The Pteromalidae are a very large family of mostly parasitoid wasps, with some 3,450 described species in about 640 genera (the number was greater, but many species and genera have been reduced by synonymy in recent years). The subfamily-level divisions of the family are highly contentious and unstable, and the family is thought to be "artificial", composed of numerous, distantly related groups (

polyphyletic A polyphyletic group is an assemblage of organisms or other evolving elements that is of mixed evolutionary origin. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as homoplasies, which are explained as a result of conver ...

). Accordingly, details of their life histories range over nearly the entire range possible within the

Chalcidoidea Chalcid wasps (, , for their metallic colour) are insects within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, part of the order Hymenoptera. The superfamily contains some 22,500 known species, and an estimated total diversity of more than 500,000 species, me ...

, though the majority are (as with most chalcidoids)

parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...

s of other

insect Insects (from Latin ') are pancrustacean hexapod invertebrates of the class Insecta. They are the largest group within the arthropod phylum. Insects have a chitinous exoskeleton, a three-part body ( head, thorax and abdomen), three pa ...

s. They are found throughout the world in virtually all habitats, and many are important as

biological control Biological control or biocontrol is a method of controlling pests, such as insects, mites, weeds, and plant diseases, using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also i ...

agents. The oldest known fossil is known from the

Early Cretaceous The Early Cretaceous (geochronology, geochronological name) or the Lower Cretaceous (chronostratigraphy, chronostratigraphic name), is the earlier or lower of the two major divisions of the Cretaceous. It is usually considered to stretch from 145& ...

. In essence, a "pteromalid" is any member of the Chalcidoidea that has five-segmented tarsi and does not have the defining features of any of the remaining families with five-segmented tarsi. It is highly probable that this family will be divided into several families in the near future.

Description

Pteromalidae are usually metallic Chalcidoids of varying body size (from 1–48 mm long) and build (slender to quite robust), with the tarsi of the fore and hind legs consisting of five segments. They carry antennae consisting of eight to thirteen segments (including up to 3 anelli); in fully winged forms have in the fore wing a marginal vein that is at least several times longer than broad; very often have well-developed postmarginal and stigmal veins, although these are occasionally quite short; and nearly always have a distinct speculum.

Ecology

The life strategies of the species in this family vary greatly. There are both solitary and gregarious species, living outside (ectoparasitoid) or inside their prey (endoparasitoid), koinobionts and idiobionts, primary parasitoids and hyperparasitoids and even

predator Predation is a biological interaction where one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation (which usually do not kill t ...

s that kill and consume the prey immediately; they also include

fig wasp Fig wasps are wasps of the superfamily Chalcidoidea which spend their larval stage inside figs. Most are pollinators but others simply feed off the plant. The non-pollinators belong to several groups within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, while the ...

genera. Because of their parasitoid nature, wasps of this family are often used as biological control agents for destructive pests such as american serpentine leafminers. ''

Pteromalus cassotis ''Pteromalus cassotis'' is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Pteromalidae that parasitizes the chrysalides of monarch butterflies. They are gregarious parasitoids, meaning a single female lays many eggs in a single host. Research into thi ...

'' is a parasitoid of the

monarch butterfly The monarch butterfly or simply monarch (''Danaus plexippus'') is a milkweed butterfly (subfamily Danainae) in the family Nymphalidae. Other common names, depending on region, include milkweed, common tiger, wanderer, and black-veined brown. ...

Subfamilies (32-35)

Asaphesinae - Austrosystasinae - Austroterobiinae - Ceinae -

Cerocephalinae Cerocephalinae is a parasitic wasp formerly recognized as a subfamily within Pteromalidae The Pteromalidae are a very large family of mostly parasitoid wasps, with some 3,450 described species in about 640 genera (the number was greater, but m ...

- Chromeurytominae -

Cleonyminae Cleonyminae is a parasitic wasp family formerly treated as a subfamily within Pteromalidae The Pteromalidae are a very large family of mostly parasitoid wasps, with some 3,450 described species in about 640 genera (the number was greater, but ...

