Cotesia

General description: 

The following description is taken from Mason (1981).

Hypopygium of female usually short, evenly sclerotized from side to side, never with a series of longitudinal creases near middle, rarely sharply creased along median line and then only near apex. Ovipositor sheath short and mostly concealed by hypopygium, its length (including concealed part) not more than half that of hind tibia (rarely as much as 0.6); mostly smooth and shiny, the few hairs concentrated near apex; sheath attached at base of valvifer. Second valvifer broadened apically. Tergite I occasionally wider than long but usually a little longer than wide and broadened
apically, occasionally somewhat barrel-shaped or parallel-sided, but never narrowed apically; never with a median apical depression. Tergite II at least half as long as III and usually subrectangular; if, because of posteriorly diverging lateral sulci, tergite II has the shape of a truncate pyramid or semicircle, then basal width greater than its median length and the apical width nearly, or more than, twice the median length. Tergite I frequently smooth basally but the posterior part almost invariably rugose or rugopunctate; tergite II almost always rugose to rugoaciculate and the sculpture of tergite III varying from smooth to as coarse as that of tergite II. Propodeum invariably rugose and never with an areolet; usually with a median longitudinal carina that may be partially obscured by rugosity and usually an incomplete transverse carina laterally separating the rugose declivity from a smoother anterior area. Vannal lobe of hind wing with an obviously convex margin varying from bare to evenly hairy. Larva: Usually gregarious, the last instar with a toothless mandible or the blade bearing reduced teeth.

The following description is taken from Mason (1981).

Hypopygium of female usually short, evenly sclerotized from side to side, never with a series of longitudinal creases near middle, rarely sharply creased along median line and then only near apex. Ovipositor sheath short and mostly concealed by hypopygium, its length (including concealed part) not more than half that of hind tibia (rarely as much as 0.6); mostly smooth and shiny, the few hairs concentrated near apex; sheath attached at base of valvifer. Second valvifer broadened apically. Tergite I occasionally wider than long but usually a little longer than wide and broadened
apically, occasionally somewhat barrel-shaped or parallel-sided, but never narrowed apically; never with a median apical depression. Tergite II at least half as long as III and usually subrectangular; if, because of posteriorly diverging lateral sulci, tergite II has the shape of a truncate pyramid or semicircle, then basal width greater than its median length and the apical width nearly, or more than, twice the median length. Tergite I frequently smooth basally but the posterior part almost invariably rugose or rugopunctate; tergite II almost always rugose to rugoaciculate and the sculpture of tergite III varying from smooth to as coarse as that of tergite II. Propodeum invariably rugose and never with an areolet; usually with a median longitudinal carina that may be partially obscured by rugosity and usually an incomplete transverse carina laterally separating the rugose declivity from a smoother anterior area. Vannal lobe of hind wing with an obviously convex margin varying from bare to evenly hairy. Larva: Usually gregarious, the last instar with a toothless mandible or the blade bearing reduced teeth.

Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith