
35a. Antennae with 3-4 segments, segment 3 much longer than combined length of all other segments
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35b. Antennae with more
than 4 segments, segment 3 subequal to or shorter than rest of antenna.
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36b. Antennae with 4 segments, with segment 3 (which
may be forked) forming all of flagellum; fore wing with vein 2r-rs absent ............... (Tenthredinoidea) Argidae (Details)
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37b. Antennae at most
slightly clavate, usually with 9 or more
segments; lateral margins of abdomen not carinate.......
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38a. Antennae with 14-32 segments, plumose in %%, in && serrate or with basal segments
apically produced; fore wing with vein 2r-rs absent; hind wing with rs-m
and m-cu present; scutellum without a post tergite; inner fore
tibial spur simple .............. (Tenthredinoidea) Diprionidae (Details)
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38b. Antennae usually
with 9 segments, and without long
apical projections (except in %% Cladius
which has 9 segments), if with more 9 segments then with vein 2r-rs present in fore wing; hind wing
often without rs-m or m-cu; scutellum with a transverse
furrow cutting off a post tergite behind; inner fore tibial spur often
apically forked .............. (Tenthredinoidea) Tenthredinidae <Overview>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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Siricoidea:
(Siricidae, Xiphydriidae) (Details)
(APOCRITA--Parasitica)
Chalcidoidea: (Aphelinidae, Chalcididae, Elasmidae, Encyrtidae, Eucharitidae,
Eulophidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Mymaridae, Mymarommatidae, Ormyridae,
Perilampidae, Pteromalidae, Signiphoridae, Tetracampidae, Torymidae,
Trichogrammatidae)
40b. Fore wing with
membrane not reticulate, or wings reduced or absent; hind wing, if present,
without a forked apex; abdomen with at most a 1-segmented petiole
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41b. Tarsi with 4-5 segments; minute to moderate sized
insects varying from 0.3-16 mm in length, excluding ovipositor, the majority >1.3 mm in length.
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42a. Antennal toruli
situated much closer to orbits than to each other; frons with a straight,
transverse suture a little above toruli which connects with vertical
sutures adjacent to each orbit, thus forming an H; long-winged species
almost always with fore wing venation extremely reduced and not reaching
more than ca. 1/3rd of
wing length; hind wing elongated & petiolate ...... (Chalcidoidea) Mymaridae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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42b. Antennal toruli
situated as close or closer to each other than to orbits, or very nearly
so; frons at times with a transverse suture, which may be straight or
V-shaped, but never with vertical sutures which run adjacent to inner
orbits; if long-winged then with venation always reaching more than half
way along fore wing; hind wings not elongately petiolate
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43b. Hind femur not
swollen and without ventral teeth; hind tibia somewhat straight
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44a. Hind coxa
elongated, at least ca. 2X as long as fore coxa; fore wing
always fully developed and with stigmal vein short, with uncus hardly
separated from postmarginal vein; postmarginal vein well developed and
distinct; female ovipositor frequently projecting far beyond abdomen apex
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44b. Hind coxa not so
enlarged, not or hardly longer than fore coxa; fore wing if fully developed
usually with stigmal vein longer and with uncus well separated from
postmarginal vein; postmarginal vein varying from absent to long and
distinct; female ovipositor usually barely projecting beyond abdomen apex
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45b. Abdomen never with
rough sculpture, more or less smooth, with elongated cercal bristles;
prescutal sutures deeply impressed; female with exserted part of ovipositor
at least ca. 1/4 as long
as abdomen .............. (Chalcidoidea) Torymidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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46a. Tarsi with 4 segments on all legs
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46b. Hind tarsus at least with 5 segments
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47b. Marginal vein of fore wing distinct,
several times longer than broad
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48b. Antennae with not more than 5 funicle segments
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49a. Hind legs with
coxae flattened and somewhat laminar, and with outer surface of tibia with
coarse dark bristles arranged in diamond-shaped patterns; abdomen in cross
section somewhat triangular ......... (Chalcidoidea) Elasmidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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49b. Hind legs with
coxae subcylindrical, not compressed, and hind tibia without darker
