Acanthocaudus
Smith, 1944
Acanthocaudus is a of small in the , Aphidiinae. in this genus are known to parasitize . The genus was established by Smith in 1944 and occurs in the Nearctic Region. Recent taxonomic work has described new species and resolved synonymies within the genus.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acanthocaudus: //əˌkænθoʊˈkɔːdəs//
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Identification
Acanthocaudus can be distinguished from other Aphidiinae by the presence of a distinct, thorn-like or -like projection on the , from which the genus derives its name (acantho- = spine, = tail). A to is available in taxonomic literature. Acanthocaudus bicolor is differentiated from by its distinctive coloration pattern.
Distribution
Nearctic Region. have been recorded from Indiana and South Dakota. Acanthocaudus tissoti has been reported from Indiana.
Host Associations
- aphids (Aphididae) - As Aphidiinae, are of ; specific records for individual Acanthocaudus species are limited in available sources
Ecological Role
of ; contributes to natural of aphid .
Human Relevance
Potential agent for pests, though specific applications are not well documented.
Similar Taxa
More Details
Taxonomic history
Acanthocaudus schlingeri Muesebeck, 1958 was synonymized with Acanthocaudus tissoti (Smith, 1944). A new , Acanthocaudus bicolor Kula, was described from the Nearctic Region.