#Aphelinidae
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ajcann.bsky.social
It's been an #Aphelinidae kind of day.
1/3

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55
Aphelinidae wasp (<1mm long)
October 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
ajcann.bsky.social
Encarsia tricolor.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Aphelinidae
November 2, 2026 at 4:48 PM
ajcann.bsky.social
Encarsia tricolor.
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#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Aphelinidae
Encarsia tricolor female. Very small, 1mm in length. Distinctly tricolored body coloration, the head pale yellow to orange, thorax dark brown to black anteriorly with a bright yellow scutellum, the abdomen varies from yellowish to dusky brown with dark lateral markings. Female antennae are 8-segmented with a clearly defined 3-segmented terminal club. The body pattern is bright and distinct. Male antennae feature elongated, uniform flagellar segments without a distinct swollen club. Body coloration is generally darker overall. Clear, hyaline forewings featuring a reduced venation characteristic of Aphelinidae, fringed with fine marginal setae. 5-segmented tarsi on all pairs of legs, which distinguishes Encarsia from related aphelinid genera like Cales or Trichaporus. Smooth, pale yellow mesoscutellum with typically two pairs of setae (a crucial taxonomic character separating it from close relatives such as Encarsia formosa). Endoparasite of a broad range of whitefly species (Aleyrodidae). Encarsia tricolor female. Very small, 1mm in length. Distinctly tricolored body coloration, the head pale yellow to orange, thorax dark brown to black anteriorly with a bright yellow scutellum, the abdomen varies from yellowish to dusky brown with dark lateral markings. Female antennae are 8-segmented with a clearly defined 3-segmented terminal club. The body pattern is bright and distinct. Male antennae feature elongated, uniform flagellar segments without a distinct swollen club. Body coloration is generally darker overall. Clear, hyaline forewings featuring a reduced venation characteristic of Aphelinidae, fringed with fine marginal setae. 5-segmented tarsi on all pairs of legs, which distinguishes Encarsia from related aphelinid genera like Cales or Trichaporus. Smooth, pale yellow mesoscutellum with typically two pairs of setae (a crucial taxonomic character separating it from close relatives such as Encarsia formosa). Endoparasite of a broad range of whitefly species (Aleyrodidae). Encarsia tricolor , submarginal viein with two setae. Encarsia tricolor - smooth, pale yellow mesoscutellum with typically two pairs of setae (a crucial taxonomic character separating it from close relatives such as Encarsia formosa).
October 30, 2026 at 3:38 PM
ajcann.bsky.social
Coccophagus spp.
3/3

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Aphelinidae
Coccophagus spp. female. Typically 1-2mm in length. Most species exhibit a compact, dark body (black or dark brown) often highlighted by yellow, orange, or white markings on the scutellum, mesoscutum, or abdomen. Antennae 8-segmented in females, featuring a distinctive 3-segmented club and a short 3-segmented funicle preceded by a small pedicel and scape. Mesoscutum densely setose (covered in fine hairs), and the scutellum typically possesses several pairs of strong, prominent setae. Forewings with a short marginal vein and a reduced, stubby postmarginal vein, characteristic of the family Aphelinidae. Mid and hind leg tarsi are 5-segmented. Endoparasitoids of Coccoidea - soft scales (Coccidae), armored scales (Diaspididae), mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), and felt scales (Eriococcidae). Many Coccophagus species display a specialized reproductive phenomenon known as heteronomy or differential sex parasitism: females develop as primary endoparasitoids on soft scale insects, males often develop as hyperparasitoids (secondary parasitoids), laying eggs on or inside larvae or pupae of their own species or other primary parasitoids within scale insects. Coccophagus spp. female. Typically 1-2mm in length. Most species exhibit a compact, dark body (black or dark brown) often highlighted by yellow, orange, or white markings on the scutellum, mesoscutum, or abdomen. Antennae 8-segmented in females, featuring a distinctive 3-segmented club and a short 3-segmented funicle preceded by a small pedicel and scape. Mesoscutum densely setose (covered in fine hairs), and the scutellum typically possesses several pairs of strong, prominent setae. Forewings with a short marginal vein and a reduced, stubby postmarginal vein, characteristic of the family Aphelinidae. Mid and hind leg tarsi are 5-segmented. Endoparasitoids of Coccoidea - soft scales (Coccidae), armored scales (Diaspididae), mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), and felt scales (Eriococcidae). Many Coccophagus species display a specialized reproductive phenomenon known as heteronomy or differential sex parasitism: females develop as primary endoparasitoids on soft scale insects, males often develop as hyperparasitoids (secondary parasitoids), laying eggs on or inside larvae or pupae of their own species or other primary parasitoids within scale insects. Coccophagus spp. submarginal vein with more than 5 setae.
October 30, 2026 at 3:39 PM
coleomaniac.bsky.social
0.8mm tiny Aphelinidae wasp (Centrodora sp.?) I found in some hay last autumn

