The Mymarommatidae, sometimes referred to as false fairy wasps, are a very small family of microscopic parasitic wasps. Only about half of the known species are living taxa (the others are fossils), but they are found worldwide.[1]
Little is known about the biology of these insects, but because of their size, and simple ovipositors, entomologists assumed they were idiobiontparasitoids on the eggs of insects, similar to other extremely small parasitic wasps such as fairyflies. Psocoptera, long suspected as their hosts based on circumstantial evidence,[2] was confirmed to be the hosts of at least some mymarommatids in 2022, after specimens of Mymaromma menehune were observed emerging from the eggs of a member of the pscopteran family Lepidopsocidae.[3] They are placed in the superfamily Mymarommatoidea, with a number of extinct families known from Cretaceous amber. Mymarommatids are distinguished by the presence of a pleated (folded) membrane connecting the front and back halves of the head extending from the mandible to the top of the head, which is presumably expanded by muscle or hydrostatic pressure, likely to aid in breaking open the walls of the egg capsule. Specimens are often found in leaf litter and are usually rare, but occasionally appear in significant numbers.[2]
Classificationedit
As taxonomists have examined this group more closely, they have become less certain about which other group of wasps represents the nearest living relatives of the Mymarommatidae. In recent years, it has been proposed that the nearest relatives of Mymarommatoidea are the extinct Serphitoidea, including the family Serphitidae, and therefore claim the Mymarommatidae are essentially "living fossils".
†Palaeomymar is known from a single species (P. succini Meunier) from Eocene aged Baltic amber.
Mymaromella has 6 described extant species.[6] Another species of Mymaromella, M. duerrenfeldi, is known from Miocene amber in Sicily.[7]
Zealaromma has two extant species: Z. insulare and Z. valentinei. Both species are known from New Zealand.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abGibson, G.A.P.; Read, J.; Huber, J.T. (2007) Diversity, classification and higher relationships of Mymarommatoidea (Hymenoptera).Journal of Hymenoptera Research 16: 51–146
^ abHuber, John T.; Gibson, Gary A. P.; Bauer, Leah S.; Liu, Houping; Gates, Michael (2008). "The genus Mymaromella (Hymenoptera: Mymarommatidae) in North America, with a key to described extant species". Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 17 (2): 175–194.
^ abHonsberger DN, Huber JT, Wright MG (2022) A new Mymaromma sp. (Mymarommatoidea, Mymarommatidae) in Hawai‘i and first host record for the superfamily. Journal of Hymenoptera Research 89: 73-87. https://doi.org/10.3897/jhr.89.77931
^"Fossilworks: Archaeromma". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
^T. Schlüter and R. Kohring. 1990. Die zwergwespengattung Palaeomymar (Hymenoptera: Proctotrupoidea: Serphitidae) aus dem mio/pliozänen Simetit Siziliens. Berliner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen, Reihe A124:115-121
External linksedit
Universal Chalcidoidea Database
April 05, 2024
mymarommatidae, sometimes, referred, false, fairy, wasps, very, small, family, microscopic, parasitic, wasps, only, about, half, known, species, living, taxa, others, fossils, they, found, worldwide, temporal, range, albian, present, preꞒ, nspecimens, mymarome. The Mymarommatidae sometimes referred to as false fairy wasps are a very small family of microscopic parasitic wasps Only about half of the known species are living taxa the others are fossils but they are found worldwide 1 MymarommatidaeTemporal range Albian Present PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg NSpecimens of Mymaromella miraScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraSuperfamily MymarommatoideaFamily MymarommatidaeDebauche 1948Genera Archaeromma Yoshimoto 1975Mymaromella Girault 1931Mymaromma Girault 1920 Palaeomymar Meunier 1901Zealaromma Gibson Read and Huber 2007Little is known about the biology of these insects but because of their size and simple ovipositors entomologists assumed they were idiobiont parasitoids on the eggs of insects similar to other extremely small parasitic wasps such as fairyflies Psocoptera long suspected as their hosts based on circumstantial evidence 2 was confirmed to be the hosts of at least some mymarommatids in 2022 after specimens of Mymaromma menehune were observed emerging from the eggs of a member of the pscopteran family Lepidopsocidae 3 They are placed in the superfamily Mymarommatoidea with a number of extinct families known from Cretaceous amber Mymarommatids are distinguished by the presence of a pleated folded membrane connecting the front and back halves of the head extending from the mandible to the top of the head which is presumably expanded by muscle or hydrostatic pressure likely to aid in breaking open the walls of the egg capsule Specimens are often found in leaf litter and are usually rare but occasionally appear in significant numbers 2 Classification editAs taxonomists have examined this group more closely they have become less certain about which other group of wasps represents the nearest living relatives of the Mymarommatidae In recent years it has been proposed that the nearest relatives of Mymarommatoidea are the extinct Serphitoidea including the family Serphitidae and therefore claim the Mymarommatidae are essentially living fossils Palaeomymar is known from a single species P succini Meunier from Eocene aged Baltic amber Archaeromma is known from 10 species spread across Laurasia during the Cretaceous dating from the Albian to the Campanian 4 Mymaromma has 11 described extant species 5 3 Mymaromella has 6 described extant species 6 Another species of Mymaromella M duerrenfeldi is known from Miocene amber in Sicily 7 Zealaromma has two extant species Z insulare and Z valentinei Both species are known from New Zealand 1 References edit a b Gibson G A P Read J Huber J T 2007 Diversity classification and higher relationships of Mymarommatoidea Hymenoptera Journal of Hymenoptera Research 16 51 146 a b Huber John T Gibson Gary A P Bauer Leah S Liu Houping Gates Michael 2008 The genus Mymaromella Hymenoptera Mymarommatidae in North America with a key to described extant species Journal of Hymenoptera Research 17 2 175 194 a b Honsberger DN Huber JT Wright MG 2022 A new Mymaromma sp Mymarommatoidea Mymarommatidae in Hawai i and first host record for the superfamily Journal of Hymenoptera Research 89 73 87 https doi org 10 3897 jhr 89 77931 Fossilworks Archaeromma fossilworks org Retrieved 17 December 2021 1 Universal Chalcidoidea Database Mymaromma Accessed 27 Jan 2021 2 Universal Chalcidoidea Database Mymaromella Accessed 27 Jan 2021 T Schluter and R Kohring 1990 Die zwergwespengattung Palaeomymar Hymenoptera Proctotrupoidea Serphitidae aus dem mio pliozanen Simetit Siziliens Berliner Geowissenschaftliche Abhandlungen Reihe A 124 115 121External links editFamily MYMAROMMATIDAE of the Mymarommatoidea Universal Chalcidoidea Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mymarommatidae amp oldid 1176888508, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
