Lyrcus

Walker, 1842

Species Guides

1

Lyrcus is a of chalcid wasps in the Pteromalidae, established by Walker in 1842. The genus underwent significant taxonomic revision in 2013, which redefined its limits, removed Trimeromicrus from synonymy, synonymized the Australasian genus Neocylus, and transferred ten into Lyrcus from other genera. The genus is distinguished from related genera by specific morphological features in the Pteromalinae .

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Lyrcus: /ˈlɪrkəs/

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Identification

Lyrcus is differentiated from the related Catolaccus, Eurydinoteloides, Jaliscoa, and Trimeromicrus by morphological features detailed in the 2013 revision. Specific diagnostic characters include structural features of the , mesosoma, and metasoma that separate it from these closely related pteromaline genera. The genus was redefined to better reflect the observed distribution of morphological features rather than previous broader concepts.

Distribution

Distribution records indicate presence in California, USA. The includes with origins in Australasia (via the synonymized genus Neocylus) and the Americas (via transfers from Catolaccus and Zatropis).

Similar Taxa

  • CatolaccusPreviously included now transferred to Lyrcus; distinguished by different morphological features
  • EurydinoteloidesNine transferred from Lyrcus to this in 2013 revision; now recognized as distinct
  • JaliscoaRelated pteromaline in same tribe, differentiated by morphological
  • TrimeromicrusRemoved from synonymy under Lyrcus in 2013; now recognized as valid for T. maculatus
  • NeocylusAustralasian synonymized under Lyrcus in 2013; its transferred to Lyrcus

Sources and further reading