''Bruchophagus'' is a genus of
wasps
A wasp is any insect of the narrow-waisted suborder Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera which is neither a bee nor an ant; this excludes the broad-waisted sawflies (Symphyta), which look somewhat like wasps, but are in a separate suborder. Th ...
belonging to the family
Eurytomidae
The Eurytomidae are a family within the superfamily Chalcidoidea.
Unlike most chalcidoids, the larvae of many are phytophagous (feeding in stems, seeds, or galls), while others are more typical parasitoids, though even then the hosts are usuall ...
.
The genus has
cosmopolitan distribution
In biogeography, a cosmopolitan distribution is the range of a taxon that extends across most or all of the surface of the Earth, in appropriate habitats; most cosmopolitan species are known to be highly adaptable to a range of climatic and en ...
.
''Bruchophagus'' is a genus of small wasps in the family Eurytomidae. These wasps are primarily seed predators, meaning their larvae develop inside seeds, feeding on them from within. Many species in this genus are agricultural pests because they infest the seeds of important crops like alfalfa, clover, and other legumes.
Key Features
* Size & Appearance: They are tiny, usually only a few millimeters long, with black or dark bodies and clear wings.
* Life Cycle: The female lays eggs inside seeds, and the larvae hatch and feed on the seed material, eventually emerging as adult wasps.
* Impact on Crops: Species like ''Bruchophagus roddi'' and ''Bruchophagus platyptera'' are known to damage legume seeds, reducing crop yields.
* Control Measures: Farmers often use biological control methods, such as encouraging natural predators, and agricultural practices like crop rotation to reduce infestations.
Species
Species:
*''
Bruchophagus abnormis''
*''
Bruchophagus abscedus''
*''
Bruchophagus acaciae''
* ''
Bruchophagus astragali''
* ''
Bruchophagus roddi''
References
Eurytomidae
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