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Key to genera of Afrotropical Epichrysomallinae

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera;  Superfamily: Chalcidoidea; Family: Pteromalidae; Subfamily: Epichrysomallinae)

ClassificationIndex to Keys

 a

b

c

1

Tarsi 4-segmented. Funicular segments asymmetric or pectinate ... 2


 a

b

c

-

Tarsi 5-segmented. Notauli reaching the transcutal line. Funicular segments different, symmetric ... 4


 a

b

c

2

Occipital carina present and obvious. Female funicular segments (female 6-segmented, male 5-segmented) clearly separated, the four last asymmetric (fig. a) and sometimes pectinate (fig. b). Male gaster subsessile. Male mandible normal, non developed. In most species the notauli don’t reach the transcutal line (fig. c) ... Sycotetra Bouček

Afrotropical genus, including one described species Sycotetra serricornis which developed into the figs of Ficus thonningii and two undescribed species, one of which is associated with F. natalensis. Gall makers.


 a

b

c

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 Occipital carina absent. Female funicular segment not modified, and never pectinated ... 3


 a

b

c

3.

 Female head transverse. Antennal formula 1163 (fig. a), scape long reaching the median ocellus. Supraclypeal area not delimited. Scutellum bearing 2x2 setae. Axillar grooves well marked. Male: mandible long and falcate (fig. b). Petiole apparent (fig. c), sometimes with a ventral hook or lateral teeth ... Odontofroggatia Ishii.

Odontofroggatia species have been introduced to South Africa, and could be elsewhere in Africa associated with F. microcarpa, a commonly cultivated ornamental fig tree (van Noort et al. submitted).


 a

b

c

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Female head subglobose (fig. a). Antennal area formula 11(1)53 (fig. b), the annellus hardly visible in J. microcarpae; scape short not reaching the median ocellus. Supraclypeal area well delimited, subquadrate. Scutellum bearing at least 2x3 setae. Axillar grooves shallow or obliterated. Male: mandible normal. Petiole short ... Josephiella Narendran

One species J. microcarpae has been recently described from leaf galls of F. microcarpa. The species has been found in the Canary Islands and could occur in Africa (Beardsley & Rasplus 2000).


 a

b

c

4

Notauli strongly convergent backward, fusing to form a short median line just before the transcutal line (fig. a). Female funicular 5-segmented, article transverse, annellus unconspicuous (fig. b). Male flagellum club-like, segment fused so the flagellum appears bisegmented (fig. c) ... Camarothorax Mayr

One afrotropical species developing in figs of Ficus ingens in South Africa and Ivory Coast.


 a

b

c

-

 Notauli different, not strongly convergent (fig. a). Female funicular 6-segmented, annellus often present (Lachaisea & Sycomacophila) ... 5


 a

b

c

5

Clypeal margin straight, without lobes. Female funicular without annellus (fig. a) and composed of 6 transversal segments. Malar sulcus present (fig. b). Scutellum broadly bordering on scutum, bearing laterally fine punctuation (fig. c) ... Acophila Ishii

One undescribed afrotropical species associated with Ficus ingens in South Africa.


 a

b

c

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 Clypeal margin bilobed (fig. a). Female funicular always with one annellus and 6-7 articles. Malar sulcus always present. Scutellum narrow, pointed anteriorly ... 6


 a

b

c

6

Scutellum bearing 4 setae (2+2) (fig. a). Scape reaching the lower margin of the median ocellus. Occipital carina always present and conspicuous, situated near the foramen magnum, laterally following the post-occipital bridge to fuse with the hypostomal carina ... Lachaisea Rasplus

Seven described afrotropical species. The genus includes about 50 undescribed species in Africa all of which are associated with Ficus subgenus Urostigma section Galoglychia. The species are gall makers within the flowers or the fig wall.


 a

b

c

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Scutellum bearing several setae distally and 1-2 laterally (fig. a). Scape short never reaching the lower margin of the median ocellus (fig. b). Occipital carina inconspicuous, sometimes absent, terminating at the level of the foramen magnum ... Sycomacophila Rasplus

At least 5 species, gallmakers within figs of the subgenus Sycomorus.

Web authors Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

and Jean-Yves Rasplus (INRA, France)

 

Citation: van Noort, S. & Rasplus, JY. 2024. Figweb: figs and fig wasps of the world. URL: www.figweb.org(Accessed on <day-month-year>).

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