- Coelocybinae - Colotrechninae - Cratominae - Diparinae - Ditropinotellinae - Elatoidinae - Epichrysomallinae - Erotolepsiinae - Eunotinae - Herbertiinae - Keiraninae - Leptofoeninae - Louriciinae - Macromesinae - Miscogasterinae - Nefoeninae - Neodiparinae -

Ormocerinae Ormocerinae is a subfamily in the chalcidoid wasp family Pteromalidae The Pteromalidae are a very large family of mostly parasitoid wasps, with some 3,450 described species in about 640 genera (the number was greater, but many species and gen ...

- Panstenoninae - Parasaphodinae - Pireninae - Pteromalinae - Spalangiinae - Storeyinae - Sycoecinae - Sycoryctinae

List of genera (591 + 1†)

'' Ablaxia'' - '' Abomalus'' - '' Acaenacis'' - '' Acerocephala'' - '' Acoelocyba'' - '' Acroclisella'' - '' Acroclisis'' - '' Acroclisissa'' - '' Acroclisoides'' - '' Acroclypa'' - '' Acrocormus'' - '' Aditrochus'' - '' Aeschylia'' - '' Afropsilocera'' - '' Agamerion'' - '' Aggelma'' - '' Agiommatus'' - '' Agrilocida'' - '' Aiemea'' - '' Allocricellius'' - '' Alloderma'' - '' Alticornis'' - '' Alyxiaphagus'' - '' Amandia'' - '' Amazonisca'' - '' Amblyharma'' - '' Amblypachus'' - '' Ambogaster'' - '' Amerostenus'' - '' Ammeia'' - '' Amoturella'' - '' Amphidocius'' - '' Andersena'' - '' Angulifrons'' - '' Anisopteromalus'' - '' Ankaratrella'' - '' Anogmoides'' - '' Anogmus'' - '' Anorbanus'' - '' Apelioma'' - '' Aphobetus'' - '' Apsilocera'' - '' Apycnetron'' - '' Arachnopteromalus'' - '' Ardilea'' - ''

Arriva Arriva plc is a British multinational public transport company headquartered in Sunderland, England.Arthrolytus'' - '' Asaphes'' - '' Asaphoideus'' - '' Asparagobius'' - '' Atrichomalus'' - '' Ausasaphes'' - '' Australeunotus'' - '' Australicesa'' - '' Australolaelaps'' - '' Australurios'' - '' Austrosystasis'' - '' Austroterobia'' - '' Bairamlia'' - '' Balrogia'' - '' Baridobius'' - '' Blascoa'' - '' Bofuria'' - '' Boharticus'' - '' Bohpa'' - '' Bomburia'' - '' Bonitoa'' - '' Boucekina'' - '' Boucekius'' - '' Brachycaudonia'' - '' Brachyscelidiphaga'' - '' Bruesisca'' - '' Bubekia'' - '' Bubekiana'' - '' Bugacia'' - '' Bulolosa'' - '' Bupronotum'' - '' Caenacis'' - '' Caenocrepis'' - '' Callicarolynia'' - '' Callimerismus'' - '' Callimomoides'' - '' Calliprymna'' - '' Callitula'' - '' Callocleonymus'' - '' Calolelaps'' - '' Cameronella'' - ''

