Zagrammosoma

Ashmead, 1904

tattooed wasps

Species Guides

Zagrammosoma is a of small in the Eulophidae, commonly known as tattooed wasps. The genus contains 26 recognized worldwide and is morphologically distinct from the related genus Cirrospilus. Members are parasitoids of leaf-mining insect larvae, primarily in the orders Lepidoptera and Diptera, with some species also attacking Hymenoptera leafminers. Several species have been documented as agents for agricultural pests.

Zagrammosoma flavolineatum by (c) Kylie Etter, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kylie Etter. Used under a CC-BY license.

Zagrammosoma multilineatum by (c) Will Kuhn, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Will Kuhn. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Zagrammosoma: //zəˌɡræm.oʊˈsoʊ.mə//

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

Identification

Morphologically distinct from Cirrospilus Westwood; specific diagnostic features for the include structural characteristics detailed in taxonomic revisions. -level identification requires examination of morphological features detailed in the 2021 revision by Perry, which provides a key to all 26 recognized species.

Images

Distribution

Worldwide distribution. Documented from North America (USA, Canada, Mexico), Central and South America (Belize, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Venezuela), the Galapagos Islands, and the Indo-Australian region including Thailand.

Host Associations

Phyllonorycter corylifoliella - Lepidoptera: Gracilliariidae
Phyllocnistis citrella - Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae; citrus leafminer
Cameraria ohridella - Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae; horse-chestnut leafminer
Leucoptera coffeella - Lepidoptera; coffee leafminer
Liriomyza huidobrensis - Diptera: Agromyzidae; agricultural pest in Indo-Australian region
Agromyzidae - Diptera leaf miners
Tenthredinidae - Hymenoptera leafmining

Ecological Role

of leaf-mining insects. Acts as a agent for agricultural pests, including documented use against the citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) in Spain and the vegetable leafminer () in the Indo-Australian region.

Human Relevance

Used in programs for agricultural pest management. Documented control agent for citrus leafminer and leafminer flies affecting vegetable crops.

Similar Taxa

CirrospilusMorphologically similar and historically confused; Zagrammosoma is now recognized as distinct based on phylogenetic and morphological analysis. Cirrospilus variegatus was transferred from Zagrammosoma to Cirrospilus as a new combination in the 2021 revision.

More Details

Taxonomic history

The was revised in 2021 (Zootaxa 4916), recognizing 26 with 23 molecularly verified using 28S, ITS2, and COI markers. Eleven new species were described from the Americas and Thailand. Zagrammosoma interlineatum was elevated from synonymy, and two new synonymies were proposed: Z. mirum under Z. flavolineatum, and Z. dulanense under Z. talitzkii.