Subfamily Trachypetinae

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Introduction

This is one of only two subfamilies of braconids that are endemic to Australia (see Mesostoinae). Its members are large, robust wasps that are superficially ichneumonid- or aculeate-like in appearance. Among other characters, the group possesses unique, specialised sensory pits or plates on the outer surface of the mandibles (Austin et al. 1993). In the past, genera have been variously treated; Trachypetus in its own subfamily and Megalohelcon as an aberrant member of the Helconinae. Tobias (1979) described several new taxa and placed them, along with Megalohelcon, in a new subfamily, the Cercobarconinae. Recently, Austin et al. (1993), in revising the eight known species, synonymised Cercobarconinae with Trachypetinae. The hosts of trachypetines are unknown, but Austin et al. (1993) speculate that the Hepialidae or Sphingidae are likely groups. Several species are known to have arid-zone distributions and be nocturnal.

General References

Austin, A.D., Wharton, R.A. & Dangerfield, P.C. 1993. Revision of the endemic Australian subfamily Trachypetinae Schulz s.l. (including Cercobarconinae Tobias) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Systematic Entomology 18: 97-119

Tobias, V.I. 1979. Two new and little-known subfamilies of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) from Australia. Entomological Review. Washington 58: 70-79

History of changes