Banchinae

Banchinae Wesmael, 1844

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. Some members of this tribe has the ability to produce strong pungent odors when stressed.

Distribution

Banchinae has a worldwide distribution with around 2000 described species.

References

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.

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.

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

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

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

BugWeb

BugWeb

Keys

Northern European genera and species

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