Single shot using Mitutoyo MPlan APO10X on a tube lens with variable aperture on a mirrorless aps-c camera.
#hymenoptera #Aphelinidae #insects #insect #macrophotography #macrophoto #ultramacro #parasitoid #parasitoidwasp
Side view of a tiny translucent white, slightly orange wasp with bright yellow eyes that have a dark purple spot where you are looking straight down the ommatidia. She sits on a blade of grass where, at this magnification individual plant cells are just about visible and some blurry white spots in the foreground, which are the stomata. The wasp is licking up some sugar water which I put there so she is occupied and won't fly away. The background is a blur of shades of petrol.
February 24, 2025 at 8:56 PM
invertebratelab.bsky.social
In April the ISB Lab was lucky enough to host Dr Luke Kresslein as a visiting researcher from the USDA! Luke is a leading systematist based at the Smithsonian and works on the wasp family Aphelinidae. invertebratelab.com/2025/05/19/v... #bugsky
Visiting Researcher: Dr Luke Kresslein
Throughout April of 2025, the Invertebrate Systematics and Biodiversity Lab was lucky enough to host Dr Luke Kresslein as a visiting researcher from the United States Department of Agriculture (USD…
invertebratelab.com
May 21, 2025 at 4:17 AM
naturemusicart.bsky.social
Encarsia is a large genus of minute parasitic wasps of the family Aphelinidae.

The genus is very diverse with currently about 400 described species and worldwide distribution.

en.m.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...
Encarsia - Wikipedia
en.m.wikipedia.org
September 26, 2025 at 8:13 PM
ajcann.bsky.social
Wasp of the Day: Aphelinus asychis.

Widely used as an aphid biocontrol agent, mainly in greenhouses.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Aphelinidae
Aphelinus asychis female. A tiny, stocky parasitoid wasp, typically measuring around 0.9 -1.2 mm in length. Typically has a dark brown to black head and thorax. The abdomen is typically yellow, sometimes darkening toward the tip in males. Submarginal vein with only two setae. Brachyptery is also common in this group, particularly in males. Clava dark-tipped. Possibly a species complex (further work required). Parasitoid of aphids.
July 22, 2026 at 5:05 PM
ajcann.bsky.social
Centrodora amoena
Egg parasitoid of Long Winged Cone-head, Conocephalus fuscus.

#Wasps #Hymenoptera #VC55 #Aphelinidae
Centrodora amoena female Centrodora amoena female Centrodora amoena female
July 9, 2026 at 5:39 PM
armieretop.bsky.social
458socom.org/2025/06/23/%...
🐝 Encarsia lahorensis –  (IT/EN)
🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹🇬🇧🇦🇹 🇮🇹 Introduzione Encarsia lahorensis è un imenottero parassitoide della famiglia Aphelinidae, impiegato nella lotta biologica contro cocciniglie e mosche bianche. Caratter…
458socom.org
June 23, 2025 at 5:57 AM
armieretop.bsky.social
458socom.org/2025/06/23/%...
🐝 Encarsia formosa – (IT/EN)
🇮🇹 Introduzione Encarsia formosa è un imenottero parassitoide appartenente alla famiglia Aphelinidae, ampiamente utilizzato nel controllo biologico della mosca bianca (Trialeurodes vaporariorum). D…
458socom.org
June 23, 2025 at 5:41 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Thanks for these images. Most likely id is a male Centrodora dorsati, a wasp of the Aphelinidae that is an egg parasitoid of the Short-winged Conehead.
October 28, 2025 at 8:57 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Difficult to see enough detail, but the antennal segment proportions look more like Aphelinidae, and there's a rogue forewing that has venation of Ceraphronidae just to confuse us! Can you get a clear image of antenna and wing of one of them? Wondering about the possibility of Centrodora.
October 25, 2025 at 7:54 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Slide mounted female Encarsia citrina parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found under pine trees in Brede High Woods on 8th October.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Aphelinidae #HighWeald
Picture of a slide mounted tiny wasp with wings outstretched. Its body is yellow-grey, head is at the top of picture with antennae projecting upwards, and wings to either side of body are part-shaded towards their middle and the wings have fringe hairs.
October 13, 2025 at 9:38 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A beautiful female Encarsia citrina wasp of the Aphelinidae found under pines in Brede High Woods this morning.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Aphelinidae #HighWeald
a tiny wasp with a yellow head that has a red spot at the top, a yellow-buff thorax, and banded brown and yellow abdomen. Its fringed wings are outstretched either side of the body, and they are partially shaded toward their middles.
October 8, 2025 at 12:01 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A male Centrodora amoena wasp of the Aphelinidae found in the old meadow at Great Dixter at the end of August when it was warmer than today.

