Braconidae

The Braconidae or braconides (of the Braconidae ) are a taxon of entomophagous Insectes of Hyménoptère S, Apocrite S Térébrant S. With more than 40.000 species recorded in 45 subfamilies and surroundings 1.000 kinds, it act of one of the richest families of insects, and of many species still remain to discover.

Common morphology

Small size with average (lower than 15 mm) weaker than that of the Ichneumonidae , close relation, of color black, chestnut or orange (sometimes with red spots).

Wings developed well with the many veins. Only one cell discoïdale, because of one only recurring vein.
the antennas have more than 16 articles and are well developed.
the mandibles are bidentate.
the females are often equipped a length Ovipositeur.

There exist 45 pennies families of which here a list of principal: Doryctinae , Histeromerinae , Braconinae , Rogadinae , Opiinae , Alysiinae , Gnatodoninae , Ichneutinae , Miracinae , Acoeliinae , Helconinae , Cenocoeliinae , Blacinae , Euphorinae , Homolobinae , Sigalphinae , Aghatidinae , Macrocentrinae , Orgilinae , Cheloninae , Neoneurinae , Microgasterinae …

Biology

The Braconidae are endoparasitoïdes or ectoparasitoïdes of various insects, one will quote for some great orders, under following families:

Lépidoptère : Braconinae , Macrocentrinae , Agathidinae , Cheloninae , Microgasterinae , Rogadinae
Coleopter: Braconinae , Helconinae , Spathiinae , Dipterous Doryctinae
: Opiinae , Dacnusinae , Alysiinae

Certain groups are in addition parasitoïdes of Aphide S, of Hétéroptère S or out of Embiidine S. the majority kill their hosts, but some species return them only Stérile S. Their fruitfulness is high.

Among the most important kinds, one will quote: Ademon , Aphanta , Asobara , Bracon , Chaenusa , Chorebidea , Chorebidella , Chorebus , Dacnusa , Microgaster , Opius , Phaenocarpa , Psenobolus .

Description and biology of principal under families

under family of the Alysiinae

well developed Mandibles, turned towards outside (exodontes).
Sometimes apterous

Tribe: Dacnusinii

2nd vein cubital goes away.

They all are endoparasitoïdes larval recluses of Diptère S cyclorraphes. Much is solitary, but the Aphaereta are gregarious.

Kinds: Alloea , Alysia , Aphaereta , Aspitola , Chorebus , Cratospila , Dacnusa , Dapsilarthra , Exotela , Gnathopleura , Phaenocarpa …

The tribe of Dacnusinii parasitizes quasi exclusively Agromyzidae and are rather specific. Dacnusa siberica is used in biological Lutte in Europe in cultures under greenhouse. The tribe of Alysiines parasitizes 25 families different of Cyclorraphes: the Phaenocarpa parasitize Anthomyiidae and Scatophagidae . The Alloea parasitize of Lonchopterides and the Gnathopleura parasitize Muscoides calyptères.

under family of the Agathidinae

Wing with very narrow radial cell.
Tendency to the vertical lengthening of the head.
Kinds: Agathirsia , Agathis , Alabagrus , Bassus , Coccygidium , Crassomicrodus , Cremnops , Dichelosus , Earinus , Sesioctonus , Zacremnops …

They are solitary parasites of Lépidoptère S.

under family of the Braconinae

They are largest of the Braconidae .

wing Nervation complete of the Braconidae
No occipital hull (with the back of the head).
No hull prépectale.
No ventral lobe postéo of propleure.

Their mandibles leave enters a characteristic round opening. They are especially solitary or gregarious parasitoïdes of Lépidoptère S, Coléoptère S (Curculionidae), sometimes of Diptère S ( Trypetidae ) and of Symphyte S.

Genres: Bracon , Coeloides , Glyptomorpha , Habrobracon , Pambolus , Pseudovipio , Rhaconothus , Iphiaulax , Exothecus , Rhyssalus , Rhogas , Colastes , Doryctes , Vipio …

under family of the Cheloninae

the hull is complete on the level of the mesopleure (ventral face)
the abdominal tergites is amalgamated and forms a carapace.
the abdomen is concave in lower part.
the cells cubital and discoidale of the wing amalgamated at the kind Chelonus and are separate at the kind Phanerotoma .

They are endoparasites ovolarvaires of Lépidoptère S, generally recluses. Chelonus taxanus develops with depends on various Noctuidae . Phanerotoma saussurei parasite the white borer of rice, Maliarpha separatella with Madagascar.

Kinds: Allodorus , Ascogaster , Chelonus , Microchelonus , Phanerotoma , Phanerotomella , Sigalphus , Sphaeropyx …

under family of the Doryctinae

Présence of an occipital hull
Présence of a hull prépectale
the angle postéroventral of propleure forms a lobe
short Epines on the former face of the former tibia

They are parasitic of Coléoptère S and Lépidoptère S borers ( Rhaconotus ).

under family of the Euphorinae

Tribe of Meteorinii
petiolate Abdomen, active petiole widening.
Mark in a depression of the posterior part of the petiole.
Cell brachiale opened at its top.
Mesoscutum and propodeum rough
yellow Aspect with brown, rather clearly.

