HomeWasp classificationExpeditionsLinksFigWebBiodiversity ExplorerPermits
Ichneumonidae_1_Vida_van_der_Walt

Classification

Cryptinae

of the Afrotropical Region

(Life: Kingdom: Metazoa (animals); Phylum: Arthropoda; Class: Hexapoda; Order: Hymenoptera;  Superfamily: Ichneumonoidea; Family: Ichneumonidae)

Cryptinae Kirby, 1837. Type genus: Cryptus Fabricius, 1804.
Aptesini
Cryptini
Distribution

Worldwide.
Biology Most are idiobiont ectoparasitoid of Holometabola pupae or prepupae. Some species are koinobiont or endoparasitoids, and some species parasitize the egg masses of Araneae and Pseudoscorpionida.
Diagnosis Head in front view usually somewhat globose, eyes usually 0.4–0.6× as high as head. Flagellum usually stout, first segment about 2.0 as long as wide. Dorsal margin of metanotum posteriorly with a sublateral triangular projection opposite to the anterior end of sublateral longitudinal carina of propodeum. Propodeum with conspicuous longitudinal carinae. Fourth tarsomere not distinctly bilobed. Areolet pentagonal or rarely quadrangular, crossvein 3r-m always present. Hindwing vein Cua usually at least 2.0 as long as crossvein cu-a; vein Cub nearly always straight or concave (Santos, 2017).

References

Broad GR. 2021. Taxonomic changes in Ichneumonoidea (Hymenoptera), and notes on certain type specimens. Zootaxa 4941: 511–541. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4941.4.3

Cameron, P. 1904. Descriptions of new genera and species of Hymenoptera from Dunbrody, Cape Colony. Records of the Albany Museum 1: 125-160.

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. 1994. Opinion 1757. Cryptus Fabricius, 1804 and Cryptinae Kirby, 1837 (Insecta, Hymenoptera) conserved. Bulletin of Zoological Nomenclature 51(1):74-75. 

Rousse, P. & Villemant, C. 2012. Ichneumons in Reunion Island: a catalogue of the local Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) species, including 15 new taxa and a key to species. Zootaxa 3278: 1–57.

Roman, A. 1943. Neue Schlupwespen aus Ostafrika. Folium Entomol. Festschrift zum 60-Geburtstage von Felix Bryk: 20-23.

Santos BF, Bordera S. 2025. Phylogenomics and taxonomic revision of Stenarella Szépligeti (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae). Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny 83: 463–511. https://doi.org/10.3897/asp.83.e151385

Santos BF. 2017. Phylogeny and reclassification of Cryptini (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae), with implications for ichneumonid higher-level classification. Systematic Entomology. doi:10.1111/syen.12238

Seyrig, A. 1952. Les Ichneumonides de Madagascar. IV Ichneumonidae Cryptinae. Mémoires de l'Académie Malgache. Fascicule XIX. 213 pp.

Yu D.S., van Achterberg, K., Horstmann, K. 2011. World Ichneumonoidea 2011. Taxonomy, biology, morphology and distribution. Available from Vancouver, Canada: Taxapad. www.taxapad.com

Credits

 Photographs © Simon van Noort (Iziko Museums of South Africa). Banner image © Vida van der Walt.

Acaenitinae; Anomaloninae; Banchinae; Brachycyrtinae; Sisyrostolinae; Campopleginae; Cremastinae; Cryptinae; Ctenopelmatinae; Diplazontinae; Eucerotinae; Ichneumoninae; Lycorininae; Mesochorinae; Metopiinae; Ophioninae; Orthocentrinae; Pimplinae; Rhyssinae; Tersilochinae; Tryphoninae; Xoridinae

Web author Simon van Noort (Iziko South African Museum)

 

Citation: van Noort, S. 2026. WaspWeb: Hymenoptera of the World. URL: www.waspweb.org (accessed on <day/month/year>).

Copyright 2004-2026 Iziko Museums of South Africa

customisable counter