Monograph Of The Afrotropical Species Of Scelio Latreille Hymenoptera Platygastridae Egg Parasitoids Of Acridid Grasshoppers Orthoptera Acrididae

Download or read book Monograph of the Afrotropical species of Scelio Latreille (Hymenoptera, Platygastridae), egg parasitoids of acridid grasshoppers (Orthoptera, Acrididae) written by Matthew J. Yoder and published by PenSoft Publishers LTD. This book was released on 2014-02-17 with total page 194 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Parasitic wasps of the genus Scelio (Hymenoptera: Platygastri-dae) attack and destroy the eggs of short-horned grasshoppers (Acrididae). Included among these hosts are some of the most destructive of all insects, the plague locusts. As a result, species of Scelio are potential allies in the biological control of these pests. This paper is the first comprehensive examination of the species of Scelio of the Afrotropical region in over 50 years. A total of 62 species were found, 77% of which are new to science. Descriptions and keys for identification are provided, and each species is extensively illustrated. This work is a product of the Platygastroidea Planetary Biodiversity Program and was conducted using biodiversity informatics tools and applications developed as part of that project.