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Alysiinae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Alysiinae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Braconidae
Subfamily: Alysiinae
Tribes

Alysiini
Dacnusini

The Alysiinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps with over 1000 described species. Several species have been used in biocontrol programs. They are closely related to the Opiinae.

Description and distribution

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Head of an Alysiinae wasp. The exodont mandibles are visible.

Alysiinae are small wasps, usually under 5 mm long and black or brown in color. Their mandibles are exodont, opening outwards and not overlapping. This characteristic is essentially unique among braconids, with only a few rare exceptions (e.g., the genus Exodontiella in the subfamily Gnamptodontinae[1]).

Alysiinae are found worldwide.

Biology

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Alysiinae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Cyclorrhapha Diptera. Females oviposit into host eggs or larvae. The host is allowed to develop until it forms a puparium, at which point it is killed by the wasp larva. The Alysiinae larva then pupates within the host puparium. Adults use their exodont mandibles to break free of the tough host puparium. Most species of Alysiinae are solitary, but a few are gregarious and lay multiple eggs within one host.[2]

Genera

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These 43 genera belong to the subfamily Alysiinae:

Data sources: i = ITIS,[3] c = Catalogue of Life,[4] g = GBIF,[5] b = Bugguide.net[6]

References

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  1. ^ Wharton, R.A., Yoder, M.J., Gillespie, J.J., Patton, J.C. and Honeycutt, R.L. (2006) Relationships of Exodontiella, a non-alysiine, exodont member of the family Braconidae (Insecta, Hymenoptera). Zoologica Scripta 35: 323-340. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-6409.2006.00236.x
  2. ^ Wharton, Robert A.; Marsh, Paul M.; Sharkey, Michael J. (1997). Manual of the New World Genera of the Family Braconidae (Hymenoptera). Washington DC: The International Society of Hymenopterists.
  3. ^ "ITIS, Integrated Taxonomic Information System". Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  4. ^ "Catalogue of Life". Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  5. ^ "GBIF". Retrieved 2018-05-14.
  6. ^ "Alysiinae Subfamily Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-14.
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