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

'' - '' Canberrana'' - '' Capellia'' - '' Catolaccus'' - '' Cavitas'' - '' Cea'' - '' Cecidellis'' - '' Cecidolampa'' - '' Cecidostiba'' - '' Cecidoxenus'' - '' Cephaleta'' - '' Ceratetra'' - '' Cerocephala'' - '' Cerodipara'' - '' Chadwickia'' - '' Chalcedectus'' - '' Chalcidiscelis'' - '' Cheiropachus'' - '' Chimaerolelaps'' - '' Chlorocytus'' - '' Choetospilisca'' - '' Chromeurytoma'' - '' Chrysoglyphe'' - '' Cleonymus'' - '' Coelocyba'' - '' Coelocyboides'' - '' Coelopisthia'' - '' Collentis'' - '' Collessina'' - '' Colotrechnus'' - '' Conigastrus'' - '' Conodipara'' - '' Conomorium'' - '' Conophorisca'' - '' Cooloolana'' - '' Coruna'' - '' Cratomus'' - '' Cryptoprymna'' - '' Cybopella'' - '' Cyclogastrella'' - '' Cyrtogaster'' - '' Cyrtophagoides'' - '' Cyrtoptyx'' - '' Dasycleonymus'' - '' Dasyneurophaga'' - '' Delisleia'' - '' Delucchia'' - '' Desantisiana'' - '' Dibrachoides'' - '' Dibrachys'' - '' Diconocara'' - '' Diglochis'' - '' Dimachus'' - '' Dinarmoides'' - '' Dinarmolaelaps'' - '' Dinarmus'' - '' Dineuticida'' - '' Dinotiscus'' - '' Dinotoides'' - '' Diourbelia'' - '' Dipachystigma'' - '' Dipara'' - '' Dirhicnus'' - '' Ditropinotella'' - '' Divna'' - '' Doddifoenus'' - '' Doganlaria'' - '' Dorcatomophaga'' - '' Dozodipara'' - '' Drailea'' - '' Dudichilla'' - '' Dvalinia'' - '' Ecrizotes'' - '' Ecrizotomorpha'' - '' Elachertodomyia'' - '' Elachertoidea'' - '' Elatoides'' - '' Elderia'' - '' Encyrtocephalus'' - '' Endomychobius'' - '' Enoggera'' - '' Eopteromalites'' - '' Epanogmus'' - '' Epelatus'' - '' Epicatolaccus'' - '' Epicopterus'' - '' Epipteromalus'' - '' Epistenia'' - '' Epiterobia'' - '' Erdoesia'' - '' Erdoesina'' - '' Erixestus'' - '' Erotolepsia'' - '' Erotolepsiella'' - '' Errolia'' - '' Erythromalus'' - '' Espinosa'' - '' Eucoelocybomyia'' - '' Eulonchetron'' - '' Eumacepolus'' - '' Euneura'' - '' Eunotomyiia'' - '' Eunotopsia'' - '' Eunotus'' - '' Eupelmophotismus'' - '' Eurydinota'' - '' Eurydinoteloides'' - '' Eurydinotomorpha'' - '' Eurytomomma'' - '' Eutelisca'' - '' Euteloida'' - '' Ezgia'' - '' Fanamokala'' - '' Fedelia'' - '' Ferrierelus'' - '' Ficicola'' - '' Fijita'' - '' Frena'' - '' Fusiterga'' - '' Gahanisca'' - '' Gastracanthus'' - '' Gastrancistrus'' - '' Gbelcia'' - '' Genangula'' - '' Globimesosoma'' - '' Globonila'' - '' Glorimontana'' - '' Glyphognathus'' - '' Glyphotoma'' - '' Gnathophorisca'' - '' Goidanichium'' - '' Golovissima'' - '' Grissellium'' - '' Grooca'' - '' Guancheria'' - '' Gugolzia'' - ''

Guinea Guinea ( ),, fuf, 𞤘𞤭𞤲𞤫, italic=no, Gine, wo, Gine, nqo, ߖߌ߬ߣߍ߫, bm, Gine officially the Republic of Guinea (french: République de Guinée), is a coastal country in West Africa. It borders the Atlantic Ocean to the we ...

