Aphytis (insect)
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| Aphytis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Aphelinidae |
| Tribe: | Aphytini |
| Genus: | Aphytis Howard, 1900 |
| Type species | |
| Aphytis chilensis Howard, 1900 | |
| Species | |
|
See text | |
Aphytis is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Aphelinidae. There are about 130 species.[1]
Adults of this genus are less than a millimetre in length. They are usually yellowish or grayish in colour, sometimes mottled. In each antenna, the funicle is usually 3-segmented while the clava is 1-segmented. The pronotum is divided. The propodeum is relatively long and bears crenulae. The forewing has a well-defined linea calva.[2]
Ecology
Aphytis are ectoparasitoids of armoured scale insects (Diaspididae).[2] Adult female wasps lay eggs under scale covers onto the bodies of scale insects, which hatch into larvae that feed on the scales until the point of death.[3] Adult wasps also feed on scales directly (host feeding).[3][4]
