Brachycyrtinae

Brachycyrtinae Viereck, 1919

Hymenoptera Ichneumonoidea Ichneumonidae 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. Brachycyrtus ornatus is the only european species.

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).

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.

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

BugWeb

BugWeb

Northern European genera

Keys

Gallery