Maaminga

Maaminga is a genus of parasitic wasps containing two species and constituting the family Maamingidae. So far only known from New Zealand, the two named species are Maaminga marrisi and M. 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]

Maaminga
Maaminga marrisi lateral view
Maaminga marrisi dorsal view
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Superfamily:	Diaprioidea
Family:	Maamingidae Early, Manser, Naumann, & Austin, 2001
Genus:	Maaminga
Species
Maaminga marrisi Early, Manser, Naumann, & Austin, 2001 Maaminga rangi Early, Manser, Naumann, & Austin, 2001

Maaminga rangi

The delicate and slender Maaminga rangi is common in forests, particularly kauri forests of the northern part of the North Island. The more robust and stocky Maaminga 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 with Diapriidae and Monomachidae.^[3]