This project will support the curation and inventory of a collection of parasitic wasps in the Trichogrammatidae (Hymenoptera). Wasps of this family are internal parasites of the eggs of other insects. 73 genera and about 650 species have been described. They are among the smallest insects known. Because they commonly parasitize the eggs of several agricultural pests, these wasps have been of particular interest to biological control. Problems associated with their small size, however have deterred entomologists from building requisite collections. Consequently the taxonomy of the family is in an extremely unsatisfactory state. Species identifications are impossible for most genera. Generic identifications also are problematic. Because the family is so poorly sampled, diversity, geographic distributions and biological characteristics remain unappreciated. A large collection of Trichogrammatidae has now been put together at the University of California at Riverside. The collection is world wide in coverage but stresses North America. It, by far, represents the largest holdings of this group in North America and probably the world. Support will be used to inventory and curate the collection. The largest portion is in alcohol and in peril because of the fragile nature of these wasps. Specimens require immediate removal and critical point drying. Computerization of collection data also is planned and will make specimen information available to other researchers. A large and well curated collection is required to encourage future taxonomic studies of this poorly known but important family of insect egg parasites.
