Figures

These line drawings show the important body parts used in the key (modified with permission from Noyes & Valentine 1989 Fauna of New Zealand Series 18, Chalcidoidea).

This is intended to be a very basic guide to the body plan. Within this generalised plan there are many variations of shape.

For more detail see References, or the online Hymenoptera Glossary.

Some definitions

Apterous	Without wings
Brachypterous	Partly winged
Macropterous	Fully winged
Ovipositor	In females, egg-laying device, but in some Hymenoptera it is modified for stinging (e.g. bees), protected by a pair of ovipositor sheaths

Labelled diagrams

Click to enlarge