Scientific name - Taxonomic position - Diagnosis - Images - Distribution - Hosts / Biology - References
Scientific name - Taxonomic position - Diagnosis - Images - Distribution - Hosts / Biology - References
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Scientific name |
Callaspidia rufithorax Cameron
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Taxonomic position |
Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea: Figitidae
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Diagnosis |
Male: Head black, antennae, thorax and legs dark reddish brown, hind legs slightly darker than other pairs, gaster (abdomen) shiny black and smooth. Antenna filiform, 14-segmented, third segment with outer margin distinctly curved. Scutellum with prominent ridges and pits. Gaster distinctly petiolate, laterally compressed, gastral tergites nearly contiguous ventrally.
Female: Head, antennae, thorax and legs reddish brown, abdomen shiny black. Antenna 13-segmented, third segment with outer margin straight. Otherwise similar to male.
Commonly collected parasitising syrphids.
Male antenna
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Images |
Puparia of Ischiodon scutellaris (F.) with emergence holes
Adult male, dorsal view
Adult female, lateral view
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Distribution |
Commonly distributed allover India.
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Hosts / Biology |
Callaspidia spp. are primary, solitary endoparasitoids, mainly of larvae and pupae of Syrphidae (hover flies). Parasitised pupae turn dark brown to black. C. rufithorax is commonly collected as a parasitoid of syrphids such as Ischiodon scutellaris (F.).
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 |
Morphbank (database of SEM images of common genera of Figitidae and their characters) (URL: http://morphbank.csit.fsu.edu/) |
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Weld, L. H. 1951. Cynipoidea. Private Printing, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 351 p. |
