Brachycyrtinae

Description

Brachycyrtinae is a small and distinctive subfamily. Members superficially resemble small Cryptines or Phygadeuontines but can be distinguished by the short and hunched mesosoma, the body usually having a yellow pattern, the first tergite and sternite being completely fused and the distinctive wing venation (areolet long and open, 1cu-a postural to the vein M, etc.). The general body shape and broad wings of brachycyrtines give them a rather "stocky" appearance.

Ecology

There is very little known about the biology of Brachycyrtinae. No reliable host records exists for the European species Brachycyrtus ornatus, though some other species have been reared from coocons of Chrysopids.

Distribution

Brachycyrtinae is known from all continents except Antarcitca (though not mainland Africa, the only known African species was described from Madagascar). The only European species, Brachycyrtus ornatus, was first discovered in Scandinavia in 2008 after which several findings have been reported from southeastern Sweden. It likely represents a recent addition to the Swedish fauna that has established itself and spread in recent years.

References

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

Karlsson, D. & Magnusson P. (2011). Brachycyrtinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), ny underfamilj Brokparasitsteklar för Sverige. Entomologisk Tidskrift 132(1): 51-54.

SLU Artdatabanken (2024). Artfakta: Brachycyrtinae. https://artfakta.se/taxa/1000026 [2024-08-17]

Finlands Artdatacenter (2024). LAJI.FI: Brachycyrtinae. https://laji.fi/sv/taxon/MX.308519 [2024-08-17]

BugWeb

Brachycyrtinae

Keys

Northern European species

Gallery

References