bristles arranged in a conspicuous pattern; abdomen not triangular in cross
section
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50a. Abdomen distinctly
constricted at its junction with propodeum; fore wing in long-winged forms
often with postmarginal and stigmal veins long and distinct, but in some
(e.g., Tetrastichinae) postmarginal vein almost absent; body almost always
at least partly metallic; prescutal sutures, if complete, distinctly
curved ........ (Chalcidoidea) Eulophidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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50b. Base of abdomen about as broad as the propodeum and not
distinctly constricted at this point; fore wing always fully developed and
with postmarginal vein absent or almost so and stigmal vein very short;
body not metallic, usually black, dark brown or yellowish; prescutal
sutures complete and straight ............. (Chalcidoidea) Aphelinidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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51a. Antennae with very
long unsegmented club and funicle composed of 3-4 indistinct and decidedly
transverse (right-angled) funicle segments; body shining black; abdomen
sessile; axillae not distinctly marked off from scutellum and the two
together forming a decidedly transverse band ca. 3X as broad as long; propodeum with a large central triangular
shiny area ............. (Chalcidoidea) Signiphoridae (= Thysanidae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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51b. Antennae not as
previous (51a); sometimes clava long and
unsegmented but then funicle composed of only 2 decidedly transverse segments and body is either completely
yellow or metallic green; scutellum shieldlike, about as long as broad and
with distinct triangular central area; propodeum various, usually without a
defined central shiny triangular area
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52a. Mesopleuron either
undivided, relatively large and shieldlike, or abdomen broadly sessile; if
body pale (off white, yellow or orange) then length <1.5 mm; mid tibia with relatively
strong apical spur
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52b. Mesopleuron
divided into a mesepisternum and mesepimeron, the two parts often with
distinctly different sculpture; abdomen usually distinctly petiolate and
always clearly constricted at junction with propodeum, never broadly
sessile; body usually dark (blue, black green), but if orange or
orange-brown length much greater than 1.5 mm; mid tibia with spur of normal proportions
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53a. Thorax in profile
with middle coxa inserted about level with middle of mesopleuron or even
slightly anterior to this; fore wing, if fully developed, with marginal
vein short, usually not more than 3-4 times as long as broad although it may rarely be more than 10X as long as broad ...... Chalcidoidea) Encyrtidae <Habits>; <Adults-1> & <Adults-2>;
& <Juveniles>
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53b. Thorax in profile
with middle coxa inserted about level with posterior margin of mesopleuron;
fore wing, if fully developed, with marginal vein always at least 6-6X as long as broad
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54a. Antennal flagellum
with not more than 6 segments; abdomen sessile;
mesoscutum at least slightly convex with prescutal sutures always present
and straight, although sometimes distinctly displaced laterally and not
obvious; body never metallic, varying from yellow to dark brown or
blackish; length not more than 1.4mm .... (Chalcidoidea) Aphelinidae
(part) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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54b. Antennal flagellum
with 8-10
segments; abdomen always with a distinct petiole; mesoscutum either
impressed or convex with prescutal sutures very inconspicuous; body usually
at least partly metallic, usually dark green, brown or black; length almost
always greater than 1.4 mm
.......... (Chalcidoidea) Eupelmidae (part) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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55a. Pronotal collar
large and subrectangular, its length at least ca. 2/3rds length of mesoscutum and
antenna with not more than 6 funicle segments; head and
dorsum of thorax with numerous, conspicuous hairy punctures which normally
give rise to very coarse sculpture; gena often with a distinct edge or
flange ........ (Chalcidoidea) Eurytomidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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55b. Pronotal collar
not large and subrectangular, much shorter than 1/2 length of mesoscutum or if
longer then antenna with 7 funicle segments or the
sculpture of head and thorax is shallow or the gena does not have a
distinct edge
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56a. Fore wing with apex
of stigmal vein enlarged, this part deeper than long, apex of uncus very
close to postmarginal vein; pronotum elongated and subconical; female
ovipositor always projecting far beyond abdomen apex ....... (Chalcidoidea) Torymidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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56b. Fore wing with
