Fairyfly
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Fairyflies (the family Mymaridae) are tiny, slender wasps in the Chalcidoidea that include the smallest of all insects. There are over 1400 species in ca. 100 genera worldwide. Fairyflies parasitize the eggs of larger insects, primarily Hemiptera. As such, they are among the more important biological control agents known, attacking many pest insects.
They are not strong fliers and are generally moved through the air by the prevailing winds. Their forewings are paddle-shaped, with a long fringe of hinged setae around the outer margin to increase the surface area during the downstroke. There are several aquatic genera, some species of which "fly" underwater (the difference between air and water is minimal at such small sizes), others of which use their legs to paddle.
In Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, a species from Illinois, the males are blind and wingless and may be no more than 0.139 mm in length, the smallest known adults of any insect. Their tiny bodies are neatly packaged with complete digestive, reproductive, respiratory and circulatory systems. Obviously, the eggs and larvae of this wasp are considerably smaller than the adult. Other species in the family can have bodies as long as 5.5 mm, not including the ovipositor.
[edit] References
- Hoddle M.S., Grandgirard J., Petit J., Roderick G.K., Davies N., 2006. Glassy-winged sharpshooter Ko'ed - First round - in French Polynesia. Biocontrol News and Information 27(3), 47N-62N
