Moranila Cameron, 1883

Uan, H Ui Xiao D A-Wei H, 2001, A review of Eunotinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) from China, Journal of Natural History 35, pp. 1587-1605 : 1593-1594

Moranila Cameron, 1883

Tomocera H oward, 1881: 368. Type-species: T. californica H oward, by monotypy. Preoccupied by Tomocera Desmarest, 1858 .

Moranila Cameron, 1883: 188 . Type-species: M. testaceipes Cameron , by monotypy.

Dilophogaster Howard, 1886: 98 . Replacement name for Tomocera Howard, 1881 . Synonymized by Burks, 1958: 62–84.

Aphobetoideus Ashmead, 1904: 328 . Type-species: A. comperei Ashmead ; by original designation. Synonymized by BoucÏek, 1988: 356.

Muscidea Girault, 1915: 323–324 . Type-species M. brunneiventris Girault , by original designation. Preoccupied by Muscidea Motschulsky, 1863 . Synonymized by BoucÏek, 1988: 356.

Eurycraniella Girault, 1916: 227 . Type-species: Eurycranium baeusomorphas Girault ; by original designation. Synonymized by BoucÏek, 1988: 356.

Muscideoidea Girault, 1916: 227 . Replacement name for Muscidea Girault, 1915 .

Eunotomyia Masi, 1917: 197 . Type species E. festiva Masi , by monotypy.

Moranila Cameron ; Burks, in Krombein, 1958: 75. Peck et al., 1964: 31. Graham, 1969: 70. BoucÏek, 1988: 356–357. Berry, 1995: 31–38.

Diagnostic characters. Antenna inserted near clypeal margin; antenna formula 11143, and clava more or less fused. Vertex not convex, posterior ocellus touching the margin of occiput. Pronotum and mesoscutum with bristles; scutellum with two pairs of bristles, frenal line absent, and scutellum not extending beyond propodeum; dorsellum triangular and with coarse sculpture. Propodeum longer and nucha distinct. Basal area of fore wing bare, outside of speculum with scattered hairs. F irst gastral tergite about two-thirds the length of gaster.

Biology. Mainly parasites of various coccids that sometimes are economically important. They are usually primary parasitoids. The hosts of M. californica include Coccidae ( Ceroplastes , Coccus , Parasaissetia , Saissetia ), Asterolecaniidae (Asterolecanium) and Pseudococcidae (Antonina) . M. californica and M. comperei have been occasionally recorded as secondary parasites, the former via the encyrtid Microterys nietneri , the later via various aphids.

So far, there are about nine species recorded in the world. This genus is distributed throughout the world, including Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, Australian and African regions.