Family APHELINIDAE
Compiler and date details
July 2012 - Danielle N. Stringer, Sarah Mantel, John T. Jennings & Andrew D. Austin, Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, and the School of Earth and Environmental Science, The University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Introduction
The Aphelinidae are a medium-sized family of chalcids that are often overlooked due to their extremely small size (0.5–1.5 mm). They are characterised by the antenna having four or less funicular segments, the tarsi with 4–5 segments, the fore tibial spur large, curved and bifid, the metasoma broadly joined to the thorax (not petiolate), and the notauli complete, straight, deep, and widely separated posteriorly (generally by more than the length of the scutellum).
Aphelinids are commonly reared from a large variety of homopteran hosts. Most are primary ecto- or endoparasitoids of Hemiptera (bugs): Sternorrhyncha (especially Coccoidea, Aleyrodoidea, Aphidoidea). However, others attack eggs of these groups or of Orthoptera (grasshoppers and crickets), and still others are obligatory or facultative hyperparasitoids. A number of these are of particular interest because the males and females of the same species may develop in very different ways. In those species for which the biology has been well studied, the females are always primary endoparasitoids. The males, however, may develop as primary ectoparasitoids on the same host, as hyperparasitoids on their own species, as facultative hyperparasitoids on their own or other species, or as obligate hyperparasitoids on other species. There are many examples of aphelinids being used successfully in classical biological control, and this family claims more such successes than any other group of entomophagous insects.
The subfamilial classification has by no means been resolved adequately, and authors have recognised between three and seven subfamilies. The majority of aphelinids belong to the subfamilies Aphelininae (antenna with six or less segments and linea calva present) and Coccophaginae (antenna with 7–9 segments and linea calva absent). There are no keys to Australian genera, however Hayat (1983) produced a key to world genera.
Kim and Heraty (2012) reviewed the world genera of Aphelinae, presented identification keys and a phylogeny for 16 genera, including four that were new.
General References
Hayat, M. 1983. The genera of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) of the World. Systematic Entomology 8: 63-102
Kim, J.-W. & Heraty, J. 2012. A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelinae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa. Systematic Entomology 37: 497-549
Viggiani, G. 1984. Bionomics of the Aphelinidae. Annual Review of Entomology 29: 257-276
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Oct-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 06-Feb-2012 | MODIFIED |
Subfamily Aphelininae
Introduction
Kim and Heraty (2012) reviewed the world genera of Aphelinae, presented identification keys and a phylogeny for 16 genera, including four that were new.
ID Keys
See Kim & Heraty (2012: 517).
General References
Kim, J.-W. & Heraty, J. 2012. A phylogenetic analysis of the genera of Aphelinae (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), with a generic key and descriptions of new taxa. Systematic Entomology 37: 497-549
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01-Nov-2012 | 01-Nov-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |
Genus Aphelinus Dalman, 1820
- Aphelinus Dalman, J.W. 1820. Försök till Uppställning af Insect-familjen Pteromalini, i synnerhet med afseen de på de i Sverige funne Arter. Kongliga Svenska Vetenskaps-Academiens Nya Handlingar, Stockholm 41: 123-174, 177-182, Tab VII-VIII (As new subgenus of Entedon).
Type species:
Entedon abdominalis Dalman, 1820 by monotypy.Secondary source:
Walker, F. 1839. Monographia Chalciditum. Privately Published. 333 pp. [2] (New status for Entedon Dalman). - Agonioneurus Westwood, J.O. 1833. On the probable number of insect species in the creation; together with descriptions of several minute Hymenoptera. Magazine of Natural History 6: 116-123 [122] [Reference for synonymy with Aphelinus Dalman not found].
Type species:
Agonioneurus basalis Westwood, 1833 by monotypy. - Eriophilus Haldeman, S.S. 1851. [Eriophilus mali]. Pennsylvania Farm Journal 1: 1-380 [131] [Reference for synonymy with Aphelinus not found].
Type species:
Eriophilus mali Haldeman, 1851 by monotypy. - Anozus Förster, A. 1856. Hymenopterologische Studien. 2. Chalcidiae und Proctotrupii. Privately Published. 152 pp. [84].
Type species:
Anozus siphonophorae Ashmead by subsequent monotypy, see Ashmead, W.H. 1888. Descriptions of some new North American Chalcididae. III: Euderinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). The Canadian Entomologist 20(6): 101-107 [104]. - Mesidia Förster, A. 1856. Hymenopterologische Studien. 2. Chalcidiae und Proctotrupii. Privately Published. 152 pp. [30].
Type species:
Mesidia pumila Mayr, 1904 by subsequent monotypy, see Mayr, G. 1904. Hymenopterologische miszellen. III. Verhandlungen der Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 54: 559-598 [588]. - Meroligon Rondani, C. 1877. Vesparia parasita no vel cognita observata et descripta. Bollettino della Società Entomologica Italiana 9: 166-213 [185].
