Agathidinae

Agathidinae is a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps. Some species have been used in biological control programs.[1]

Agathidinae
Female of an unidentified genus. The long "face" is characteristic.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Braconidae
Subfamily: Agathidinae
Tribes
  • Agathidini
  • Cremnoptini
  • Disophrini
  • Earinini

Description and distribution

Agathidines are among the larger and more colorful braconids. Diurnal members of this subfamily often possess aposematic coloration. They belong to the noncyclostome group.

They are found worldwide, but are more diverse in the tropics.

Biology

All Agathidinae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars. Most attack concealed caterpillars, such as those that use silk to tie leaves together. Most are solitary, laying only one egg in each host caterpillar. Some species are nocturnal, with pale coloration and large ocelli.[2]

Genera

Genera placed here include:

References
  1. Wharton, Robert A.; Marsh, Paul M.; Sharkey, Michael J. (1997). Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera) (PDF). Washington DC: The International Society of Hymenopterists. p. 69.
  2. Sharkey, Michael (2006). "Two new genera of Agathidinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) with a key to the genera of the New World" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1185: 37–51.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.