Cerocephalidae

Gahan, 1946

Genus Guides

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Cerocephalidae is a small of chalcid wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The family was elevated from status within Pteromalidae in 1946 by Gahan. Most are of small wood-boring beetles, particularly bark beetles in the families Curculionidae (Scolytinae). The family contains 13 extant including Acerocephala, Cerocephala, and Theocolax, plus three fossil genera.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Cerocephalidae: //ˌsɛrəˌsɛfəˈlaɪdiː//

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Identification

with up to 10 flagellomeres (including up to 3 clavomeres). Prominence present between the toruli (antennal bases). not ventrally divergent. with two or more teeth. All legs with five tarsomeres. Protibial spur stout and curved. Metasoma with syntergum ( terminal tergites).

Habitat

Associated with phloem tissues and tunnels under bark surface of tree branches. Documented in Ficus microcarpa, Mangifera indica, and Hibiscus tiliaceus.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution with documented from O'ahu, Hawai'i and Afrotropical regions.

Host Associations

Life Cycle

laid on larval or pupal stages of . Larva develops as ectoparasitoid on beetle . Upon completion of feeding, larva detaches from host and pupates within the beetle tunnel.

Behavior

Female enters bark beetle tunnels and digs through debris to locate larvae and pupae. Upon finding a host, she turns around in the narrow tunnel to sting it, inserting her ovipositor directly into larvae or pushing through the hard shell of pupal chambers. After stinging, she withdraws her ovipositor slowly, often extracting host tissue that forms a around the ovipositor. She then turns and host feeds through this sheath structure, including through pupal chamber walls when accessing pupae.

Ecological Role

of bark beetles, potentially regulating in native and introduced tree .

Similar Taxa

  • PteromalidaeCerocephalidae was previously classified as Cerocephalinae within Pteromalidae; distinguished by the combination of antennal structure, torular prominence, and metasomal syntergum

More Details

Taxonomic history

Originally described as Cerocephalinae within Pteromalidae; elevated to status by Gahan in 1946. Pteromalidae in its traditional sense was polyphyletic, leading to reclassification of constituent groups.

Research methods

Detailed behavioral observations of Acerocephala hanuuanamu were conducted using 'phloem sandwich' observation chambers, consisting of tree bark peeled through the phloem layer and sandwiched between aluminum and plexiglass sheets, allowing direct observation of - interactions.

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