Type species:
Encyrtus ultor Rondani, 1877 by monotypy. - Mesidiopsis Nowicki, S. 1930. Bemerkungen zu den europäischen Apheliniden-Gattungen (Hym., Chalc.). (Fortsetzung.). Neue Beiträge zur Systematischen Insektenkunde 4(15/16): 177-181 [178].
Type species:
Agonioneurus subflavescens Westwood, 1837 by original designation. - Paulianaphelinus Risbec, J. 1957. Hyménoptères Proctotrupidae et Chalcidoidea. Mémoires de l'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar. Mémoires de l'Institut Scientifique de Madagascar 8: 321-366 [353].
Type species:
Paulianaphelinus mariscusae Risbec, 1957 by monotypy.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Ashmead, W.H. 1904. Classification of the chalcid flies of the superfamily Chalcidoidea, with descriptions of new species in the Carnegie Museum, collected in South America by Herbert H. Smith. Memoirs of the Carnegie Museum 1(4): 225-551 [380] (Meroligon Rondani as synonym of Aphelinus Dalman)
- Hayat, M. 1983. The genera of Aphelinidae (Hymenoptera) of the World. Systematic Entomology 8: 63-102 [76] (Mesidia Förster as synonym of Aphelinus Dalman)
- Polaszek, A.; Hayat, M. 1989. The identity of Paulianaphelinus mariscusae Risbec (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Bollettino del Laboratorio di Entomologia Agraria 'Filippo Silvestri', Portici 46: 21-24 [21] (Paulianaphelinus Risbec as synonym of Aphelinus Dalman)
- Hayat, M. 1990. Taxonomic Studies on Aphelinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) 2. A New Subgenus from India, with Comments on Mesidia and Mesidiopsis. Oriental Insects 24: 253-257 [254] (Mesidiopsis Nowicki as synonym of Mesidia Förster)
Distribution
States
Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania
IBRA
ACT: South Eastern Highlands (SEH) ; NSW: Sydney Basin (SB) ; Qld: South Eastern Queensland (SEQ), Wet Tropics (WT)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-May-2020 | CHALCIDOIDEA | 10-Oct-2018 | MODIFIED | Karin Koch |
| 01-Nov-2012 | 01-Nov-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |
Species Aphelinus dies Girault, 1913
- Aphelinus dies Girault, A.A. 1913. A few new chalcidoid Hymenoptera from Queensland, Australia. Bulletin of the Wisconsin Natural History Society (new series) 11: 35-48 [Date published 29/12/1913] [43].
Type data:
Holotype QM T1710 ♀, Gordonvale (Cairns), QLD.
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)
Distribution References
- Girault, A.A. 1913. A few new chalcidoid Hymenoptera from Queensland, Australia. Bulletin of the Wisconsin Natural History Society (new series) 11: 35-48 [Date published 29/12/1913] [43]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-May-2020 | CHALCIDOIDEA | 10-Oct-2018 | MODIFIED | Karin Koch |
| 01-Nov-2012 | 01-Nov-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |
Species Aphelinus hordei Kurdjumov, 1913
- Aphelinus hordei Kurdjumov, N.V. 1913. Notes on European species of the genus Aphelinus Dalm., parasitic upon the plant-lice. Entomologicheskoe Obozrenie (English translation as Entomological Reviews) 13: 266-270 [Date published 20/10/1913] [269].
Type data:
Holotype whereabouts unknown, Ukraine.
Distribution
States
Australian Capital Territory
Extra Distribution Information
Biological control agent for aphids
Introduced from Ukraine.
IBRA
ACT: South Eastern Highlands (SEH)
Distribution References
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-May-2020 | CHALCIDOIDEA | 26-Oct-2018 | MODIFIED | Karin Koch |
| 01-Nov-2012 | 01-Nov-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |
- Aphelinus literatus Girault, A.A. 1915. Australian Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea — VII. The family Encyrtidae with descriptions of new genera and species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 4: 1-184 [Date published 4/06/1915] [47].
Type data:
Syntype(s) QM T2923 3♀♀ (None of these specimens located), Gordonvale (Cairns), QLD.
Distribution
States
Queensland
Extra Distribution Information
Australian Endemic.
IBRA
Qld: Wet Tropics (WT)
Distribution References
- Girault, A.A. 1915. Australian Hymenoptera Chalcidoidea — VII. The family Encyrtidae with descriptions of new genera and species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 4: 1-184 [Date published 4/06/1915] [47]
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-May-2020 | CHALCIDOIDEA | 10-Oct-2018 | MODIFIED | Karin Koch |
| 01-Nov-2012 | 01-Nov-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 07-Aug-2012 | 25-Jul-2012 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |