ENCYRTIDAE, , Trjapitzin, 1989

Noyes, John Stuart, 2023, ENCYRTIDAE OF COSTA RICA (HYMENOPTERA: CHALCIDOIDEA), 4 Subfamily Encyrtinae: tribes Arrhenophagini, Habrolepidini, Cerapterocerini, Cheiloneurini, Trechnitini, Cercobelini, Polaszekiini, Protyndarichoidini, Gahaniellini and Syrphophagini (part), mainly primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids of Coccoidea and Psylloidea (Hemiptera), Taxonomic Monographs on Neotropical Hymenoptera (Oxford, England) 2 (11), pp. 1-921 : 17

CHARACTERS OF ENCYRTIDAE

Within the Chalcidoidea , the Encyrtidae can be distinguished by six major characters:

1. Head with dorsal tentorial arms reaching the frontovertex between the inner eye margin and torulus. This character state is present in almost all Encyrtidae and has been reported elsewhere only in Eunotidae ( Dzhanokmen, 2000) . It may be a synapomorphy of these two families.

2. Fore wing with a well-defined linea calva (see Terms and Measurements above). A true linea calva is known only in Encyrtidae , many Aphelininae ( Aphelinidae ) and a few Eupelmidae .

3. Mesopleuron convex and not divided obliquely into separate parts. This character is characteristic of jumping taxa inlcuding Encyrtidae , Tanaostigmatidae , some Eupelmidae and a few Aphelinidae , e.g. Coccobius . Other Aphelinidae have the mesopleuron somewhat similar in appearance, but have an indistinct, posterior, transverse division, e.g. Eutrichosomella .

4. Mid coxa inserted level with mid-line of mesopleuron. So far as it is known, this is an autapomorphy for Encyrtidae .

5. Cerci advanced towards anterior of gaster, sometimes even into anterior half. This character state is present in all Encyrtidae except two genera, Oriencyrtus and Oesol . Some representatives of other families may have the cerci slightly advanced, but never so strongly, e.g. Aphelinidae and Eupelmidae .

6. Outer plates of the ovipositor completely separated from tergite IX of abdomen ( Encyrtinae ) or connected by an elongate sclerotised strip (paratergite) ( Tetracneminae ). Both features almost certainly result from advancement of the cerci. Outside the Encyrtidae there are no taxa where the outer plates of the ovipositor are completely separated from abdominal tergite IX. However, in some Coccophagus ( Aphelinidae ) the cerci may be slightly advanced and the connection may be very weak via a very narrow filamentous strip, similar to the paratergites of some Tetracneminae .