Identification of ichneumonid wasps using image analysis of wings

Abstract. Image analysis was used to measure the morphological characters of wings of five species of Canadian Itoplectis (Ichneumonidae). The procedure to digitize and measure various elements of the wings with an image analyser is outlined. Specimens were assigned to species by discriminant analysis and independent univariate comparisons of 144 characters from cells, veins and vertices. All the fifty specimens used were assigned to the correct species by both methods. Image analysis of ichneumonid wings is an effective alternative to the conventional identification system.