Grooming behaviours in the Hymenoptera (Insecta): potential phylogenetic significance

Grooming behaviours from representatives of 36 families of Hymenoptera were video recorded and analysed. Thirty-three distinct types of grooming movem ents were recognized. The evolutionary pattern of each behaviour is discuss ed. Some behaviours displayed consistent variation between taxa, and appear to be informative regarding higher lever relationships within the order. P utative synapomorphies are reported that support the monophyly of the Apocr ita, Cynipoidea, Platygastroidea, Ichneumonoidea, and Chalcidoidea includin g the Mymaridae. (C) 1999 The Linnean Society of London.