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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]
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) 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> & <Juveniles> (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) Megalodontidae (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> & <Juveniles> 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> & <Juveniles> (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> & <Juveniles> (Details)
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18b. Fore wing longitudinally folded, with
cross veins 2m-cu and 2r-m absent; antennae inserted well above
clypeus ............
(Evanioidea) Gasteruptiidae <Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles> (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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21a. Antennae with 10 or rarely fewer segments; fore wing
without marginal or stigmal veins, often also without submarginal vein .......... Proctotrupoidea) ...... Platygastridae (= Platygasteridae) <Habits>;
<Adults> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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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25a. Antennae with 15 segments; venation characteristic; abdomen long,
petiolate ............
(Proctotrupoidea) Heloridae
<Habits>; <Adults> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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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31a. Mid coxa with base lying before the mid line of
mesopleuron, and lying in a groove on the under side of thorax ............ (Chalcidoidea) Encyrtidae <Habits>;
<Adults-1> & <Adults-2>;
& <Juveniles>
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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 coadapted 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> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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>
& <Juveniles>
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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>
& <Juveniles>
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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> & <Juveniles>
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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 under 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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