apex of stigmal vein not or hardly enlarged, or if as in 56a, then pronotum transverse and not well developed; female
ovipositor sometimes projecting far beyond abdomen apex
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57a. Wings always fully
developed; either fore wing with marginal vein at least ca. 3.5X as long as stigmal, or with
gastral petiole at least 1.5X as long
as broad; pronotal collar subrectangular, at least 1/2 as long as mesoscutum and
distinctly margined anteriorly or prepectus fused with and lying in the
same plane as pronotum laterally; abdomen with only 1-2 tergites clearly visible
dorsally
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57b. If wings fully
developed then fore wing with marginal vein relatively shorter than
previous (57a), but if as long then gastral
petiole is not or hardly longer than broad or the pronotal collar is not
distinctly margined anteriorly or it is less than 1/2 as long as mesoscutum; prepectus
never fused with and not lying in same plane as pronotum; abdomen usually
with at least 3 tergites visible dorsally
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59a. Either propodeum
extensively hairy, its median third with several hairs which converge
towards a median line and at most leave a narrow median strip uncovered, or
pronotum ca. as long as mesoscutum and in profile in the same horizontal
plane as the mesoscutum ........ (Chalcidoidea) Tetracampidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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59b. Propodeum less
hairy, at least the middle third naked; pronotum not flat dorsally and
usually much shorter than mesoscutum, in profile not forming a straight
line with mesoscutum
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60a. Mesopleuron divided
by a very weak inconspicuous depression; prescutal sutures complete;
marginal vein more than 2X as long as stigmal vein; antenna
always with 7 funicle segments and a single
very small ring-like segment; scutellum densely hairy (males only) .......
(Chalcidoidea) Eupelmidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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60b. Mesopleuron always
with a distinct division into episternum and epimeron; prescutal sutures
sometimes incomplete; marginal vein usually less than 2X as long a stigmal; antenna usually with 6 or fewer funicle segments and often with as many as 3 ring-like segments; scutellum usually without conspicuous hairiness
............ (Chalcidoidea) Pteromalidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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Evanioidea:
(Aulacidae, Evaniidae, Gasteruptiidae) <Overview> (Details)
61b. Fore wing with
vein 2m-cu absent; antennae inserted higher
on face, at about mid eye level.
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62a. First segment of
abdomen slender and remaining segments form a short, ovate structure;
ovipositor not exserted; malar space large (longer than basal width of
mandible); propleura not elongated, does not meet dorsally to form a neck
............. (Evanioidea) Evaniidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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Cynipoidea: (Charipidae, Cynipidae, Eucoilidae,
Figitidae, Ibaliidae)
<Overview> (Details)
63a. Sixth segment
largest of abdomen (in lateral view); radial cell of fore wing at least 9X as long as broad; && abdomen
very strongly compressed laterally, blade-like; length usually >10 mm ............ (Cynipoidea) Ibaliidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
63b. Second or 3rd segments largest of abdomen (in lateral view); radial cell
of fore wing much less than 9X as long as broad; && abdomen less
strongly............ compressed; length <10 mm
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64b. Scutellum with a
"cup"; pronotum if raised dorsally into an anterior plate then
without a posterior margin, very often indistinct or absent
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65a. Winged; fore wing
with Rs+M, when visible, arising from a point at or close to the
junction of Rs&M with M+Cu-1; && abdomen
frequently with 3rd tergite largest, although
sometimes it is the 2nd tergite; alitrunk at least
partially sculptured; scutellum sometimes with an apical spine ...... (Cynipoidea) Figitidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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65b. Winged or
apterous; fore wing with Rs+M when visible, arising from a point
nearer the middle of Rs&M than to the junction of Rs&M
with M+Cu-1; && abdomen
with largest tergite either the 2nd of the
2nd and 3rd fused (with or without an obsolete suture visible); entire
alitrunk often smooth and shiny; scutellum never with an apical spine
|
66a. Vertex, mesonotum,
scutellum, mesepisternum and abdomen smooth and shiny; mid tibia often with
only one spur, hind tibia with 1-2 unequal spurs; pronotum sharply angled anteriorly, forming a
vertical carina; abdomen with a ring of pubescence at base of 2nd tergite; %% often with 4th, rarely 3rd or 3rd to 5th antennal segment emarginate.
