| Maaminga | |
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| Maaminga marrisi lateral view | |
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| Maaminga marrisi dorsal view | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Superfamily: | Diaprioidea |
| Family: | Maamingidae Early, Manser, Naumann, & Austin, 2001 |
| Genus: | Maaminga |
| Species | |
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Maaminga is a genus of parasiticwasps containing two species and constituting thefamilyMaamingidae. So far only known fromNew Zealand, the two named species areMaaminga marrisi andM. rangi.[1] The genus (and family) name derives from the Māori word "māminga", simply translated as "trickster" as the species evaded discovery for so long.[2]
The delicate and slenderMaaminga rangi is common in forests, particularlykauri forests of the northern part of the North Island. The more robust and stockyMaaminga marrisi, which is polymorphic for wing size (brachyterous, fully winged), appears to be associated with coastal scrub, and forest, particularly on offshore islands, but is also found in alpine snow tussock. Maamingidae was placed within the Proctotrupoidea,[2] but was later moved to the superfamily Diaprioidea along withDiapriidae andMonomachidae.[3]