OVIPOSITOR INTERNAL MICROSCULPTURE AND OTHER FEATURES IN DORYCTINE WASPS (INSECTA, HYMENOPTERA, BRACONIDAE)

Detailed ovipositor morphology has been investigated in representative s of 81 of the more than 120 genera of the parasitic wasp subfamily Do ryctinae. Potentially phylogenetically informative variation was found in the microsculpture of the egg canal wall and the presence and degr ee of development of the valvillus. In all the genera, a socketed seta arises from below each member of the line of ctenidia (comb-like scal es) distal to the valvillus (or valvillar region). These subctenidial setae are modified in two groups of genera. In the Holcobraconini (= O dontobraconini) together with the genera Acanthodoryctes, Binarea; Mon area, and Liobracon, the setae are extremely flattened producing overl apping leaflet-like structures. In some of these, groups of leaflets a re further modified to form fans that protrude into the egg canal. In Schlettereriella and Leptospathius the basal seta is highly branched a nd rather flattened and may serve a similar function to the valvillus which in these two genera is extremely reduced. In Doryctes and Neodor yctes, there is a distinctive type of bar-like sculpture anterior to t he valvillus and a single large crescentic bar posterior to the valvil lus. These modifications are suggested as possible synapomorphies tin lieu of an analysis) for their respective groups of genera. Several ot her characters are also described and illustrated. (C) 1998 The Norweg ian Academy of Science and Letters.