Diversity of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) collected with Malaise traps in the tropical dry forest of San Javier, Sonora, Mexico

Results of a faunistic study of the Encyrtidae family (parasitoid wasps) of the tropical dry forest of San Javier, Sonora, Mexico are presented. The study was carried out from November 2003 to October 2004. Collections using Malaise trapping were made during 5 days of every month. A total of 52 species, 27 genera and 2 subfamilies were recorded. The subfamily with the largest number of recorded species was Encyrtinae, with 19 genera and 32 species, followed by Tetracneminae, with 8 genera and 20 species. The genus with the largest number of recorded species was Metaphycus with 10. Species richness was analyzed using parametric models; the best-fitting model was the Logarithmic, which is unbounded. Species had low abundance. Species richness and abundance varied with time, with the highest values recorded in the dry season. The fauna of San Javier was more similar to that of Huautla, Morelos, than to that of Huatulco, Oaxaca, both previously studied.