Aspicerinae

Aspicerinae is a of parasitic within the Figitidae (: Cynipoidea). The subfamily contains multiple including Aspicera, Prosaspicera, Callaspidia, Omalaspis, and Paraspicera. Members are primarily Holarctic in distribution, though some genera extend into the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions. The group has undergone extensive recent taxonomic revision, revealing substantially greater than previously recognized.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Aspicerinae: /ˌæspɪˈsɛrɪniː/

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Identification

Aspicerinae can be distinguished from other Figitidae by morphological characters including the structure of the , mesosoma, and metasoma. Within Aspicerinae, are differentiated by diagnostic features: Omalaspis possesses a supratorular impression exclusive to this genus within the subfamily; Aspicera exhibit more morphological homogeneity compared to the highly variable Callaspidia; Prosaspicera and Paraspicera have distinct Nearctic distributions and characteristic and pit configurations on the and .

Images

Distribution

Holarctic distribution predominates in Aspicera, Callaspidia, and Omalaspis. Prosaspicera occurs primarily in the Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions, with recent records from the Eastern Palaearctic (Japan). Paraspicera is restricted to the Nearctic region. Aspicera has been newly recorded from Canada, Cyprus, Greece, India (northeastern Himalayan range), Japan, Jordan, Mexico, Montenegro, and Turkey.

Ecological Role

Members are parasitic . Specific relationships remain largely undocumented in the available literature.

Similar Taxa

FigitinaeAnother of Figitidae; Aspicerinae is distinguished by diagnostic morphological characters of the capsule and mesosomal structure
AnacharitinaeFormerly included now recognized as misplaced; Xyalaspis rugosa was restored to Anacharitinae based on morphological re-examination
Xyalophora in Figitinae to which Aspicera nigra was transferred, demonstrating historical confusion between Aspicerinae and Figitinae

More Details

Taxonomic instability

Aspicerinae has experienced substantial taxonomic revision. Multiple have been transferred between : four species moved from Paraspicera to Aspicera; Heteraspidia synonymized with Aspicera; species previously placed in Aspicera transferred to Xyalophora, Neralsia, and Xyalaspis. Several species remain incertae sedis or species dubia due to lost or destroyed material.

Undescribed diversity

Recent revisionary work indicates significant undescribed . Aspicera increased from 27 to 48 valid with 32 new species described. Prosaspicera increased from 17 to 30 valid species with 15 new species described. Callaspidia was reduced from 19 species to 6 valid species due to synonymy, suggesting previous over-splitting in some and under-recognition in others.