Alysiinae
| Alysiinae | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Clade: | Euarthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Braconidae |
| Subfamily: | Alysiinae |
| Tribes | |
The Alysiinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps with over 1000 described species. Several species have been used in biocontrol programs. They are closely related to the Opiinae.
Alysiinae are small wasps, usually under 5mm long and black or brown in color. Their mandibles are exodont, opening outwards and not overlapping. This characteristic is unique among braconids, with a few rare exceptions.
Alysiinae are found worldwide.
Alysiinae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of cyclorrhaphus Diptera. Females oviposit into host eggs or larvae. The host is allowed to develop until it forms a puparium, at which point it is killed by the wasp larva. The Alysiinae larva then pupates within the host puparium. Adults use their exodont mandibles to break free of the tough host puparium. Most species of Alysiinae are solitary, but a few are gregarious and lay multiple eggs within one host.
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