'' - '' Guolina'' - '' Gyrinophagus'' - '' Habritella'' - '' Habritys'' - '' Habromalina'' - '' Hadroepistenia'' - '' Haliplogeton'' - '' Halomalus'' - '' Halticoptera'' - '' Halticopterella'' - '' Halticopterina'' - '' Halticopteroides'' - '' Hansonita'' - '' Harrizia'' - '' Hedqvistia'' - '' Hedqvistina'' - '' Helocasis'' - '' Hemadas'' - '' Hemitrichus'' - '' Herbertia'' - '' Heteroprymna'' - '' Heteroschema'' - '' Hetreulophus'' - '' Heydenia'' - '' Heydeniopsis'' - '' Hillerita'' - '' Hirtonila'' - '' Hlavka'' - '' Hobbya'' - '' Holcaeus'' - '' Homoporus'' - '' Hubena'' - '' Huberina'' - '' Hyperimerus'' - '' Hypopteromalus'' - '' Idioporus'' - '' Indoclava'' - '' Inkaka'' - '' Ischyroptyx'' - '' Ismaya'' - '' Isocyrtella'' - '' Isocyrtus'' - '' Isoplatoides'' - '' Jaliscoa'' - '' Janssoniella'' - ''

Kaleva Kaleva or Kalevi may refer to: * CWT Kaleva Travel, a travel management company based in Finland * Kalevi (mythology), the great king of Kainuu in Finnish, Karelian and Estonian mythology * ''Kaleva'' (wasp), a wasp genus in the subfamily Pteroma ...

'' - '' Kazina'' - '' Keesia'' - '' Keirana'' - '' Kerya'' - '' Klabonosa'' - '' Kneva'' - '' Kratinka'' - '' Kratka'' - '' Krivena'' - '' Ksenoplata'' - '' Kukua'' - '' Kumarella'' - '' Laesthiola'' - '' Lampoterma'' - '' Lamprotatus'' - '' Lanthanomyia'' - '' Lariophagus'' - '' Lasallea'' - '' Laticlypa'' - '' Lelaps'' - '' Lelapsomorpha'' - '' Lenka'' - '' Leodamus'' - '' Leptofoenus'' - '' Leptogasterites'' - '' Leptomeraporus'' - '' Licteria'' - '' Liepara'' - '' Lincolna'' - '' Lisseurytoma'' - '' Lomonosoffiella'' - '' Lonchetron'' - '' Longinucha'' - '' Lycisca'' - ''

Lyrcus Lyrcus (Ancient Greek: Λύρκος) is the name of two Greek mythological figures, one a figure in a 1st-century BC Hellenistic romance by Parthenius of Nicaea,son of phoroneus, the other the eponymous legendary founder of Lyrceia and son of Abas. ...

'' - '' Lysirina'' - '' Lyubana'' - '' Macroglenes'' - '' Macromesus'' - '' Makaronesa'' - '' Manineura'' - '' Maorita'' - '' Marxiana'' - '' Mauleus'' - '' Mayrellus'' - '' Mazinawa'' - '' Megadicylus'' - '' Megamelanosoma'' - '' Melancistrus'' - '' Merallus'' - '' Meraporus'' - '' Merismoclea'' - '' Merismomorpha'' - '' Merismus'' - '' Merisus'' - '' Mesamotura'' - '' Mesolelaps'' - '' Mesolelaps'' - '' Mesopeltita'' - '' Mesopolobus'' - '' Metacolus'' - '' Metastenus'' - '' Meximalus'' - '' Micradelus'' - '' Mimencyrtus'' - '' Mirekia'' - '' Miristhma'' - '' Miscogaster'' - '' Miscogasteriella'' - '' Mnoonema'' - '' Mokrzeckia'' - '' Monazosa'' - '' Monoksa'' - '' Moranila'' - '' Morodora'' - '' Muesebeckisia'' - '' Muscidifurax'' - '' Myrmicolelaps'' - '' Nadelaia'' - '' Nambouria'' - '' Narendrella'' - ''

Nasonia ''Nasonia'' are a genus of small pteromalid parasitoid wasps that sting and lay eggs in the pupae of various flies. The fly species that ''Nasonia'' usually parasitize are primarily blow flies and flesh flies, making ''Nasonia'' a useful tool f ...

