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Species with or without rows of setae radiating from
stigmal vein; however, all species recorded on leafminers have fore
wing with 2
or 3
row of setae radiating from stigmal vein.
Submarginal
vein (SMV) with 2 setae dorsally. Postmarginal
vein (PMV) very short, usually shorter than stigmal vein (STV).
Flagellum usually with 2 funicular
segments and club 3-segmented, although it is sometimes difficult
to separate funicle from club. Male scape with sensory area on scape restricted
placed ventrally.
Head with distinct occipital groove; fronto-facial
suture distinctly separated from anterior ocellus and V or Y-shaped.
Mesosoma
usually slightly sculptured. Pronotum very short and without transverse
carina. Notauli usually incomplete. Mesoscutum and scutellum without longitudinal
grooves; scutellum
with one pair of setae. Propodeum smooth, shiny and without median carina
and plica.
Petiole not distinct.
Coloration
green to dark, usually metallic.
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Overview
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Asecodes is a small genus (less than 20 species) which is cosmopolitan
in distribution (Noyes, 2002; 2003).
Species are endoparasitoids of a variety of small hosts, including eggs
and early stages of leafminers.
There have been some differences of opinion regarding the status of Asecodes.
Hansson (1996) synonymized Teleopterus
Silvestri and Ionympha Graham with Asecodes. Before this
paper (e.g. Boucek, 1988), Asecodes
was separated from Teleopterus because Teleopterus has 2-3
lines of setae radiating from the stigmal vein, and these lines are lacking
in Asecodes. The recognition of Asecodes species which have
the lines of setae radiating from the stigmal vein is quite simple; however,
recognising the species which lack these lines can be much more difficult.
This is particularly true in separating them from some of their close
relatives such as Neochrysocharis
and Closterocerus. Fortunately,
all the species of Asecodes which have been reared from leafminers
have the 2-3 rows of setae (e.g. would have previously been placed in
Teleopterus). Further discussion of how to separate Asecodes
from closely related genera can be found in Hansson
(1990; 1996), Boucek
(1988, as both Teleopterus and Asecodes), Schauff
(1991, as both Teleopterus and Asecodes). To further
complicate this issue, Gumovsky (2001)
synonymised Neochrysocharis,
Asecodes, Hispinocharis Boucek and Mangocharis Boucek
with Closterocerus. Further study
will be required to gain a complete understanding of relationships in
these groups; until that time, we are considering Neochrysocharis,
Asecodes and Closterocerus
as separate genera.
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Identification
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Asecodes is included in recent generic keys to eulophids for Australasia
(Boucek, 1988) and North America
(Schauff et al, 1997),
and it is included in a web-based key to all Eulophidae
genera which attack leafmining Agromyzidae (Reina
& La Salle, 2003). A useful key to distinguish some Asecodes
(as Teleopterus) is provided by Hansson
(1994b).
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