Zaeucoilini

Buffington, 2008

Genus Guides

Zaeucoila

Zaeucoilini is a tribe of within the Eucoilinae (Hymenoptera: Figitidae), formally established in 2008 based on phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters. The tribe comprises twelve of Neotropical eucoilines previously allied with the informal Zaeucoila genus group. Members are primarily parasitoids of agromyzid leaf-mining flies, with at least one lineage having shifted to parasitizing tephritid fruit flies.

Zaeucoilini by (c) Brendan O'Loughlin, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Brendan O'Loughlin. Used under a CC-BY license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Zaeucoilini: /zaɪˌjuːsoɪˈlaɪnaɪ/

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Identification

Zaeucoilini can be distinguished from other Eucoilinae tribes by a suite of morphological characters defined and illustrated in the original tribal description. The tribe was established based on 96 morphological characters analyzed phylogenetically alongside molecular data. Each within the tribe possesses supporting synapomorphies discussed in the taxonomic revision.

Images

Distribution

Neotropical region.

Host Associations

Agromyzidae - Plesiomorphic ; leaf-mining Diptera
Tephritidae - Derived association within clade containing Dettmeria, Dicerataspis, and Lopheucoila; includes Blepharoneura fruit flies

Ecological Role

of dipteran larvae, primarily leaf-mining Agromyzidae with some lineages parasitizing fruit-infesting Tephritidae. of herbivorous flies.

Similar Taxa

Other Eucoilinae tribesZaeucoilini was distinguished from other eucoiline tribes through phylogenetic analysis and unique morphological character states; previously treated as informal Zaeucoila group

More Details

Tribal composition

Zaeucoilini contains twelve : Agrostocynips, Dettmeria, Dicerataspis, Lopheucoila, Marthiella, Moneucoela, Moritiella, Penteucoila, Preseucoela, Rhabdeucoela, Tropideucoila, and Zaeucoila.

Taxonomic history

The tribe was erected following phylogenetic reconstruction of 25 using 96 morphological characters and 1452 ribosomal and mitochondrial characters. Aegeseucoela was found to be polyphyletic and its reassigned to Agrostocynips and the new Marthiella.