آبريات

The Cynipoidea have gone through an evolutionary development that approximately parallels that of the Chalcidoidea. Both superfamilies have parasitic and phytophagous forms, although the Cynipoidea does not include known genera that have phytophagous as well as parasitic species. In the Chalcidoidea several genera include phytophagous and parasitic species; in the Cynipoidea no such mixtures occur below the family level. It should be borne in mind, however, that the present classification of the Cynipoidea may have given unjustifiable weight to the habits of the forms placed in the various higher categories. In any case, in each superfamily it is debatable whether the phytophagous or parasitic habit is the more primitive. Although all authorities agree that the members of each superfamily came originally from phytophagous ancestors, there is disagreement as to whether the first Hymenoptera recognizable as representing either superfamily were parasitic or phytophagous. If they were parasitic, as many authorities believe, the present-day phytophagous species are secondarily evolved from parasitic ancestors. The close agreement in essential morphological characters among all members of each superfamily excludes the possibility of polyphyletic origin for the parasitic and phytophagous forms.