Eulophinae

Westwood, 1829

Tribe Guides

3

Eulophinae is a of chalcid wasps in the Eulophidae, comprising over 90 . Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown it to be a derived group within Eulophidae, not an ancestral one as previously thought. The subfamily contains three recognized tribes: Eulophini, Elasmini, and Cirrospilini. Members are primarily ectoparasitoids, with some functioning as hyperparasitoids or gall-formers.

Cirrospilini by (c) wildnettle, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by wildnettle. Used under a CC-BY license.Eulophinae by no rights reserved, uploaded by Jesse Rorabaugh. Used under a CC0 license.Cirrospilus by (c) davidfdz_b82, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by davidfdz_b82. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Eulophinae: /juːˈlɒfɪnaɪ/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Eulophinae can be distinguished from other eulophid by molecular and morphological characters supporting its monophyly. Within Eulophinae, the three tribes are distinguished by phylogenetic relationships and morphological features: Eulophini (including former Euplectrini and Elachertini), Elasmini, and Cirrospilini. The Elasmus, formerly placed in the separate Elasmidae, is now recognized as belonging to Eulophinae based on 28S rDNA evidence.

Images

Habitat

Members are found in diverse ; some are associated with semi-concealed situations where occur. New World have been collected via sweep-net and sampling in forested areas.

Distribution

Worldwide distribution. Documented from the Neotropical region ( Rica, Belize, Peru), Indonesia (Nusa Tenggara Timur: Timor, Flores, Sumba), and India (Uttarakhand).

Host Associations

Behavior

Ectoparasitoids attacking in semi-concealed situations. Some act as obligate or facultative hyperparasitoids. A few species are gall-formers. Strongly female-biased sex ratios have been observed in some Neotropical (e.g., Elasmarion: 119 females to 2 males; Celesterion: 63 females to 2 males).

Ecological Role

agents; of insect larvae in various concealed .

Human Relevance

Potential use in of agricultural and forestry pests, including leaf-mining Lepidoptera.

Similar Taxa

  • EntedoninaeAnother of Eulophidae; monophyly less clearly supported than Eulophinae based on molecular evidence.
  • EuderinaeAnother of Eulophidae; monophyly less clearly supported than Eulophinae based on molecular evidence.
  • TetrastichinaeAnother of Eulophidae with supported monophyly; distinguished from Eulophinae by molecular and morphological characters.
  • Elasmidae (historical)Formerly treated as a separate containing only Elasmus; now recognized as derived eulophids belonging within Eulophinae based on 28S rDNA .

Misconceptions

Historically considered an ancestral group within Eulophidae; molecular evidence now shows Eulophinae is derived. The Elasmus was long placed in its own Elasmidae, but phylogenetic analysis places it within Eulophinae.

More Details

Tribal Classification

Eulophinae currently comprises three tribes: Eulophini (including Euplectrini and Elachertini), Elasmini, and Cirrospilini. Three small Australian tribes (Anselmellini, Ophelimini, Platytetracampini) were removed from Eulophinae due to uncertain relationships. Keryini is excluded from both Eulophinae and Eulophidae.

Sex Ratio Bias

Extreme female-biased sex ratios have been documented in at least two Neotropical , though the biological basis remains unexplained.

Tags

Sources and further reading