...... (Cynipoidea) Charipinae (= Charipidae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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66b. At least vertex,
mesonotum, scutellum or abdomen sculptured; mid and hind tibia each with 2 distinct spurs; pronotum generally not sharply angled
anteriorly but if a carina is indicated then head and thorax strongly
sculptured; abdomen only rarely with pubescence at base of 2nd tergite; emarginate segment of %% antenna, when present, always
the 3rd ............. (Cynipoidea) Cynipidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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Proctotrupoidea: <Overview> (Details)
(Diapriidae, Heloridae, Platygastridae, Proctotrupidae,
Scelionidae, Vanhorniidae)
67a. Antennal sockets
contiguous with dorsal margin of clypeus or separated from clypeus by less
than diam. of socket START
|
67b. Antennal sockets
separated from dorsal margin of clypeus by more than diam. of socket
|
68a. Fore wing with
well-developed venation, marginal cell closed and a distinct pterostigma
present; antenna with 13 segments ........ (Proctotrupoidea) Vanhorniidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
68b. Fore wing with
very reduced venation, without a closed marginal cell or a distinct
pterostigma; antennae with 14-12 or less
segments
|
69a. Fore wing without
stigmal or postmarginal veins, often veinless; antennae with 10 or fewer segments; %% with
antennal segment 4 or 3 specialized .
............ (Proctotrupoidea) Platygastridae (= Platygasteridae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
69b. Fore wing with
stigmal and usually also postmarginal veins present; antennae usually with 11-12 segments, rarely with 10; %% with antennal segment 5 specialized ............. (Proctotrupoidea) Scelionidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
70b. Scape at most 2.2X as long as wide, generally
less; pterostigma present; antennal shelf absent
|
Ceraphronoidea:
(Ceraphronidae, Megaspilidae) <Overivew> (Details)
72a. Mid leg with one
tibial spur; mesonotum without notauli, with or without median longitudinal
furrow; longer tibial spur of fore leg not forked apically; antennae with 9-11 segments ..... (Ceraphronoidea) Ceraphronidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
72b. Mid leg with 2 tibial spurs; mesonotum, at least anteriorly, with
notauli and nearly always with
median longitudinal furrow, or if notauli absent then pronotum strongly
elongated and ocelli absent or fore wing has only costal vein and gastral
collar has 3 carinae; longer tibial spur of
fore leg forked apically; antennae with 11 segments
...... (Ceraphronoidea) Megaspilidae <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
Ichneumonoidea: (Braconidae,
Ichneumonidae) <Overview> (Details)
73a. Fully winged
insects
|
73b. Apterous or brachypterous insects
|
74a. Hind wing with
obvious, pigmented venation
|
74b. Hind with without
apparent venation, except sometimes along proximal anterior.margin
|
75b. Hind wing with
cross vein rs-m meeting Sc+R+Rs before Rs diverges, or
if at or slightly after junction then fore wing with first discoidal and
submarginal cells separated by a vein (Rs+M); cross vein 2m-cu always absent ....... (Ichneumonoidea) Braconidae <Habits>; <Adults-1> & <Adults-2>
& <Adults-3> & <Juveniles>
|
76b. Fore wing often
with 1st discoidal and submarginal
cells separated by a vein (Rx+M); fore wing never with cross vein 2m-cu present; abdominal tergites 2 & 3 fused immovably, the suture
between them at most only traceable laterally ............. (Ichneumonoidea) Braconidae <Habits>; <Adults-1> & <Adults-2>
& <Adults-3> & <Juveniles>
|
77a. Head with mouthparts
cyclostome (= appear to have a round mouth), or with mandibles exodont (=
spatulate & outcurved) ...... (Ichneumonoidea) Braconidae
|
APOCRITA--Aculeata-- Stinging Hymenoptera
[Characteristics]
[Old Superfamilies Noted]
Apoidea: (Apidae), Chrysidoidea: (Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Dryinidae,
Embolemidae),
Formicoidea (now in Vespoidea): (Formicidae), Pompiloidea (now in Vespoidea): (Pompilidae), Scolioidea (now in Vespoidea): (Scoliidae), Sphecoidea (now in Apoidea): (Sphecidae), Tiphioidea
