Platygastroidea keys

Keys to platygastroid wasps of the world

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera; Superfamily: Platygastroidea)

*** NB Chrome Version 42 (released April 2015) removed the Netscape Plugin API (NPAPI) architecture that Java requires to function. This means that the Lucid keys will not load in Google Chrome. Please use an alternative browser (IE, FireFox, or Safari on Mac OS X) to load the Lucid keys.

Users can choose between three different key formats depending on their personal preference: standard dichotomous keys; Lucid Phoenix interactive dichotomous keys; or interactive Lucid matrix keys. Although Lucid Phoenix keys are interactive keys they are still dichotomous and a choice needs to be made at each key couplet to continue. Lucid matrix keys, on the other hand, use a different approach where relevant states from multiple character features can be selected independently until identification is achieved. For more information concerning Lucid keys visit www.lucidcentral.org.

System requirements

Java Runtime Environment (JRE) must be installed. To check if you have Java installed on your system type "Java -version" in a Command prompt (Windows) or Terminal console (Mac, Unix).

If you receive an unknown command error message or your Java build number is not the latest version then re-install the latest edition of JRE, which can be found at: http://java.com/en/download/index.jsp

Pop-up blockers on your browser need to be turned off to access character images and species pages (fact sheets) from within the key environment.

What to do if your Java security settings prevent the key from opening. Go to the programs folder on your computer; open the Java Folder; click on Configure Java tab, which will open the Java Control Panel; click on the Security tab; under Exception site list click on Edit site list and add the WaspWeb url: http://www.waspweb.org

If you are still having problems opening the keys visit the Java page: How do I enable Java in my web browser? and follow the instructions for the browser you are using.


Platygastridae DRAFT working key to subfamilies of Scelionidae in the old sense (adapted from Masner 1976). Excludes Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae.

Scelioninae DRAFT working key to World genera of Scelioninae (adapted from Masner 1976).
To modify the key for a specific biogeographical region, click on the grey/blue funnel icon and select the region you are interested in. The key will be adapted automatically and will filter out extra-limital genera, simplifying and speeding up the identification process.

Teleasinae DRAFT working key to World genera of Teleasinae (adapted from Masner 1976)

Telenominae DRAFT working key to World genera of Telenominae (adapted from Masner 1976)

Heptascelio Key to FEMALES of World species of Heptascelio
Key to MALES of World species of Heptascelio

Nixonia Key to World species of Nixonia	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key

Oreiscelio Key to FEMALES of World species of Oreiscelio
Key to MALES of World species of Oreiscelio

Platyscelio Key to World species of Platyscelio	Standard Dichotomous key

Scelio Key to Afrotropical Scelio species-groups	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio ernstii species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio howardi species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio ipomea species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio irwini species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to World species in the Scelio pulchripennis species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio simoni species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key
Key to Afrotropical species in the Scelio walkeri species-group	Standard Dichotomous key	Lucid Phoenix key	Lucid Matrix key

References

Johnson, N.F. & Masner, L. 2006. Revision of world species of the genus Nixonia Masner (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Scelionidae). American Museum Novitates 3518: 1-32.

Johnson, N. F., Masner, L., Musetti, L., van Noort, S., Rajmohana K., Darling, D.C., Guidotti, A., Polaszek, A. 2008. Revision of world species of the genus Heptascelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae). Zootaxa 1776: 1-51.

Masner, L. 1976. Revisionary notes and keys to world genera of Scelionidae (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 97: 1-87.

Taekul, C., Johnson, N.F., Masner, L., Polaszek, A., Rajmohana, K. 2010. World species of the genus Platyscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae) ZooKeys 50: 97–126.

Talamas, E.J., Johnson, N.F., van Noort, S., Masner, L., Polaszek, A. 2009. Revision of world species of the genus Oreiscelio Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Platygastroidea, Platygastridae) Zookeys 6: 1-68.

van Noort, S. 2008. South African survey reveals further Nixonia gems. Skaphion 2(13): 1-3.

van Noort, S. & Johnson, N. 2009. New species of the plesiomorphic genus Nixonia (Platygastridae, Hymenoptera) from South Africa. Zookeys 20: 31-51.

Yoder, M., Valerio, A., Polaszek, A., Masner, L., Johnson, N. 2009. Revision of Scelio pulchripennis-group species (Hymenoptera, Platygastroidea, Platygastridae). ZooKeys 20: 53-118. (doi: 10.3897/zookeys.20.205).

Credits

Keys produced by Simon van Noort under the auspices of the PBI Platygastroidea project (National Science Foundation grant No. DEB–0614764 awarded to to N.F. Johnson and A.D. Austin).

Photographs included in the keys either © PBI Platygastroidea project or © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of South Africa).