The occurrence and phylogenetic implications of the ovipositor clip within the Figitidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea)

Abstract

The presence of the ovipositor clip is surveyed throughout Figitidae. This morphological structure is postulated to restrain the parasitoid host during oviposition. All Figitinae and Eucoilinae that attack semi‐concealed dipterous hosts were found to possess the clip. Figitids that attack fully concealed hosts all lacked the ovipositor clip. It is hypothesized here that two subfamilies, the Anacharitinae and Aspicerinae, attack fully exposed hosts yet lack the clip in order to quickly oviposit and prevent fighting with the host. Mapping of the presence/absence of the ovipositor clip on to two competing phylogenies suggests this structure evolved in parallel in Figitinae and Eucoilinae. The evolution of the ovipositor clip is probably responsible for the successful colonization of semi‐concealed dipterous larvae by Eucoilinae.

Keywords:

• Koinobiont
• morphology
• parasitoid.

Acknowledgements

Joop van Lenteren was instrumental in sparking my interest in this character system after his seminal work on Leptopilina; he has continued to support my research ever since. This research was originally started under the direction of Robert Wharton and James Woolley at Texas A&M University in the fall of 2000, and I appreciate their help dearly. Work was continued under the guidance of John Heraty and John Pinto at UC Riverside; both of them were instrumental in guiding my continued work. Ed Riley (TAMU) and Doug Yanega (UCR) helped me obtain specimens for dissection. I would also like to thank John Heraty for the use of the imaging equipment needed to figure this paper. Bob Wharton, John Heraty, Lars Vilhelmsen, and Mattias Forshage provided final reviews of this paper; Mattias Forshage provided many critical figitid host references. Funding was provided by NSF‐PEET grant BSR 9978150 awarded to J. Heraty and J. Pinto and NSF‐PEET grant DEB 9712543 awarded to R. Wharton and J. Woolley.