'' - '' Nazgulia'' - '' Neanica'' - '' Neapterolelaps'' - '' Neboissia'' - '' Nedinotus'' - '' Nefoenus'' - '' Neocalosoter'' - '' Neocatolaccus'' - '' Neochalcissia'' - '' Neocylus'' - '' Neodipara'' - '' Neoepistenia'' - '' Neolelaps'' - '' Neolyubana'' - '' Neoperilampus'' - '' Neopolycystus'' - '' Neosciatheras'' - '' Neoskeloceras'' - '' Neotoxeumorpha'' - '' Nephelomalus'' - '' Nepistenia'' - '' Nerotolepsia'' - '' Netomocera'' - '' Nikolskayana'' - '' Nodisoplata'' - '' Norbanus'' - '' Nosodipara'' - '' Notanisus'' - '' Notoglyptus'' - '' Notoprymna'' - '' Novitzkyanus'' - '' Nuchata'' - '' Oaxa'' - '' Obalana'' - '' Ogloblinisca'' - '' Omphalodipara'' - '' Oniticellobia'' - '' Oodera'' - '' Oomara'' - '' Ophelosia'' - '' Oricoruna'' - '' Ormocerus'' - '' Ormyromorpha'' - '' Ottaria'' - '' Ottawita'' - '' Oxyglypta'' - '' Oxyharma'' - '' Oxysychus'' - '' Pachycrepoideus'' - '' Pachyneuron'' - '' Pachyneuronella'' - '' Pandelus'' - '' Panstenon'' - '' Papuopsia'' - '' Parabruchobius'' - '' Paracarotomus'' - '' Paracerocephala'' - '' Paracroclisis'' - '' Paradinarmus'' - '' Paraiemea'' - '' Paralaesthia'' - '' Paralamprotatus'' - '' Paralycisca'' - '' Parasaphodes'' - '' Paratomicobia'' - '' Parepistenia'' - '' Paroxyharma'' - '' Patiyana'' - '' Peckianus'' - '' Pegopus'' - '' Peridesmia'' - '' Perilampella'' - '' Perilampidea'' - '' Perilampomyia'' - '' Perniphora'' - '' Pestra'' - '' Petipirene'' - '' Pezilepsis'' - '' Phaenocytus'' - '' Plastobelyta'' - '' Platecrizotes'' - '' Platneptis'' - '' Platygerrhus'' - '' Platypteromalus'' - '' Playaspalangia'' - '' Ploskana'' - '' Plutothrix'' - '' Podivna'' - '' Polstonia'' - '' Premiscogaster'' - '' Procallitula'' - '' Proglochin'' - '' Promerisus'' - '' Promuscidea'' - '' Propicroscytus'' - '' Propodeia'' - '' Proshizonotus'' - '' Protoepistenia'' - '' Pseudanogmus'' - '' Pseudetroxys'' - '' Pseudocatolaccus'' - '' Pseudoceraphron'' - '' Psilocera'' - '' Psilonotus'' - '' Psychophagoides'' - '' Psychophagus'' - '' Pterapicus'' - '' Pterisemoppa'' - '' Pteromalinites'' - ''

Pteromalus ''Pteromalus'' is a genus of pteromalids in the family Pteromalidae The Pteromalidae are a very large family of mostly parasitoid wasps, with some 3,450 described species in about 640 genera (the number was greater, but many species and genera ...

'' - '' Pterosemigastra'' - '' Pterosemopsis'' - '' Ptinocida'' - '' Pycnetron'' - '' Pyramidophoriella'' - '' Queenslandia'' - '' Quercanus'' - '' Rakosina'' - '' Raspela'' - '' Rhaphitelus'' - '' Rhicnocoelia'' - '' Rhopalicus'' - '' Riekisura'' - '' Rivasia'' - '' Rohatina'' - '' Romanisca'' - '' Roptrocerus'' - '' Scaphepistenia'' - '' Sceptrothelys'' - '' Schimitschekia'' - '' Schizonotus'' - '' Sciatherellus'' - '' Scutellista'' - ''

Sedma Sedma is a Czech 4-card trick-and-draw game played by four players in fixed partnerships with a 32-card Bohemian-pattern pack. Card suits do not play a role in this game, and there is no ranking order. A trick is won by the last player to play a c ...

