Family TRICHOGRAMMATIDAE

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Introduction

The Trichogrammatidae, although relatively common, are often overlooked as they are among some of the smallest known insects (0.2–1 mm). More than 140 species are described for Australia. Trichogrammatids are characterised by 3-segmented tarsi, antenna with four or less funicular segments, and postmarginal vein of the fore wing usually absent. In addition, many species have the setae on the wing arranged into rows.

All known species are primary (solitary or gregarious) egg-parasitoids, with most hosts in the Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha (bugs), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), and Coleoptera (beetles), although many other host orders are also attacked. Some species are phoretic upon the adults of their hosts, where the host transports the trichogrammatid with it. Species of Trichogramma, which is the largest genus and the best known biologically, appear to be quite indiscriminate in host preference, and will attack any suitably sized egg within a particular niche. Trichogrammatids are used very widely in biological control, usually through the method of mass-rearing and inundative release. There are no keys to Australian genera, although Doutt and Viggiani (1968) provide keys to world genera, and Noyes and Valentine (1989) to New Zealand genera.

Jennings & Austin (2015) list one unidentified species from Lord Howe Island in the Australian Museum.

General References

Doutt, R.L. & Viggiani, G. 1968. The classification of the Trichogrammatidae. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 35(20): 477-586

Jennings, J.T. & Austin, A.D. 2015. Synopsis of the hymenopteran fauna of Lord Howe Island with a preliminary checklist of species. Zootaxa 3931(3): 423–432

Noyes, J.S. & Valentine, E.W. 1989. Chalcidoidea (Insecta: Hymenoptera) — introduction, and review of genera in smaller families. Fauna of New Zealand 18: 1-91

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