Pincer Wasps

Dryinidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Chrysidoidea
Family: Dryinidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Dryinidae: //draɪˈɪnɪdi//

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

Images

Dryinus ormenidis by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Dryinus browni by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Eucamptonyx secundus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Megadryinus magnificus by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Summary

Dryinidae, commonly known as Pincer Wasps, are a family of solitary wasps with approximately 1924 species worldwide. The females are typically wingless and can mimic worker ants, while males are winged. They are parasitoids of Auchenorrhyncha, specifically targeting leafhoppers and other related hosts.

Physical Characteristics

Females usually have chelate protarsus to hold the host during oviposition. The adult wasp can measure from 0.9 to 5.0 mm in length and in some cases can reach 13 mm. The body of the adult wasp has a 'waist' where it is constricted in the middle. Many species exhibit marked sexual dimorphism; males have wings while females are often wingless and resemble worker ants. The ovipositor is retractable and not visible when retracted.

Identification Tips

Females of most species are wingless and can mimic ants. Males are distinctly different in size and shape from females and possess wings.

Habitat

Widely distributed, found throughout North America and cosmopolitan regions, typically in areas where host Auchenorrhyncha are present.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan; found worldwide and throughout North America.

Diet

Larvae are parasitoids of Auchenorrhyncha, feeding on the internal structures of host insects.

Life Cycle

The female injects an egg into the host insect with her ovipositor. The larva develops inside the host, eventually protruding from the body as it grows larger. It forms a hardened sac called a 'thylacium' around itself for protection.

Reproduction

Females use their modified front legs to restrain hosts, injecting eggs through their ovipositor. The developing larvae eventually kill the host and emerge to spin a cocoon.

Ecosystem Role

Act as parasitoids and predators of Auchenorrhyncha, helping control host insect populations.

Evolution

The family Dryinidae was first described by Haliday in 1833, with a type genus Dryinus named by Latreille due to the first species being found in an oak plant in Spain.