Cynipoidea

Common Eichengallwespe ( Cynips quercusfolii )

The Cynipoidea, also often referred to according to the type of family as Gallwespenartige, are a superfamily of Hymenoptera. The world's widespread superfamily comprises about 3000 described species, but it is believed that a multiple of that number is still undescribed and unknown. Most species are parasitoids of other insect species. The first larval stages ( koinobiont ) live inside their further monitored host; the larva leaves this in the penultimate stage. In the last two larval stages then eats from the outside of the body of her host on. The species of the family of gall wasps ( Cynipidae ) are secondarily returned to a plant-eating ( phytophagous ) lifestyle.

Systematics and Features

Although few unique features ( apomorphies ) exist, almost all researchers are in agreement that the superfamily share a common ancestry community, ie a monophyletic taxon represents. Characteristic features are the special structure of Flügelgeäders and the construction of the abdomen, which is always laterally narrow and more or less arched high. In addition, the abdominal plates ( sternites ) of the second and third abdominal segment are always fused, or at least close to each other moved. Most species are inconspicuous black or dark color, but there are also species with conspicuous warning colors ( " wasp costume " black and yellow), but never metallic colors. The antennae are filiform and have the male one member more than the females, typically 11/12 or 12/13 members. In a triangular wing radial cell is characteristic. The marginal artery ( Costa) and a Flügelmal ( pterostigma ) always missing (except Austrocynips, family Austrocynipidae, with a kind ). The superfamily is usually divided into two distinguishable in physique and lifestyle groups that Macrocynipoidea and Microcynipoidea. The Macrocynipoidea are not a group with common descent, ie not a monophyletic taxon. The Microcynipoidea are by far richer in species and comprise more than 90 % of the total number of species.

Macrocynipoidea

As expressed in the name, are species with larger average body size. All species of this group are Endoparasitoide of drilling in wood insect larvae. The adults pupate in the wood and then have to gnaw through the drilling run their host for wood surface to hatch can. Therefore all imagines, therefore, have serving special features in physique. This includes an elongated body, strong mandibles, sculptured with ridges and ridges body surface. Hosts are wood wasp larvae, beetle larvae and caterpillars.

  • Austrocynipidae. Only one species known: Austrocynips mirabilis.
  • Ibaliidae
  • Liopteridae

Microcynipoidea

This is predominantly to species smaller body size. Most species are parasitoids of larvae of phytophagous or predatory insect species that live freely, but there are rarely among them parasitoids of wood-dwelling larvae. Other species are Hyperparasitoide. Hosts are predominantly (Diptera ) and lacewings ( Neuroptera ), with the hyperparasite Brackwespen and jewel wasps, along with quite often other Gallwespenarten. The " trunk " ( mesosoma ) is often short and arched high, the " abdomen " ( metasoma ) usually when viewed from the side, round or oval shaped and laterally strongly compressed, so strikingly narrow and high.

The Microcynipoidea include two families:

Fossils

Fossil records of Gallwespenartigen are rare. The earliest findings date back to the Late Cretaceous. Most are inclusions ( inclusions ) in amber. Relatively extensive findings of compression fossils from the Cenomanian off the mark in front of the Russian Far East and Siberia from the Taimyr Peninsula. Also from the ( Eocene ) Baltic amber are finds. In addition to the extant families two extinct families are given, which are only known fossil (all Macrocynipoidea ).

  • Protimaspidae
  • Stolamissidae
Digital Object Identifier
211019
de