TAXONOMIC STUDIES ON SUBFAMILY CEROPALINAE (HYMENOPTERA, POMPILIDAE) OF EGYPT
Alla Din, A. Oshibah1, Magdi, M. Salem2, Mohammed, T. Hossni1, Ahmed M.M. Galhoum1 and Mohammed, S. Oufy1 1Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University
2Plant Protection Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture.
Spider wasps are beneficial predators as they feed on spiders. They also prey to species of wasps belonging to their own group. The current research revised the wasp species of the subfamily Ceropalinae (Order Hymenoptera) in Egypt by recording and examining samples from the main entomological collections as well as the samples collected throughout the field trips. The study included the diagnostic characters of Ceropalinae and genus Ceropales and recording the synonyms and geographical distribution of different species. A description of the species was also provided, supported by diagrams of taxonomic characteristics, and establishing of a taxonomic key for them. The taxonomic study showed that Ceropalinae represented in Egypt with six species, the specific part of the name of Ceropales sabulicola Priesner was changed to C. juncoi Giner.
June 2013