Aulacus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Phylum:Arthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Hymenoptera
Family:Aulacidae
Aulacus
Aulacus sp.
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Aulacidae
Genus: Aulacus
Jurine, 1807
Synonyms[1][2]
  • Aulacinus Westwood, 1868
  • Disaulacinus Kieffer, 1910
  • Disphaeron Dahlbom, 1837
  • Micraulacinus Kieffer, 1910
  • Neuraulacinus Kieffer, 1910
  • Pammegischia Provancher, 1882
  • Parafoenus Kieffer, 1910
  • Pycnaulacus Cushman, 1929

Aulacus is a genus of aulacids, ensigns, and gasteruptiids in the family Aulacidae. There are 77 species of Aulacus.[3][4]

This genus was originally described in 1807 by Louis Jurine.[5] It is currently one of two extant genera within the family Aulacidae along with its sister genus, Pristaulacus.[6]

As presently defined, the genus Aulacus has been noted by Turrisi et al. in 2009 as not representing a monophyletic group, instead being a paraphyletic assemblage of species with respect to Pristaulacus. Their research also concluded the need for further studies to split the genus into several monophyletic genera.[7]

Description and identification

Aulacus are generally small auladic wasps. The head lacks an occipital carina, and the tarsal claws are simple.[8] The forewing has vein 2r-m present in contrast to the genus Pristaulacus, which lacks this vein.[9]

Distribution

The genus Aulacus has a nearly worldwide distribution apart from the Afrotropics and Antarctica.[1][4]

Behavior

While little is known about the biology of the genus as a whole, many species are known to be koinobiont parasitoids of beetles or wood wasps.[6]

Species

References

External links

Related Articles

Wikiwand AI