Annotated Keys to the Genera of Nearctic Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera)


Book Description

This publication presents illustrated keys to the 19 families and 706 described genera of Chalcidoidea known to occur in the Nearctic region (minimally America north of Mexico, but also including those areas of Mexico generally considered as having a Nearctic insect fauna). The first three chapters provide an introduction to this superfamily of wasps, most of whose members are parasites of other insects; a review of chalcidoid morphology as related to terms used in the keys & diagnoses; and an overview of the superfamily, including a 41 couplet key to families. Each of the remaining 19 chapters reviews one family & includes sections on recognition, systematics & relationships, biology, literature, an annotated key to the Nearctic genera, and for larger families an index to genera based on couplet number. Over 1,800 line drawings & electron micrographs illustrate the keys. Annotations include references to existing keys to species, estimated number of species, and known distribution & host range in the region.




Advances in the systematics of Hymenoptera.


Book Description

This issue celebrates the 75th birthday ofÿ Dr. Lubom?r Masner, a source of knowledge, enthusiasm, and inspiration for systematic entomologists in all fields, but especially for students of Hymenoptera. His unflagging dedication to the study of the parasitoid wasps of the superfamilies Proctotrupoidea, Platygastroidea, and Ceraphronoidea has completely transformed our understanding of the richness and evolutionaryÿ history of these insects. His zeal and innovation in collecting have not only dramatically enhanced the basis for our understanding of hymenopteran diversity, but also contributed to the development of the Canadian National Collection of Insects into one of the premiere systematic entomology research institutions in the world. Twenty-six authors have contributed to this volume in 17 papers on the systematics of the families Braconidae, Ceraphronidae, Chalcididae, Eucharitidae, Eupelmidae, Eurytomidae, Figitidae, Mymaridae, Platygastridae, Vespidae, and Xiphydriidae. Six new genera and 33 new species are described, encompassing fossil material as well as species from the Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australasian regions. A short biography of Dr. Masner is accompanied by a bibliography of his scientific papers, a list of taxa he has described over 55 years of research, and a list of taxa named in his honor.




Species Revision and Generic Systematics of World Rileyinae (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae)


Book Description

The subfamily Rileyinae (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) is redefined to contain 6 genera and 69 species for which keys are provided. Two morphological data sets, analyzed via maximum parsimony with PAUP*, yield hypotheses on the placement of Rileyinae within Eurytomidae and internal relationships of Rileyinae. Tables detailing host utilization for Eurytomidae (genera), Rileyinae (species), and confirmed/suspected plant associations for Rileyinae are included.




Hymenoptera and Biodiversity


Book Description

Increasing attention has been focused on biodiversity in recent years, based on a number of arguments to justify the conservation of the world's flora and fauna. Such arguments may be economic - that species may have potential for food or medicine - or ecological - that the extinction of any species affects the overall ecological balance. Little attention, however, has been focused on which groups have the greatest impact on maintaining diversity. Hymenoptera is one of these groups. It not only forms a major component of diversity itself, but is vital in sustaining diversity in other groups. Hymenoptera species (bees, wasps, ants and sawflies) are major plant pollinators, seed dispersers and parasitoids and predators of other arthropods (and hence important in biological control). This volume therefore tackles an important subject and concentrates on three key issues: how species of Hymenoptera affect diversity in other organisms; whether Hymenoptera is a group prone to extinction; and the consequences if Hymenoptera species are differentially removed from terrestrial ecosystems. The book is essential reading for entomologists and those concerned with biodiversity and conservation.













Hymenoptera of the World


Book Description

This publication is the result of a course on identification of Hymenoptera given three times since 1985 at the Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research. The considerable interest in these courses indicated the need for a comprehensive identification guide to all extant families of Hymenoptera. The main emphasis is on family identification using the keys, which are complemented by family sketches. The sketches include a taxonomic diagnosis to supplement the keys, a summary of the biology, the size and distribution, and important literature references.




Hymenopteran Systematics


Book Description