Albert T. Finnamore. 1998. Aculeate Wasps in Smith, I.M., and G.G.E. Scudder, eds. Assessment of species diversity in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Burlington: Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, 1998.
ACULEATE WASPS
(Excluding Formicidae)
Albert T. Finnamore
CHRYSIDOIDEA
The superfamily Chrysidoidea is a primarily tropical group of seven families containing an estimated 16 000 species (Finnamore and Brothers 1993). Four families (Bethylidae, Chrysididae, Dryinidae and Embolemidae) and about 150 species are represented in Canada. These families and 21 species are known to be present in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone with more species almost certainly to be added with intensive collecting. Members of this superfamily are parasitoids or cleptoparasites on other insects.
The Bethylidae with an estimated 6500 species is the least known and perhaps the largest family in the Chrysidoidea. Like most other families in the Chrysidoidea the majority of species are tropical. The Canadian fauna consists of 31 species distributed, for the most part, across the south of the country. Bethylids are parasitoids of coleopterous or lepidopterous larvae usually in cryptic situations like soil, wood, stems or leaf mines. The female stings and paralyzes the host larva before laying several eggs on it.
1. Pseudisobrachium prolongatum (Provancher)
DISTRIBUTION: Evans (1978) reported this species from North Carolina, Illinois, Iowa, Montana, and Washington north to British Columbia, Ontario, and Nova Scotia.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Blind Bay; Shuswap Lake, n shore 50·50?n 119·05?w; Shuswap Lake, Blind Bay.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - unknown.
2. Goniozus gracilicornis (Kieffer)
DISTRIBUTION: Evans (1978) reported this species from Florida, Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, California and northern Mexico north to British Columbia, Alberta, Illinois, Ohio and Connecticut.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Vernon.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Lepidoptera.
The Chrysididae reach their greatest diversity in xeric ecosystems (Bohart and Kimsey 1982). The described world fauna (about 3000 species) is distributed among four subfamilies, one of which occurs in the Yukon. The 74 species found in Canada are for the most part restricted to the extreme south. This study reports 6 species from the Montane Cordillera Ecozone although many more certainly exist. Canadian species exhibit a wide range of behaviour; most species are cleptoparasites on other solitary aculeate wasps and bees. Other species are parasitoids on tenthredinoid sawfly larvae.
1. Omalus (Omalus) aeneus Fabricius
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) reported this species over most of North America. In Canada from Nova Scotia to British Columbia and north to Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Alaska.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Banff.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
2. Omalus (Diplorrhos) seminudus Aaron
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) report this species from Canada and the United States in the Rocky Mountains and west.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Oliver; Princeton, 4km w; Robson; Vernon.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
3. Hedychridium paulum Bohart
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) report this species from California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from western Canada indicate that this species does not occur west of the Montane Cordillera Ecozone in Alberta.
ALTA: Banff.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
4. Chrysura kyrae Krombein 2 specimens.
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) reported this species from the eastern United States and in the west from Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and California north to British Columbia.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE:
ALTA: Blairmore.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
5. Trichrysis (Lorochrysis) doriae (Gribodo)
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) reported this species throughout the Nearctic Region from Yukon to Quebec, south to Panama.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE:
ALTA: Banff.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
6. Ceratochrysis trachypleura Bohart
DISTRIBUTION: Bohart and Kimsey (1982) reported this species from New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Manitoba, British Columbia, and Mexico: Baja California.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Robson.
BIOLOGY: cleptoparasite. Host - Hymenoptera (Aculeata).
DRYINIDAE
The Dryinidae exhibit the greatest diversity in the tropics. This family contains over 850 described species of which 40 are recorded from Canada. There are 12 species reported from the fauna of the Montane Cordillera. Most Canadian species are distributed across southern areas of the country. The females of most species in this family have a characteristic pincer-like foretarsus used for holding prey. Some females are wingless and ant-like in appearance and behaviour, and can be difficult to associate with their winged males. Species of Dryinidae are parasitoids usually on Cicadellidae (Homoptera), the larva developing in an external sac-like structure attached to the host abdomen.
1. Aphelopus albopictus Ashmead
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Oregon, California, Arizona, Texas, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, D.C., New Hampshire, and Mexico.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Morley.
BC: Hixon; Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
2. Aphelopus varicornis Brues
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from Alaska, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Oregon, Idaho, California, Montana, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and sout to Mexico.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Johnson Canyon, Banff National Park; Waterton.
BC: Hixon; Oliver; Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
3. Crovettia theliae (Gahan)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Ontario, California, Arizona, Louisiana, Michigan, D.C., and New York.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Richter Pass, Osoyoos.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Membracidae.
4. Lonchodryinus bakeri (Kieffer)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Labrador, Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Montana, Colorado, Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Maine, New Hampshire, and Mexico.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Cameron Lake Road, Waterton Lakes National Park; Frank; Johnson Canyon, Banff National Park.
BC: Hedley, Nickle Plate City; Hixon; Kitwanga; Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
5. Anteon arizonense Perkins
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Washington, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, South Carolina, and New York.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Waterton.
BC: Crowsnest; Hixon.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
6. Anteon canadense (Ashmead)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Idaho, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, Tennessee, Maryland, and New York.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Crowsnest.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
7. Anteon osborni (Fenton)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Washington, Oregon, Idaho,, California, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, Masschusetts, New Hampshire, and Mexico.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Hixon; Madden Lake, Oliver; Richter Pass, Osoyoos; Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
8. Anteon puncticeps Ashmead
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba,, Ontario,, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, Michigan, Ohio, Missouri, Tessessee, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, D.C., Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Rhode Island, New York, and New Hampshire.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Kananaskis.
BC: Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
9. Anteon xanthothorax (Bradley)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from Yukon, British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Idaho, Michigan, Connecticut, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
ALTA: Waterton.
BC: Robson.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
10. Tetrodontochelys unicus (R.C.L. Perkins)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Washington, Idaho, Texas, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Soda Creek.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
11. Gonatopus cyphonotus Bradley
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Florida.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Downie Creek, Selkirk Mountains.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
12. Gonatopus pallidiceps (R.C.L. Perkins)
DISTRIBUTION: Olmi (1984) reported this species from British Columbia, Nova Scotia, California, North Dakota, Kansas, Tennessee, and Florida.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Cherryville.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Cicadellidae.
EMBOLEMIDAE
Embolemidae is a small widely distributed family of 16 species (Olmi 1995). Two species are known from Canada, one of which occurs in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Little is known of the biology. The few observations indicate they develop as external parasitoids on the abdomens of subcortical fungus-feeding homopterans (Achilidae).
1. Ampulicomorpha confusa Ashmead
DISTRIBTUION: Olmi (1995) reported this species from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Missouri, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland.
MONTANE CORDILLERA ECOZONE: collection records from British Columbia indicate that this species is not restricted to the Montane Cordillera Ecozone.
BC: Lac La Hache.
BIOLOGY: parasitoid. Host - Homoptera: Achilidae.
