Eucoilinae

Ward, D. F., 2014, Overview and key to the New Zealand Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera), Zootaxa 3878 (6), pp. 563-579 : 571-572

Eucoilinae

The Eucoilinae is the largest subfamily of Figitidae and are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack larvae of cyclorrhaphous Diptera ( Buffington et al. 2007; Paretas-Martínez et al. 2013). Eucoilines are easily identified by the presence of an elevated plate on the scutellum (the scutellar plate; Fig. 26 ). However, eucoilines are a very poorly known group and are often very difficult to identify, with many genera are in need of revision ( Forshage & Nordlander 2008; Buffington 2010).

Partly because of the lack of collecting in many regions of New Zealand ( Ward 2012) the distribution of Figitidae species is very poorly known. The biostatus of many eucoiline taxa in New Zealand is uncertain, but given that many have been collected from modified habitats, these species are likely to be adventive in New Zealand. Some taxa (e.g. Leptopilina heterotoma , and some Trybliographa ) are linked to an overseas origin via molecular sequences.

Figures

FIGURES 23 – 26. Scutellum. 23 — Alloxysta victrix (morphbank # 833070), dorsal. 24 — Alloxysta victrix (morphbank # 833070), lateral. 25 — Phanacis hypochoeridis (morphbank # 67930), lateral. 26 — Leptopilina heterotoma (morphbank # 11487), dorsal, arrow shows elevated scutellar plate.