University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) of Neotropical parasitoid wasps (Braconidae: Microgastrinae)

Jin, Shuyang

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/89991

Description

Title
Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) of Neotropical parasitoid wasps (Braconidae: Microgastrinae)
Author(s)
Jin, Shuyang
Contributor(s)
Whitfield, James
Issue Date
2016-04
Keyword(s)
  • wasps
  • wings
  • patterns
  • Integrative Biology
  • Biology
Abstract
The image shows Wing Interference Patterns (WIPs) of 4 Parapanteles species, with 3 different individuals in each species. It is a combined image of photographs of slides of wings, and the photographs were taken under the microscope. WIPs are optical color patterns produced by thin film interference due to the varying thicknesses and surface structures of insect wings. These patterns are produced by the same phenomenon that causes rainbow colors to appear on soap bubbles. WIPs are species-specific in several groups of insects. Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) is a hyper-diverse subfamily of small parasitoid wasps. This is the first study of WIPs in Microgastrinae by characterizing them in the genus Parapanteles. WIPs are easy and inexpensive to observe, and are very useful character for identifying species of Microgastrinae. The method of using WIPs to identify species can also be applied to other tiny insects that are difficult to observe when using other body characters. For more information about the Image of Research--Undergraduate Edition go to: http://go.library.illinois.edu/imageofresearch_uredition
Type of Resource
  • text
  • image
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/89991
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Shuyang Jin

Owning Collections

Image of Research - Undergraduate Students PRIMARY