The family Encyrtidae is one of the most important groups in the biological control of other insects, mainly Homoptera. It has been used with a great success in many countries of the world.
The tribe Acroaspidiini Trjapitzin 1973 is characterized by the tridentate mandibles, which is a plesiomorphic state in the subfamily Tetracneminae where it belongs. Females of Acroaspidiini are myrmecomorphous with rudimentary wings, and possess a well-developed abdominal petiole. This last character is unique among encyrtids and represents a synapomorphy indicative of the monophyly of the tribe Acroaspidiini. The males are fully winged and have the typical encyrtiform habitus.
Distribution of all 11 species of the tribe, belonging to 3 genera, is restricted to the New World from the State of New Jersey-USA in the north to the provinces of Mendoza and Buenos Aires in Argentina.
Species 1: Hymenoptera Encyrtidae
Keywords: America, encyrtids
The ESA 2001 Annual Meeting - 2001: An Entomological Odyssey of ESA