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Diapriidae (Tiny parasitic wasps)

Images

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Taxonomy

Diapriidae are tiny parasitic wasps. There are estimated to be about 4000 species worldwide, with only half of those described. They are often endoparasitoids of flies. Wasps in the family Diapriidae were uncommon in Bee Atlas blocks, and we did not identify them to genus or species.

Description

Diapriidae are typically 2-3 mm long, shiny black wasps. Different species vary a lot in appearance, and males and females of the same species often look strikingly different. To the naked eye, Diapriidae from Bee Atlas blocks looked like Melittobia. Under a microscope, we could see that they had longer antennae inserted into a shelf above their clypeus and a more sculpted integument.

Nest Structure

None of the host insects emerged from tunnels that produced Diapriidae. Nest plug information indicates that there may have been Isodontia wasps or spiders nesting in some of the tunnels.

Hole Sizes

No information at this time.

Voltinism

No information at this time.

Activity Period

No information at this time.

References

Yoder, Matthew. Tree of Life Web Project: Diapriidae Page. http://www.tolweb.org/Diapriidae Thank you to John Luhmen for help identifying parasitic wasps

Minnesota Record Map

These data are from the Minnesota Bee Atlas project.

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