'' - '' Seladerma'' - '' Selimnus'' - '' Semiotellus'' - '' Sennia'' - '' Shedoepistenia'' - '' Sigynia'' - '' Sirovena'' - '' Sisyridivora'' - '' Solenura'' - '' Sorosina'' - ''

Spalangia ''Spalangia'' is a genus of parasitoid wasp in the family Spalangiidae. Species include ''Spalangia cameroni'' and '' Spalangia endius''. Species The following species are known: Spalangia cameroni ''Spalangia cameroni'' is a species of pa ...

'' - '' Spalangiopelta'' - '' Spaniopus'' - '' Spathopus'' - '' Sphaeripalpus'' - '' Sphegigaster'' - '' Sphegigastrella'' - '' Sphegipterosema'' - '' Sphegipterosemella'' - '' Spilomalus'' - '' Spinancistrus'' - '' Spintherus'' - '' Spodophagus'' - '' Staurothyreus'' - '' Stenetra'' - '' Stenomalina'' - '' Stenophrus'' - '' Stenoselma'' - '' Stichocrepis'' - '' Stictolelaps'' - '' Stictomischus'' - '' Stinoplus'' - '' Storeya'' - '' Strejcekia'' - '' Striatacanthus'' - '' Sympotomus'' - '' Synedrus'' - '' Syntomopus'' - '' Systasis'' - '' Systellogaster'' - '' Systolomorpha'' - '' Szelenyinus'' - '' Tanina'' - '' Tanzanicesa'' - '' Teasienna'' - '' Telepsogina'' - '' Termolampa'' - '' Terobiella'' - '' Thaumasura'' - '' Thektogaster'' - '' Theocolax'' - '' Thinodytes'' - '' Thureonella'' - '' Tomicobia'' - '' Tomicobiella'' - '' Tomicobomorpha'' - '' Tomicobomorphella'' - '' Tomocerodes'' - '' Toxeuma'' - '' Toxeumella'' - '' Toxeumelloides'' - '' Toxeumorpha'' - '' Trichargyrus'' - '' Trichilogaster'' - '' Trichokaleva'' - '' Trichomalopsis'' - '' Trichomalus'' - '' Tricolas'' - '' Tricyclomischus'' - '' Trigonoderopsis'' - '' Trigonoderus'' - '' Trigonogastrella'' - '' Trinotiscus'' - '' Tripteromalus'' - '' Tritneptis'' - '' Trjapitzinia'' - '' Trychnosoma'' - '' Tsela'' - ''

Tumor A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tissue, and persists ...

'' - '' Uniclypea'' - '' Uriellopteromalus'' - '' Urolepis'' - '' Urolycisca'' - '' Usubaia'' - '' Uzka'' - '' Velepirene'' - '' Veltrusia'' - '' Vespita'' - '' Vrestovia'' - '' Watshamia'' - '' Westra'' - '' Westwoodiana'' - '' Wubina'' - '' Xantheurytoma'' - '' Xestomnaster'' - '' Xiphydriophagus'' - '' Yanchepia'' - '' Yosemitea'' - '' Yrka'' - '' Yusufia'' - '' Zdenekiana'' - '' Zeala'' - ''

Zebe Zebe ( sr-cyrl, Зебе) is a village in the municipality of Bosansko Grahovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Demographics According to the 2013 census, its population was 36, all Serbs The Serbs ( sr-Cyr, Срби, Srbi, ) are the most numer ...

'' - '' Zolotarewskya'' †- '' Dominocephala''

References

External links

Universal Chalcidoidea Database

''Catolaccus grandis'' Cornell U. Parasitoid of boll weevil

Bugguide.net
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1930883 Taxa named by Johan Wilhelm Dalman Apocrita families