(now in Vespoidea): (Mutilidae, Sapygidae, Tiphiidae), Vespoidea: (Eumenidae & Vespidae)
78a. Alates, with fully
developed functional wings
|
78b. Apterous or brachypterous forms
|
79a. Pronotum
posterodorsally usually separated from mesonotal anterior margin by a
somewhat well developed sulcus; pronotum posterolaterally remote from the
tegulae, and lower down the side with a pronounced posterior lobe which
covers the mesothoracic spiracle; posteroventrally the pronotum closely
coadapted to the anterior mesopleural margin and reflexed mesally below,
behind the fore coxae
|
79b. Pronotum
posterodorsally contiguous with mesonotal anterior margin, lacking a
sulcus; pronotum posterolaterally almost or quite reaching tegulae with or without a distinct posterior
lobe which covers mesothoracic spiracle; if pronotum posteroventrally
closely coadapted to anterior mesopleural margin then it is not reflexed
below
|
80a. Fore wing with a
fold traversing 1m-cu between 1st and 2nd discal (= discoidal) cells, usually
via a fenestra (= clear area or bulla), this fold discrete from the radial
fold in the submarginal (= cubital) cells; basitarsi enlarged, those of
hind legs expanded and flattened in anterior view, usually only slightly
narrower than hind tibiae; pilosity plumose, at least partly. ........... (Apoidea) Apidae
|
80b. Fore wing with a fold traversing the 2nd abscissa of M, between the 2nd discal (discoidal) and 2nd or 3rd submarginal (cubital) cells, usually via a fenestra, this
fold linking with the radial fold in the submarginal (cubital) cells;
basitarsi not enlarged, those of hind legs slender, not flattened in
anterior view, usually much narrower than the hind tibiae; pilosity
universally simple ....... (Sphecoidea) [= now
in Apoidea] Sphecidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
81a. Antennae distinctly
geniculate, elbowed between scape and funiculus; body with 1-2 reduced separated node-like or
scale-like segments between alitrunk and abdomen (see Fig. A) ........ Vespoidea (with Formicoidea) Formicidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (part)
|
81b. Antennae not
geniculate, not elbowed between scape and funiculus; body without separated
node-like or scale-like segments between alitrunk and abdomen
|
82a. Fore wing usually
with a complete closed marginal (= radial) cell which is bounded by tubular
veins, and with at least one complete submarginal (cubital) cell; hind wing
with 2-3 complete
cells
|
82b. Fore wing with
marginal (radial) cell open, often with only a stub of tubular vein arising
from the stigma; without any complete submarginal (cubital) cells; hind
wing with greatly reduced venation, at most with an open costal cell but
without complete cells posterior to this although up to 3 tubular veins may be present
|
83b. Distal 1/4th or more of wing membranes
plain, without a densely corrugated appearance
|
84b. Mesopleuron lacks
a straight diagonal sulcus which traverses the mesopleural scrobe
|
85a. Fore wing with an
elongated and very conspicuous discal (discoidal) cell, the wing plicate from
base to apex and folded longitudinally when resting; glossa and paraglossa
terminate in small sclerotized pads
|
85b. Fore wing lacks an
elongated discal (discoidal) cell, the wing not plicate from base to apex,
not folded longitudinally at rest; glossa and paraglossa without apical
sclerotized pads
|
86a. Tibiae of middle
legs with a single spur; pretarsal claws forked; mandibles elongated and cross
over at full closure, not merely overlapping ...... (Vespoidea) Eumenidae
<Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
87a. Hind wing with a
well developed claval indentation marking the limits of the claval lobe,
and with a very large jugal lobe which is at least 1/2 the length of the claval;
subgenital plate of %% terminates in an upcurved spine;
&& with widely separated middle
coxae and forked pretarsal claws ..... Vespoidea .... (with Tiphioidea) Tiphiidae
(part) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
87b. Hind wing without
lobes or without a claval indentation marking the limits of the claval
lobe; in the latter the jugal lobe is small and less than 1/2 the length of the claval area;
subgenital plate of %% lacks an upcurved spine; && with contiguous middle coxae and
