Banchinae

Description

Banchinae is a species-rich subfamily containing wasps of a wide range of body shapes and sizes. Most northern European banchines are predominantly black with dark or red abdomens, though yellow patterns on the face and mesosoma are not uncommon (especially in the males). The ovipositor is always adorned with a apical notch and the claws are often pectinate, distinguishing banchines from the superficially similar (yet not closely related) Pimpinae. The carination of the propodeum is usually greatly reduced, the strong and arched posterior transverse carina normally being the only defined carina. On the metapleuron the submetapleural carina is strongly expanded anteriorly, usually forming a wide lobe. Members of the two largest tribes, Atrophini and Glyptini, are usually slender and with long ovipositors. Banchini is defined by more robust body shapes with almost hunch-backed profiles and short ovipositors.

Ecology

All banchines with hosts records are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera. Atrophini is the least specialized tribe with host ranging from large xylophagus cossids to noctuids or smaller moths such as torticids or psychids. Glyptini is in contrast much more consistent, with the vast majority of reliable host records being concealed totricids (larvae living in leaf-rolls, galls, flower-heads, etc.). Banchini appears to be similarly specialized since all known hosts are noctuids that pupate in soil.

Distribution

Banchinae has a worldwide distribution with around 1750 described species.

References

Brock, J. P. (2017). The Banchine wasps (Ichneumonidae: Banchinae) of the British isles. Handbooks for the identification of British insects Vol. 7, part 4. Royal Entomological Society of London

Watanabe, K., Maeto, Kaoru. (2014). Revision of the Genus Teleutaea Förster, 1869 from Japan (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Banchinae). Japanese Journal of Systematic Entomology, 20 (1): 27–41.

Broad, G. R., Shaw, M. R., & Fitton, M. G. (2018). Ichneumonid wasps : (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae): their classification and biology. Handbooks for the identification of British insects Vol. 7, part 12. Royal Entomological Society of London

SLU Artdatabanken (2024). Artfakta: Banchinae. https://artfakta.se/taxa/1000043 [2024-08-22]

Finlands Artdatacenter (2024). LAJI.FI: Banchinae. https://laji.fi/en/taxon/MX.309182 [2024-08-22]

BugWeb

Banchinae

Keys

Northern European species and larger genera

Atrophini

Banchini

Glyptini

Gallery

References