Ceraphronidae

Ceraphronidae
Ceraphronidae. Lateral view.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Superfamily:	Ceraphronoidea
Family:	Ceraphronidae Haliday,1833

TheCeraphronidaeare a smallhymenopteranfamily with 14generaand some 360 knownspecies,though a great many species are still undescribed. It is a poorly known group as a whole, though most are believed to beparasitoids(especially offlies), and a fewhyperparasitoids.Many are found in the soil, and of these, a number are wingless.

The family is distinguished from the closely relatedMegaspilidaeby having a very small stigma in the wing, a very broadmetasomalpetiole,and a single median groove in themesoscutum.

The taxon was erected byAlexander Henry Halidayin 1833.

References

• Dessart, P., 1965 Contribution à l'étudendes Hyménoptères Proctotrupoidea.(VI)Les Ceraphroninae et quelques Megaspilinae(Ceraphronidae)du Musée Civique d'Histoire Naturelles de Gênes.Bulletin et Annales de la Société Royale Entomologique de Belgique:101:105-192.
• Watson, L., and Dallwitz M.J., 2003.British insects: the families of Hymenoptera.Version: 16 July 2011[1]

External links

• Cedar CreekImages of pinned specimens.
• Waspweb
• Images at Bug Guide