Primarily represented by the kind Meteorus . Endoparasites of Lépidoptère S or Coleopter S (kinds Meteorus , Zeal )

Kind: Allurus , Ancylocentrus , Centites , Leiophron , Marshiella , Microctonus , Perilitus , Peristenus , Pygostolus …

under family of the Helconinae

The cocoons are suspended on the plant.

Kinds: Aspicolus , Diospilus , Euphorus , Habrobracon , Meteorus , Stenobracon , Taphaeus …

Use in biological fight: Habrobracon gelechiae is a species used in the fight against the tinea of potato. Stenobracon nicevillei and S. deesae was introduced with Madagascar in 1965 since the India to fight against the borers of the cane and the Maïs. These Braconidae could not be multiplied in mass. Reduced lâchers were made but without apparent success.

under family of the Microgastrinae

It is under very important family by her number. 2 ' 500 described species.

wing Nervation reduced
No occipital hull

There exist 4 tribes: Apantelini , Microplitini , Cotesinii and Microgastrini They are endoparasitoïdes solitary or gregarious of larvae of Lépidoptère S. They have sometimes a collective cocoon. Apanteles glomeratus parasite Pieris brassicae at a rate of 150 larvae per caterpillar.

Tribe Apantelini

Kinds: Alphomelon , Apanteles , Dolichogenidea , Exoryza , Illidops, Pholetesor , Promicrogaster …

Tribe Cotesinii

Kinds: Cotesia , Deuterixys , Diolcogaster , Distatrix , Glyptapanteles , Parapanteles , Protapanteles , Protomicroplitis , Rasivalva …

Tribe Microgastrini

Kinds: Choeras , Hypomicrogaster , Microgaster , Pseudapanteles , Rhygoplitis , Sathon , Xanthomicrogaster …

Tribe Microplitinii

Kinds: Microplitis

Mirax ( Miracinae ), Mesocoelus .

Use in biological Fight : Apanteles flavipes was been essential from Mauritius with Madagascar in 1955 then in 1961 to fight against Chilo saccariphagus on the Canne with sugar. It was gradually established in the north of the country. Apanteles sesamiae is present in all intertropical Africa where it parasitizes the majority of the borers the graminaceous ones. It was released in Madagascar in 1955, without success, then in 1968 starting from a stock of Uganda where it was acclimatized since. This braconide affectionate places with high hygroscopy.

under family of the Rogadinae

She is rich of more than 800 species distributed in 90 kinds.

Identical to the Doryctinae except spines on the tibia
1st tergite of the characteristic gaster: 2 hulls meet, delimiting a triangular surface and continues centrally in a single hull.

This under family is ectoparasitic larvae of Lépidoptère S, Coléoptère S, Diptère S and of Symphyte S.

There is no cocoon: the momifiée caterpillar point of disjunction the parasite until the adult state.

Kinds: Aleiodes , Bucculatriple , Clinocentrus , Pelecystoma , Petalodic , Polystenidea , Tetrashaeropyx , Triraphis , Yelicones ,…

under family of the Opiinae

It is a family of transition with the cyclostomes.

occipital Carène presents but only on the sides of the head (plays)
occipital Carène goes away dorsalement.
visible median Vein in the form of infumation (and not tubular).
often concave radial Vein, delimiting a large cell.

They all are of the solitary endoparasitoïdes of larvae of Diptère S cyclorraphes, often of the Agromysidae . Drosophilidae , Tephritidae

Kinds: Opius , Utetes , Doryctobracon , Biosteres , Fopius .

Use in biological fight: Opius concolor , O. longicaudatus and O. oophilus was released in 1962 in Madagascar to fight against Ceratitis malagassi in orchard, without apparent success.

List under families

Adeliinae
Agathidinae
Alysiinae
Amicrocentrinae
Aphidiinae
Apozyginae
Betylobraconinae
Blacinae
Braconinae
Cardiochilinae
Cenocoeliinae
Cheloninae
Dirrhopinae
Doryctinae
Ecnomiinae
Euphorinae
Exothecinae
Gnamptodontinae
Helconinae
Histeromerinae
Homolobinae
Hormiinae
Ichneutinae
Khoikhoiinae
Macrocentrinae
Masoninae
Mendesellinae
Mesostoinae
Meteoridiinae
Meteorinae
Microgastrinae
Microtypinae
Miracinae
Neoneurinae
Opiinae
Orgilinae
Pselaphaninae
Rogadinae
Rhyssalinae
Sigalphinae
Telengaiinae
Trachypetinae
Vaepellinae
Xiphozelinae
Ypsistocerinae

List kinds

(very incomplete list)

Ademon Haliday, 1833
Alysia Latreille, 1804
Aphanta Förster, 1862
Asobara Förster, 1862
Bracon Fabricius, 1805
Chaenusa Haliday, 1839
Chorebidea
Chorebidella Riegel, 1950
Chorebus Haliday, 1833
Dacnusa Haliday, 1833
Microgaster Latreille, 1804
Opius Wesmael, 1835
Phaenocarpa Förster, 1862

References

Gauld, I. and B. Bolten.1988. The Hymenoptera. British Museum (Natural History) and Oxford University Near: Oxford, 327pp.

External references

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