A new, remarkable species of Platystethynium (Platypatasson) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) from New Zealand

Huber, John; Read, Jennifer D.

doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5052.2.3

Cited by 1,018 publications

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“…Measurement of body length is often somewhat inaccurate because of shriveling of the head and metasoma in air-dried specimens and, possibly, slight enlargement of the metasoma in critical-point-dried specimens. Cleared and slide mounted specimens can be measured more accurately but up to 25% increase in length, mainly of the metasoma, may occur due to maceration in KOH (Triapitsyn 2019;Huber 2021;Huber & Read 2022), and it is often difficult to prepare a specimen with the head oriented vertically for accurate measurement. Intact bodies, i.e., with head still attached to mesosoma, that are slide mounted in lateral view are best for measurement of body length (excluding exserted part of ovipositor).…”

Section: Intraspecific Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The morphological diversity of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera): an atlas of scanning electron micrographs. Part 1. General overview and structure of the head

Huber

BOLTE

Read

2023

Zootaxa

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This is the first in a series of studies that aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the morphological diversity of Mymaridae (Hymenoptera), a monophyletic family of small parasitic wasps that are postulated as the sister group of other Chalcidoidea. The external cranial morphology of 65–75 genera and subgenera of Mymaridae (fairyflies) is described and illustrated with almost 430 scanning electron micrographs, including 73 micrographs of the anterior, 68 of the posterior, 75 of the dorsal, 75 of the lateral, and 67 of the ventral views of the head, plus 71 micrographs of the ventral view of the mouthparts. Twenty-one annotated figures illustrate the terms used for morphological structures. Two appendices list the 64 morphological terms and 5 measurements that are defined and illustrated, and the 116 currently recognized valid genera and subgenera of Mymaridae, including collection localities for those that are illustrated. Discussion of head morphology characteristic of Mymaridae is preceded by an overview that includes discussion of best practices for taxonomic descriptions and why these and accurate identifications require well preserved and imaged specimens. Aspects of intraspecific variation, colour, secondary sexual dimorphism, setation (chaetotaxy), surface sculpture and morphometrics are also treated as all of these are often important for describing and distinguishing species. Many of the features illustrated have not previously been used in Mymaridae systematics but may prove to be useful for helping to identify and describe genera and species.

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Section: Intraspecific Variationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…21), they appear to be heavily sclerotized and dark in colour under light microscopy. However, each layer is sometimes and, in part, no more sclerotized or darker than the surrounding cuticle, e.g., Callodicopus [Huber et al (2021), fig. 351].…”

Section: Atlas Of Head Morphologymentioning

confidence: 99%