Rhopalosomatidae
Encyclopedia
Rhopalosomatidae is a family of Hymenoptera
. It contains about 68 extant species in four genera that are found worldwide. Three fossil genera are known.
The adults resemble ants and may be confused with them. They are yellowish with red or brown markings but may be all brown in colour. Winged species are usually nocturnal, while wingless or reduced-wing species are mainly diurnal. They are solitary and the larvae are ectoparasitic on orthoptera
n nymphs. Adults have the tips of 2 or more antennal segments with spines. The hindwing (when present) has distinct claval and jugal lobes. The metatibia has a calcar or curved spur.
Rhopalosoma is a New World genus (17 spp.) with most species from Central and South America. Olixon (26 spp.) is distributed through Africa and Australia and the New World. Paniscomima (11 spp.) is known from India, Madagascar, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Most species of Liosphex (14 spp.) are found from the southern US to Central and South America with one species, L. trichopleurum, known from the Philippines and Indonesia. Mesorhopalosoma cearae is a fossil known from Brazil.
Hymenoptera
Hymenoptera is one of the largest orders of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees and ants. There are over 130,000 recognized species, with many more remaining to be described. The name refers to the heavy wings of the insects, and is derived from the Ancient Greek ὑμήν : membrane and...
. It contains about 68 extant species in four genera that are found worldwide. Three fossil genera are known.
The adults resemble ants and may be confused with them. They are yellowish with red or brown markings but may be all brown in colour. Winged species are usually nocturnal, while wingless or reduced-wing species are mainly diurnal. They are solitary and the larvae are ectoparasitic on orthoptera
Orthoptera
Orthoptera is an order of insects with paurometabolous or incomplete metamorphosis, including the grasshoppers, crickets and locusts.Many insects in this order produce sound by rubbing their wings against each other or their legs, the wings or legs containing rows of corrugated bumps...
n nymphs. Adults have the tips of 2 or more antennal segments with spines. The hindwing (when present) has distinct claval and jugal lobes. The metatibia has a calcar or curved spur.
Rhopalosoma is a New World genus (17 spp.) with most species from Central and South America. Olixon (26 spp.) is distributed through Africa and Australia and the New World. Paniscomima (11 spp.) is known from India, Madagascar, Africa and Southeast Asia.
Most species of Liosphex (14 spp.) are found from the southern US to Central and South America with one species, L. trichopleurum, known from the Philippines and Indonesia. Mesorhopalosoma cearae is a fossil known from Brazil.