Anacharitinae, Thomson, 1862

Buffington, Matthew L., Forshage, Mattias, Liljeblad, Johan, Tang, Chang-Ti & Noort, Simon van, 2020, World Cynipoidea (Hymenoptera): A Key to Higher- Level Groups, Insect Systematics and Diversity 4 (2020), No. 1, pp. 1-69 : 50

Anacharitinae

Figs. 233–236

The moderately diverse anacharitines are often among the more easily recognizable wasps within the cynipoids. They tend to be elongate, with a subtriangular head (in anterior view). In fact, the head is frequently the widest part of the animal (when viewed dorsally. The narrow petiole, so characteristic of the common Anacharis , in conjunction with a very short ovipositor, is hypothesized to be an adaptation for ‘quick strike’ oviposition into predatory Neuroptera (Buffington 2007) . The narrow petiole allows for maximum flexibility in directing the ovipositor tip; the short ovipositor requires the slightest insertion into the larval body to deposit an egg. Together, this allows the wasp to successfully oviposit before the host can mount a counter-attack. The limits of some genera are poorly circumscribed.

Biology. Primary parasitoids of aphidophagous Hemerobiidae , and possibly Chrysopidae .

Distribution. Main genera are widespread but mostly Holarctic, while the Neotropical region has several endemic genera and the Afrotropics one ( Acanthaegilopsis ). Anacharis is the most widespread with at least one species common in Australia.

Relevant literature. The research group at the University of Barcelona (led by Juli Pujade-Villar) has been very active in this taxon. Ros-Farré et al. (2000) revised Acanthaegilips and characterized the aspicerines and anacharitines; Mata-Casanova et al. (2015a) revised Xyalaspis ; other species-level treatments of Aegilips (Mata- Casanova et al. 2017; Mata-Casanova et al. 2019) and Anacharis ( Mata-Casanova et al. 2015b) ; Restrepo-Ortiz and Pujade-Villar (2010) provide a key to genera of the world. Van Noort et al. (2015) reviewed the Afrotropical species of the subfamily. Buffington et al. (2007, 2012) provided phylogenetic data on the group.

Classification.

Anacharitinae Thomson, 1862

Acanthaegilips Ashmead, 1897 ; 17 species NT