Wing interference patterns (WIPs) of Neotropical parasitoid wasps (Braconidae: Microgastrinae)

Wing interference patterns (WIPs) are color patterns produced by thin film interference due to the varying thicknesses and surface structures of insect wings. Although wing interference patterns have been investigated in several other insect taxa, they have never been investigated before in microgastrine wasps (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). We photographed the WIPs of 19 closely related microgastrine species from the genus Parapanteles. To do this, we removed the fore and hind wings of several individuals from each species, mounted them on temporary glass slides, and photographed them at 50x using a dissecting microscope. We analyzed these photographs in Image J, and have found WIPs to be highly consistent and species-specific within Parapanteles.