Variability and fluctuating asymmetry of mid tibial spurs in Eucremastus Szépligeti (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cremastinae)

By

Mazon, Marina
Bordera, Santiago

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2015

Original Publication

Journal of Hymenoptera research

Volume

45

Pages

55-63

Subjects

Eucremastus , fluctuating asymmetry , morphological traits , Spurs

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Washington, D.C International Society of Hymenopterists

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/JHR.45.8612

 

Abstract

The presence of one or two spurs on the mid tibia has been widely used as a diagnostic character in many taxa, but it has been discovered to be a highly variable character in the Cremastinae genus Eucremastus. Variation in the number of mid tibial spurs and occurrence of asymmetry in this genus was studied. The anomalies observed in this character are classified into three categories. Other non-cremastine genera traditionally characterized by having a single mid tibial spur were studied, but no anomalies were found. The taxonomic implications of this variation are discussed.