Character Details

Character

Structure and mode of extension of ovipositor [214]

Description

State 0 is the plesiomorphic Apocritan structure in which the gastral sternites are displaced anterior to the ovipositor base and the ovipositor sheaths (=third valvulae) are visible ventrally along the midline of the gaster or immediately dorsal to the hypopygium if this extends to the apex of the gaster. During oviposition, the ovipositor valvulae rotate downward and the associated sternites are also displaced downward, away from the tergites. This structure is characteristic of Chalcidoidea. State 1 is a derived condition of some outgroup taxa such as Platygastroidea and Diapriidae in which the ovipositor is concealed within the metasoma, and the ovipositor is exerted posteriorly instead of rotating ventrally during oviposition. In these taxa, the apical exposed tergites and sternites are rigidly connected and are not displaced during oviposition. Citation: Gibson (1986: 19).

States

-: unassigned
notes:
coded examples: Notaspidium giganteum Halstead, 1991, UCRC_ENT_305754, UCRC_ENT_305748, UCRC_ENT_00237862, UCRC_ENT_00237865 (toggle remainder)
0: ovipositor with stylets rotating ventrally during oviposition
notes:
coded examples: Cleonymus Latreille, 1809, Cales noacki Howard, 1907, Coccophagus rusti, Cirrospilus coachellae, Eurytoma gigantea (toggle remainder)
1: ovipositor protruding posteriorly from metasomal apex during oviposition
notes: ie: as in Scelionidae.
coded examples: Archaeoteleia mellea, Belyta sp.