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Issue: Vol. 4482 No. 3: 19 Sept. 2018
Type: Article
Published: 2018-09-19
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4482.3.3
Page range: 491–510
Abstract views: 120
PDF downloaded: 98

Morphology and life history of an ant parasitoid, Psilocharis afra (Hymenoptera: Eucharitidae)

Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521
Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa 3Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
Research and Exhibitions Department, Iziko South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa 3Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Private Bag, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa
Hymenoptera Formicidae parasitoid behavior morphology planidium first instar larva

Abstract

Eucharitidae (Hymenoptera) are specialized ant (Formicidae) parasitoids. As we begin to develop a better understanding of their phylogenetic relationships, it is critical to establish baselines for morphological and biological data. A morphological review and the first report of life history data for Psilocharis afra Heraty is provided based on new material from the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. Psilocharis Heraty is included in Eucharitinae, but it is unclear whether it is the sister group of all other members of the subfamily, or sister group to Neolosbanus Girault in a monophyletic Psilocharitini, which would in turn be sister group to Eucharitini. The oviposition habits of P. afra differ from those of other Eucharitidae in that eggs are placed among trichomes under bracts at flower bases, instead of either being inserted into cavities formed in plant tissue by an enlarged ovipositor (as in Oraseminae and some Neolosbanus) or inserted into cavities in plant tissue, as in most Eucharitini. The egg and first-instar planidia larva are described, and adult morphology is discussed with reference to Eucharitidae and other parasitoid Hymenoptera.

 

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