#UKWildlife #wasps #HighWeald #Aphelinidae
Side view of a dark coloured wasp with shaded legs, its wings are held vertically above body and have a smoky patch in their basal half
September 23, 2025 at 8:59 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A 0.8mm long male Centrodora amoena wasp of the Aphelinidae next to a female Megaphragma noyesi wasp of the Trichogrammatidae. Both were found in the old meadow at Great Dixter this morning.

#UKWildlife #wasps #HighWeald #Aphelinidae #Trichogrammatidae
Small dark-bodied wasp with part shaded wings held above body, its head and antennae are to the right. On the far right of picture is a tiny yellow wasp with narrow wings with a long fringe, the tiny wasp is also facing to the right.
August 31, 2025 at 1:27 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A damaged female Centrodora acridiphaga parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found in the old meadow at Great Dixter this morning.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Aphelinidae #HighWeald
August 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A beautiful 0.6mm long female Centrodora livens found in the meadow at Great Dixter this morning. Wings are more reduced than on any other individual of this species that I've found previously, but the only other possibility is C.danica which is unlikely.

#UKWildlife #wasps #HighWeald #Aphelinidae
a tiny transparent wasp; it's head had a greenish eye and is to the left of picture, it's reduced wings are held above body
August 19, 2025 at 12:49 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A female Aphelinus abdominalis parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found in the meadow at Great Dixter.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Aphelinidae #HighWeald.
tiny black wasp with a yellow abdomen; its paddle-shaped wings are held vertically above body, and its legs are darkened near to the body and pale further from the body.
July 28, 2025 at 10:57 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A female Encarsia citrina parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found in the garden birch tree this afternoon.

#UKWildlife #wasps #Aphelinidae
yellow bodied wasp with extensive dark markings, its fringed wings are held vertically above body and have their lower halves grey shaded, head and antennae are to the right
June 9, 2025 at 3:53 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A female Aphelinus chaonia parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found on the salt marsh of Rye Harbour Nature Reserve at the end of September when the weather was better than today!

#UKWildlife #wasps #RyeHarbour #Aphelinidae
black-ish female wasp with striped black and yellow legs, wings held above body
October 20, 2024 at 10:06 AM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A seemingly delicate Centrodora sp parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found on the saltmarsh at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this morning. Could well be Centrodora livens, but not certain at present.

#UKWildlife #wasps #RyeHarbour #ento
almost colourless tiny wasp with a yellow eye. Head and antennae to the left, wings above.
September 8, 2024 at 1:27 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
A striking female Centrodora livens parasitoid wasp of the Aphelinidae found in wet grassland at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve this morning.
tiny wasp with grey-brown body, wing held over body, antennae are beneath
May 25, 2024 at 4:03 PM
arnoldtortoise.bsky.social
Yes, considering the quality of your photos. Have hatched out many of these, a lot were Metaphycus dispar, some were Microterys seyon - both of the Encyrtidae, and some were Coccophagus obscurus of the Aphelinidae.
Good luck!
March 12, 2024 at 11:17 AM