simple or dentate pretarsal claws
|
88b. Distal antennal
segments narrower than proximal so that the antennae taper apically;
abdomen without yellow maculae and body densely hairy; pretarsal claws
edentate or forked ..... Vespoidea .. (with Tiphioidea) Mutillidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>]
|
89a. Antennae with 10 segments
|
89b. Antennae with 12-13 segments
|
90a. Antennae arise from
a high anteriorly projecting prominence on the head, the antennal insertions
widely separated from the clypeus which is located ventral to them ............ (Chrysidoidea) Embolemidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
90b. Antennae do not arise
from a high anteriorly projecting prominence on the head, the antennal
insertions situated close to the posterior clypeal margin ............. (Chrysidoidea) Dryinidae
(part)
|
92a. Antennae distinctly
geniculate, elbowed between scape and funiculus; body with 1-2 conspicuously separated
node-like or scale-like reduced segments between alitrunk and abdomen; alitrunk
posterolaterally usually with metapleural gland bulla present ........ Vespoidea (= Formicoidea) Formicidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (part)
|
92b. Antennae not geniculate,
not elbowed between scape and funiculus; body without separated node-like
or scale-like segments between alitrunk and abdomen; alitrunk
posterolaterally without metapleural gland bulla
|
93a. Antennae with 10 segments
|
93b. Antennae with 12-13 segments
|
94a. Antennal insertions
widely separated from clypeus and the antennae arising from a high anteriorly
projecting prominence on head; fore tarsus terminates in a pair of small
pretarsal claws, not chelate (&& only)
...... (Chrysidoidea) Embolemidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
94b. Antennal insertions
close to posterior margin of clypeus and the antennae not arising from a
high anteriorly projecting prominence on head; fore tarsus in brachypterous
%% with a pair of small pretarsal
claws; fore tarsus of && terminating in strong chelae
composed of a large projecting 5th tarsal
segment which is opposed by a much enlarged single apical claw ...... (Chrysidoidea) Dryinidae
(part) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
95b. Head hypognathous and
not dorsoventrally flattened; clypeus lacking a median carina extending
between antennae
|
96a. Dorsal alitrunk
box-like and lacking sutures or at most the promesonotal forming the only
transverse suture on dorsum; body strongly sculptured and densely hairy;
pretarsal claws simple ............ (Tiphioidea) [Now in Vespoidea] Mutillidae (= now in Sapygidae) <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>]
|
96b. Dorsal alitrunk
elongated and not box-like, with 3 deeply
impressed transverse sutures in broad depressions; body smooth and
unsculptured, not densely hairy; pretarsal claws strongly forked ......
(Tiphioidea) [Now in Vespoidea] Tiphiidae
(part) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
|
REFERENCES:
Boucek, Z. 1988. Australasian
Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A
Biosystematic Revision of Genera of Fourteen Families, with a
Reclassification of Species.
C.A.B. International,
Wallingford, England. 832 p.
Clausen, C. P. 1923. The biology of Schizaspidia
tenuicornis Ashm., a eucharid parasite of Camponotus. Ann. Ent. Soc. Amer. 16: 195-217.
Crawford, J. C. 1909. A new family of
parasitic Hymenoptera. Proc. Ent.
Soc. Wash. 11: 63-4.
Gauld, I. & B. Bolton.
1988. The
Hymenoptera. British Mus. (Nat.
Hist.), Oxford Univ. Press. 332 p.
Hill, C. C. 1923. Platygaster vernalis
Myers, an important parasite of the Hessian fly. J. Agr. Res. 25: 31-42.
Masner & Dessart. 1967. La reclassification des
categories taxonomiques superieures des Ceraphronoidea (Hymenoptera). Bull. Inst. Sci. Nat. Belg. 43(2): 1-33.
Noyes, J. S. & E. W. Valentine. 1989.
Chalcidoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera)-- Introduction, and Review of
Genera in Smaller Families. Fauna of
New Zealand No. 18. DSIR Publ.,
Wellington, New Zealand. 58 p.
Riek, E. 1970. Hymenoptera (Wasps,
bees, ants), p. 867-959. In: Insects of Australia.
Melbourne Publ.
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.
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