Heraty, J.M., & Schauff, M.E. 1998 Mandibular teeth in Chalcidoidea: function and phylogeny.. Journal of Natural History 32: 1227-1244.

Notes: Taxonomic study of Aphelinidae and Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) based on survey for presence of a specialized ventroapical mandibular tooth that is formed through modification of a seta into a stout socketed spine. Observations of Comperiella bifasciata and Encarsia sp. nr. perniciosi emerging from California red scale (Aonidiella aurantii) showed that the tooth is used for shearing off pieces of the mummified host remains and the scale cover during formation of the exit hole. The tooth occurs in both sexes, and in taxa with a broad host range such as Encarsia, which attack both armoured scales and whiteflies. Problems associated with character homology, function and phylogeny are discussed.