Introduction

Ibaliids are the largest members of Cynipoidea (15–20 mm) and can be recognised by the long thin radial cell in the fore wing, the hind femur short, the first tarsal segment of the legs very long, and the metasoma very strongly compressed from the sides.

This parasitoid family is represented naturally in Australasia only by a single very rare genus Eileenella from New Guinea. The dominant genus Ibalia is known from 15 species distributed in the northern hemisphere. However, two species have been introduced into Australasia (Australia and New Zealand) as biological control agents of Sirex woodwasps (Siricidae). Females are attracted to the symbiotic fungi in the oviposition shafts of Sirex and oviposit on eggs or early larval instars.

General References

Liu, Z. & Nordlander, G. 1994. Review of the family Ibaliidae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea) with keys to genera and species of the world. Entomologica Scandinavica 25: 377–392

Ronquist, F. 1999. Phylogeny, classification and evolution of the Cynipoidea. Zoologica Scripta 28: 139–164

History of changes

• Ibalia Latreille, P.A. 1802. Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Crustacés et des Insectes. Ouvrage faisant suite à l’histoire naturelle générale et particulière, composée par Leclerc de Buffon, et rédigée par C.S. Sonnini, membre de plusieurs sociétés savantes. Familles naturelles des genres. Tome troisième. Paris : F. Dufart xii + 13–467 + [1] pp. [An "X" (title page = 1802)] [306].

  Type species:

   Ophion cultellator Fabricius, 1798 by monotypy.
• Sagaris Panzer, G.W.F. 1806. Kritische Revision der Insektenfaune Deutschlands. 2. Baendchen. Nürnberg : Felsseckerschen Buchandlung Vol. 2 xii 271 pp. [Date published 31/12/1806] [91].

  Type species:

   Ophion cultellator Fabricius, 1798 by monotypy.

History of changes

• Ichneumon leucospoides Hochenwarth, S. von 1785. Beiträge zur Insectengeschichte. Schriften der Berlinischen Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde 6: 334-360 [345].

  Type data:

   Holotype (presumed lost).
• Ichneumon cultellator Fabricius, J.C. 1793. Entomologia Systematica Emendata et Aucta. Secundum, Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adjectis synonimis [sic], locis, observationibus, descriptionibus. Hafniae : Christ. Gottl. Proft. Vol. 2 viii 519 pp. [167].
• Ibalia suprunenkoi Jacobson, 1891.
• Ibalia ensiger Norton, 1862.
• Ibalia gigantea Yoshimoto, 1970.

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Kerrich, G.J. 1973. On the taxonomy of some forms of Ibalia Latreille (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea) associated with conifers. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 53: 65-79 [73]

Generic Combinations

• Ibalia leucospoides (Hochenwarth, 1785).

Introduction

Two subspecies are now established in Australia, L. leucospoides ensiger and L. leucospoides leucospoides, having been introduced as biocontrol agents (Paretas-Martinez et al. 2013).

General References

Paretas-Martínez, J., Forshage, M., Buffington, M., Fisher, N. La Salle, J. & Pujade-Villar, J. 2013. Overview of Australian Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera). Australian Journal of Entomology 52: 73–86 [75]

History of changes

• Ibalia rufipes Cresson, E.T. 1879. lbalia rufipes. Ibalia montana. Transactions of the American Entomological Society 7: xvii.

  Type data:

   Holotype ANSP ♀, Nevada, USA.
• Ibalia drewseni Borries, H. 1891. Om slaegten Ibalia Latr. Entomologiske Meddelelser 3: 53-7 [57].
• lbalia shirmeri Kieffer.

Introduction

I. rufipes drewseni, from Turkey, now established in Australia, having been imported for biocontrol (Paretas-Martinez et al. (2013).

General References

Paretas-Martínez, J., Forshage, M., Buffington, M., Fisher, N. La Salle, J. & Pujade-Villar, J. 2013. Overview of Australian Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera). Australian Journal of Entomology 52: 73–86 [75]

History of changes