Chrysididae (Hymenoptera, Apocrita) collection of the I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine

Study Extent

The dataset contains the biodata on the collection of the family Chrysididae kept in the funds of I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine (SIZK_Chrysididae) and partially originating from Kharkiv Entomological Society (Kharkiv, Ukraine), Nature Museum of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Vasyl` Stus Donetsk National University and Karadag Nature Reserve. The dataset comprises data on specimens collected since 1881 to now. Chrysidid wasps were mainly studied as imagoes, but some data refer to larval stage and subsequently reared adults. The vast part of studied specimens is preserved as pinned material, some of them are preserved in 96% ethanol. In geographical aspect, the collection covers almost entire territory of Ukraine: it represents data from all geographic and administrative regions of the country. Identification of many species in the dataset was verified by comparison with the voucher specimens and confirmed by the leading taxonomists on Chrysididae.

Sampling

The material on Chrysididae was collected during numerous expeditions all over Ukraine. Different entomological methods were used for capturing of the adults, e.g. sweeping with air net, collecting of separate individuals of flowers, wood, leaves and other surfaces, yellow pan traps, Malaise traps, Barber traps. Also, the rearing of adults from the host nests was used in the course of study on host-parasitoid relations of Chrysidid wasps. The captured specimens were narcotized in the field with ethylene glycol or preserved directly in 96% ethanol. Afterwards they were pinned in standard way at laboratory conditions for further examination. The minute study of an adult is usually sufficient for the successful identification of the species of the family Chrysididae. The known ranges of variability in coloration and morphological features should be accurately considered in the process of differentiating. Nevertheless, the structure of male genitalia and female internal segments are used for identification of the species of certain species-groups within Chrysididae. Various actual keys were used for the identification of species of different genera and species-groups of the family. The specimens were usually studied with MBS-9 microscope. The material is kept in the funds of I.I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv (SIZK) as a separate Chrysididae collection. It also comprises specimens originating from collections of other institutions (Kharkiv Entomological Society (Kharkiv, Ukraine), Nature Museum of V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Vasyl` Stus Donetsk National University and Karadag Nature Reserve).

Quality Control

We were using the OpenRefine (https://openrefine.org/) for checking the data quality and GBIF species matching tool (https://www.gbif.org/tools/species-lookup) for the taxonomic checking opensource software.

Method steps

1. Selection of the sites.
2. Collection of material in the field.
3. Mounting of the specimens in the laboratory.
4. Specimen identification.
5. Cataloging identified specimens and dataset preparation.
6. Data checking and cleaning.
7. Publication biodata on the GBIF.

The dataset covers only the species range of the family Chrysididae.

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Arthropoda
   rank: phylum
3. Insecta
   rank: class
4. Hymenoptera
   rank: order
5. Chrysididae
   rank: family

The dataset covers the entire territory of Ukraine, with major collection points originating from Eastern Ukraine (Donrtsk, Luhansk and Kharkiv Regions).