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Title: Arthropod fauna of the United Arab Emirates: Order Hymenoptera, family Figitidae

Author
item Buffington, Matthew

Submitted to: Arthropod fauna of the United Arab Emirates
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/15/2009
Publication Date: 8/1/2009
Citation: Buffington, M.L. 2009. Arthropod fauna of the United Arab Emirates: Order Hymenoptera, family Figitidae. Arthropod fauna of the United Arab Emirates. 3:20-32.

Interpretive Summary: Microscopic figitid wasps are parasites of fly maggots in a variety of habitats, including agroecosystems, around the world. The wasp larva consumes the maggot from the inside out, ultimately killing the host when the wasp molts to an adult. Because they are small and inconspicuous, little attention has been paid to their taxonomy and the impact they have on the flies they parasitize. This is a study of figitid wasps of the United Arab Emirates, a small Arabian country that is a crossroads for species movement between Eurasia and Africa. Eighteen species were recorded, two new to science. An identification key to species is provided. Knowledge of these species, and how to identify them, will be of use to scientists, agroecosystem managers, and farmers, in understanding and preserving the natural enemy fauna that provides control of pest insect species.

Technical Abstract: No thorough documentation of the figitid fauna has ever been undertaken for the whole of the Arabian Peninsula. To this end, presented here is a list of species documented from the fieldwork of Antonius van Harten and colleagues, as well as a key and diagnoses for all genera of Figitidae in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Two new species are described from the UAE: Tobiasiana theremini, new species and Nordlanderia uaei, new species.