Genus : Asecodes Förster, 1856

Diagnosis

Species with or without rows of setae radiating from stigmal vein; however, all species recorded on leafminers have fore wing with 2 or 3 row of setae radiating from stigmal vein.
Submarginal vein (SMV) with 2 setae dorsally. Postmarginal vein (PMV) very short, usually shorter than stigmal vein (STV).
Flagellum usually with 2 funicular segments and club 3-segmented, although it is sometimes difficult to separate funicle from club. Male scape with sensory area on scape restricted placed ventrally.
Head with distinct occipital groove; fronto-facial suture distinctly separated from anterior ocellus and V or Y-shaped.
Mesosoma usually slightly sculptured. Pronotum very short and without transverse carina. Notauli usually incomplete. Mesoscutum and scutellum without longitudinal grooves; scutellum with one pair of setae. Propodeum smooth, shiny and without median carina and plica.
Petiole not distinct.
Coloration green to dark, usually metallic.

Classification

Overview

Asecodes is a small genus (less than 20 species) which is cosmopolitan in distribution (Noyes, 2002; 2003). Species are endoparasitoids of a variety of small hosts, including eggs and early stages of leafminers.
There have been some differences of opinion regarding the status of Asecodes. Hansson (1996) synonymized Teleopterus Silvestri and Ionympha Graham with Asecodes. Before this paper (e.g. Boucek, 1988), Asecodes was separated from Teleopterus because Teleopterus has 2-3 lines of setae radiating from the stigmal vein, and these lines are lacking in Asecodes. The recognition of Asecodes species which have the lines of setae radiating from the stigmal vein is quite simple; however, recognising the species which lack these lines can be much more difficult. This is particularly true in separating them from some of their close relatives such as Neochrysocharis and Closterocerus. Fortunately, all the species of Asecodes which have been reared from leafminers have the 2-3 rows of setae (e.g. would have previously been placed in Teleopterus). Further discussion of how to separate Asecodes from closely related genera can be found in Hansson (1990; 1996), Boucek (1988, as both Teleopterus and Asecodes), Schauff (1991, as both Teleopterus and Asecodes). To further complicate this issue, Gumovsky (2001) synonymised Neochrysocharis, Asecodes, Hispinocharis Boucek and Mangocharis Boucek with Closterocerus. Further study will be required to gain a complete understanding of relationships in these groups; until that time, we are considering Neochrysocharis, Asecodes and Closterocerus as separate genera.

Identification

Asecodes is included in recent generic keys to eulophids for Australasia (Boucek, 1988) and North America (Schauff et al, 1997), and it is included in a web-based key to all Eulophidae genera which attack leafmining Agromyzidae (Reina & La Salle, 2003). A useful key to distinguish some Asecodes (as Teleopterus) is provided by Hansson (1994b).