| Psyllaephagus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female P. cornwallensis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Encyrtidae |
| Subfamily: | Encyrtinae |
| Genus: | Psyllaephagus Ashmead, 1900[1] |
| Type species | |
| Encyrtus pachypsllae Howard, 1885 | |
| Synonyms[2][3] | |
| |
Psyllaephagus is a genus of chalcid wasps.[3] It was named and circumscribedbyWilliam Harris Ashmead in 1900.[1] As of 2019[update], Psyllaephagus contains approximately 245 species.[3]. They are found worldwide: Australia has 100 described species; the Palaearctic region has about 57 species, India has about 20, and Africa about 30.[3]
Body length 0.8–3.0 mm, usually between 1.2 and 2.0 mm; usually metallic green or blue-green in colour; mandible usually with two teeth and a large straight dorsal truncation; Antenna 11-segmented; funicle 6-segmented; clava often 3-segmented; fore-wing fully developed, often hyaline, rarely with a smoky spot under marginal vein and stigmal vein; marginal vein usually punctiform (submarginal vein only meeting margin at the point where stigmal vein branches) or slightly longer than wide; marginal and postmarginal veins are both usually shorter than stigmal vein; mesopleuron in side view clearly separated from base of metasoma by propodeum; mid-tibia spur usually shorter than basitarsus; hypopygium very rarely reaching apex of metasoma; ovipositor usually hidden, but may be slightly to strongly exserted at gastral apex.[12]
Similar to female except for antennae and genitalia: the funicle varies from whiplike with long setae to flattened with short setae; clava entire.[12]
Most of the Psyllaephagus species are primary parasitoids of psylloids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea). Three species from Australia have been successfully utilized for biological control of psylloids: Psyllaephagus pilosus was introduced and released in California and European countries for the purpose of controlling Ctenarytaina eucalypti; Psyllaephagus bliteus was introduced and released in California to regulate Glycaspis brimblecombei; and Psyllaephagus yaseeni was introduced into Hawaii and south-east Asia in order to manage Heteropsylla cubana.[12]
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