Monomachidae is a
family
Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...
of
parasitoid wasps in the order
Hymenoptera comprising two
genera
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...
.
The species of the family are found in the Southern Hemisphere, primarily in the tropics of the New World with a few from Australia and New Guinea.
Description
Species of the family Monomachidae are generally 9.5-11.2 mm in length, occupy a range of colors, and are
sexually dimorphic
Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, di ...
. Females have a long, tapered
metasoma of a sickle-shape, while in males the metasoma is thinner and elongated.
Both sexes have large, unique mandibles which are diverse in shape throughout the family.
Behavior
Males and females of species in the family Monomachidae engage in different behaviors as adults. While males may fly in swarms in search of females, females will fly closer to the soil in search of hosts.
Known hosts of Monomachidae species are primarily
flies
Flies are insects of the Order (biology), order Diptera, the name being derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek δι- ''di-'' "two", and πτερόν ''pteron'' "wing". Insects of this order use only a single pair of wings to fly, the hindwin ...
, including species of the genus ''
Boreoides'' and ''
Chiromyza vittata''.
Genera
The following genera are recognised in the family Monomachidae:
[
* '' Chasca'' Johnson & Musetti, 2012
* '' Monomachus'' Klug, 1841
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q4044479
Hymenoptera
Apocrita families