Identify families
Adult males
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- Tarsi 5-segmented, ending in a pair of strong claws; tarsi without sensory spots; antennae 6–7-segmented. 2
- Tarsi either 2–4-segmented with neither claws nor sensory spots; or 4-segmented with weak, claw-like structure and sensory spots; or 5-segmented with very weak pair of claws and sensory spots; antennae 4–7-segmented. 3
- (1)
- Prementum free with short palps; CuA1 short, extending about to middle of wing; antennae 7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd and 4th segments; fossil species only. Mengeidae
- Prementum fused to hypopharynx; CuA1 extending almost to edge of wing (Fig. 36.8A); MA strongly developed and with anterior branch present; antennae 6-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd–4th or 3rd–5th segments (Fig. 36.9A). Mengenillidae
- (1)
- Tarsi 2-segmented, without claws; antennae 4-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd (Figs 36.8E, F). Elenchidae
- Tarsi 3–5-segmented, if 5-segmented ending in very weak claws; antennae 5–7 segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd, 3rd–4th, 3rd–6th or 3rd, 5th and 6th segments. 4
- (3)
- Tarsi 3-segmented; antennae 6–7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd; 3rd–4th or 3rd–6th segments. Halictophagidae
- Tarsi 4–5-segmented; antennae 4–7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd, 3rd–4th or 3rd, 5th and 6th segments. 5
- (4)
- Mandibles absent; tarsi either 5-segmented with weak claws or 4-segmented and with or without a weak claw-like structure; tarsi with sensory spots; antennae 5–7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd and 4th segments (Fig. 36.8B). Corioxenidae
- Mandibles present; tarsi 4-segmented, without claws or sensory spots; antennae 4–7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd or 3rd, 5th and 6th segments. 6
- (5)
- Antennae 7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd, 5th and 6th segments; maxillary base large; Neotropical. Bohartillidae
- Antennae 4–7-segmented with lateral flabellum on 3rd segment only; maxillary base small. 7
- (6)
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ADULT FEMALES
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- Free-living; larviform, with eyes, legs and antennae (Fig. 36.2). Mengenillidae
- Parasitic in host and neotenic with only the cephalothorax protruding through the host cuticle during adult stage; eyes, legs and antennae absent (Fig. 36.4). 2
- (1)
- Brood canal opening apical (Fig. 36.4A); ventral side turned towards host, parasites of Heteroptera. Corioxenidae
- Brood canal opening ventral and at the junction of head and thorax (Figs 36.4B-H), ventral side turned away from host. 3
- (2)
- Head half or more as long as cephalothorax; dorsal side not membranous (Figs 36.3, 36.4F, G); cephalothorax semi-circular, not bell-shaped; abdominal segments 1–5 each with genital aperture; parasites of Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha and Heteroptera), Diptera, Orthoptera and Blattodea. Halictophagidae
- Head less than half as long as cephalothorax, or dorsally membranous and raised above host abdominal segments; cephalothorax round, bell shaped; abdominal segments 3–6 each with genital aperture, or segments 2–3 each with 1–5 or more than 5 genital apertures. 4
- (3)
- Metathorax with functional spiracle; cephalothorax elongated; parasites of Heteroptera; South-East Asia. Callipharixenidae
- Metathorax without functional spiracle; cephalothorax not so elongated (Figs 36.4B-F). 5
- (4)
- Cephalothorax sclerotised and lying close to host abdominal segment; opening of brood canal slit-shaped (Figs 36.4B,C, 36.7D); abdominal segments 3–6 each with genital aperture; parasites of Hymenoptera. Stylopidae
- Cephalothorax membranous and raised (Figs 36.4D-F); opening of brood canal wide. 6
- (5)
- Cephalothorax with hook-like projections behind spiracles; opening of broad canal crescent-shaped (Fig. 36.4D); abdominal segments 2–3 each with more than 5 genital apertures; opening of brood canal; parasites of Mantodea and Orthoptera. Myrmecolacidae
- Cephalothorax without hook-like projections (Fig. 36.4E,F); opening of brood canal not crescent-shaped; abdominal segments 2 and 3 each with 1–5 genital apertures; parasites of Hemiptera (Auchenorrhyncha). Elenchidae
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