Pteromalid Wasps (Pteromalidae) - 41 Species, Identification & Facts

Arthrolytus fasciatus

Identification: Distinguished from the other known North American Arthrotylus by range (Eastern) and dark area on wing of female. Biology is unknown but the other North American species, and some European species, are found in galls of Cynipidae on o

Asaphes vulgaris

Length 1.5-2mm. Typically dark, metallic greenish-black sheen across the head and thorax. The petiole ("waist") is longer than broad and obvious from above. Antennae elbowed (geniculate) antennae, with 13 segments including 2 ring segments. Genae bor

Callitula bicolor

Length ~2mm. Wings fully developed. Head & throrax metallic dark green. Abdomen (gaster) dorsally, usually unicoloured or with a reddish spot in the basal half, rarely the whole basal half reddish. Callitula pyrrhogaster has vestigial wings and more

Callitula pyrrhogaster

Callitula pyrrhogaster is a tiny, flightless parasitic wasp. Wings rudimentary, head in dorsal view only 1.8 to 1.85 times as broad as long. Abdomen (gaster) dorsally with the basal half or more reddish-orange. Callitula bicolor (this has wings fully

Cecidostiba fungosa

Length 3-4mm. Metallic green. Basal cell of forewing bare or with at most a few hairs distally. Antennae with all funicular segments transverse, combined length of pedicellus and flagellum less than breadth of head. Propodeum very short, medially fro

Cleonymus laticornis

A very small, (length: 1.6 to 2.7 mm) parasitoid wasp with a distinctive wing pattern. Good close up photographs required please. True status in Britain is difficult to determine due to lack of records. No additional images available for this species

Cyrtogaster vulgaris

2-3mm long metallic green-bronze-green wasp. Like most Pteromalids, they have elbowed (geniculate) antennae with a 13-segmented structure (including the tiny ring segments). The clypeus (the area above the mouthparts) usually has a distinct, slightly

Dibrachys pelos

Identification: Discal area of forewing infuscated + distance between eyes and ocelli about 1.5 to 2 times lateral ocellus diameter. A similar species (D. confusus) has the eyes and ocelli separated more widely (Grissell, 1974).

Gastrancistrus compressus

Scutellum is entirely smooth and unsculptured compared to the mesoscutum. Exserted portion of ovipositor sheaths, in profile, from two fifths to slightly more than half as long as the hind tibia. Unless identified by a recognised expert, a photo is r

Homoporus gibbiscuta

Head and thorax metallic, abdomen and legs yellow. Antennal clava without a terminal stylus. Postmarginal vein of forewing as long as the marginal vein. Malar space only about one third the length of an eye. Scutellum strongly convex seen in profile.

Meraporus graminicola

Length 1-2mm. Wings either fully developed or rudimentary. Head and thorax varying from green through bronze-green to bronze or coppery bronze. Median area of propodeum 1-5 to 2-1 times as broad as long. Gaster varying from circular to oval. Male hea

Mesopolobus aequus

Length ~2mm. Antennae inserted low down, the lower edge of the toruli not or hardly above the level of the ventral edge of the eyes; antennal toruli to clypeal margin slightly shorter than it to middle ocellus; pronotum with collar slightly margined;

Mesopolobus tibialis

Unless identified by a recognized expert, explain how the specimen was identified and submit photos of key features. Endoparasitoid of gall wasps (family Cynipidae). No additional images available for this species.

Pachyneuron groenlandicum

Length 1.5-2.6mm. Head and thorax varying from dull olive-green or bluish olive to a fairly bright green or blue-green. Femora often more or less infuscate, sometimes wholly pale, tibiae pale or with a fuscous subbasal ring. Forewing with marginal ve

Spaniopus dissimilis

Body length 1.5–2.5mm. Head, mesosoma and metasoma dark metallic green with diffuse coppery lustre; antenna with scape yellowish-brown, flagellum entirely brown; legs yellowish-brown; fore with or without infuscate spot under M and S; ovipositor shea

Stenomalina gracilis

Genus Stenomalina : The lower edge of the clypeus (face) usually has distinct teeth or is deeply notched in the middle. The antennae are typically inserted at or slightly above the level of the lower eye margins. Like most Pteromalids, the antennae h

Toxeuma fuscicorne

Antennal formula 11263; notauli complete; prepectus reticulate, without carinae; metasoma lanceolate, teregite 8 1.5–1.7 times as long as broad, metasoma 1.05–1.2 times as long as mesosoma and head together. Unless identified by a recognised expert,