Easy identification of most Braconidae to subfamily

To easily identify most braconids, you should familiarize yourself with the following subfamilies, which are very easy to identify just by sight. If you know these subfamilies, the whole process will be easier. You should eb able to look at your specimen and determine if you have one of the following or not, just by the pictures and tips given below. (However, if you just want to proceed to the short-cut key you can, but it will take longer to identify some of the easiest and most common subfamilies).

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Microgastrinae

Look for:

• 1)- characteristic wing venetaion (big)
• 2)- 16 segemented antennae (can look like 32) (big)
• 3)- short abdomen (called metasoma in most Hymenoptera) (big)

1)- characteristic wing venetaion

2)- 16 segemented antennae (can look like 32)

3)- short abdomen (called metasoma in most Hymenoptera)

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Cheloninae

• - characteristic wing venation
• - carapace
(has a carapace but does not look like this)

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Cardiochilinae

• - characteristic wing venation

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Alysiinae

Alysiines are very easy to identify. Although their size, general appearance and wings are variable, they are all "exodont" meaning the teeth of the mandibles are facing anteriorly (outward). Their mandibles also do not overlap when closed (unlike most Braconids), and their are always 3 or more teeth. If you look at the mouthparts it should be fairly obvious if it is an Alysiine, as they often die with the mandibles wide open.

• - mandibles (shown with arrow) have at least 3 projections either pointed (Fig. 1) or rounded (Fig. 2)
• - mandibles do not meet each other if closed (space between end of mandibles as noted by red lines in Fig. 3.) The white lines are outlining one mandible.

(Fig.1)

(Fig. 2)

(Fig. 3)

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some Aphidiinae

• - characteristic wing venation

Barb Sharanowski and Katja Seltmann: