Doryctinae Explained

The Doryctinae or doryctine wasps are a large subfamily of parasitoid wasps within the family Braconidae.

Description and identification

Doryctine wasps are found across almost the entire size range of Braconidae, from 1 to 25 mm. In the small species the head tends to be relatively large and the body, while slender, remarkably elongated. Doryctines tend to be small-winged, with many having very much reduced wings. Numerous species in this family are unable to fly or even lack wings entirely. They have a characteristic row of stout spines running lengthwise along the foreleg tibia, and a cyclostome depression above the mandibles.

Distribution

Doryctinae have a worldwide distribution except for the polar regions.

Biology

Some Doryctinae are known to form galls on plants similar to the Mesostoinae (a small subfamily endemic to Australia). Some species in the genus Allorhogas feed on seeds. The large majority of doryctines are idiobiont ectoparasitoids of the larvae of wood-boring beetles  - such as jewel beetles (Buprestidae). Some species parasitize lepidopteran or symphytan larvae. The host is paralyzed by venom injected through the female's ovipositor before an egg is laid. The spines present on the foreleg of the adult enable it to escape from the narrow wooden tunnels of the hosts.

Biological control

Doryctines have been used to control pests in Europe, Australia, and North America. Several doryctine wasps are of economic importance as biocontrol agents in Australia against eucalyptus pests. The species Spathius agrili has been introduced to the United States from China in an effort to control the emerald ash borer.

Taxonomy and phylogeny

Doryctinae is considered to be part of the cyclostome group, a clade of subfamilies including Alysiinae, Betylobraconinae, Braconinae, Gnamptodontinae, Exothecinae, Hormiinae, Lysiterminae, Opiinae, Pambolinae, Rogadinae, Rhysipolinae, and Rhyssalinae.

16 tribes of Doryctinae have been designated. The former subfamily Ypsistocerinae has been subsumed under Doryctinae as one of these tribes, Ypsistocerini.

Doryctinae comprises over 2000 species in 198 genera, with new taxa continuing to be described. 182 of the genera placed in the Doryctinae include:

Tribe Binareini

Tribe Doryctini

Tribe Ecphylini

Tribe Evaniodini

Tribe Hecabolini

Tribe Heterospilini

Tribe Holcobraconini

Tribe Labaniini

Tribe Leptospathiini

Tribe Mononeurini

Tribe Percnobraconini

Tribe Rhaconotini

Tribe Sericobraconini

Tribe Siragrini

Tribe Spathiini

Tribe Ypsistocerini

Tribal placement unknown

External links

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Doryctinae".

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