The Hymenopteran superfamily of parasitoid wasps, Platygastroidea, has often been treated as a lineage within the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, but most classifications since 1977 have recognized it as an independent group within the Proctotrupomorpha. It is presently has some 4000 described species. They are exclusively parasitic in nature.
The hymenopteran family Platygastridae is a large group of exclusively parasitoid wasps, mostly very small (1–2 mm), black, and shining, with geniculate (elbowed) antennae that have an eight-segmented flagellum. The wings sometimes lack venation, though they may have slight fringes of setae.
Jean-Jacques Kieffer was a French naturalist and entomologist who specialised in the study of parasitic insects. Educated as a priest, Kieffer taught natural science in Bitche, Lorraine while working on the description and classification of insects. His work and publications later became a predominant source of description and classification for entomologists in the early 20th century, in particular with regard to parasitoid wasps, midges, and mosquitos.
Calliscelio is a parasitoid wasp genus which contains two species, C. elegans and C. teleogrylli.
Telenominae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae. It was previously considered a subfamily of Platygastridae.
Synopeas is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are about 400 described species in Synopeas.
Oethecoctonus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are about six described species in Oethecoctonus.
Scelioninae is a subfamily of wasps in the family Scelionidae. It is a very large cosmopolitan group of exclusively parasitoid wasps, mostly small (0.5–10 mm), often black, often highly sculptured, usually with geniculate (elbowed) antennae that have a 9- or 10-segmented flagellum. It was formerly classified as a subfamily of the Platygastridae, but in 2021 the family Scelionidae was revived, containing the subfamilies Scelioninae, Teleasinae, and Telenominae.
Teleasinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Scelionidae. It was previously considered a subfamily of Platygastridae.
Thoron is a genus of scelionid wasps in the family Scelionidae. There are about 10 described species in Thoron.
Trissolcus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are at least 180 described species in Trissolcus. They parasitize eggs of Pentatomorpha.
Metaclisis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are at least 30 described species in Metaclisis.
Trichacis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. Members of this genus have a tuft of setae on the mesoscutellum and transverse striae or rugulae above the antennae. They are parasitoids of Cecidomyiidae, although the hosts of most species remain unknown.
Trissolcus basalis, or the green vegetable bug egg parasitoid, is a parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae known primarily for parasitising the horticultural pest Nezara viridula, the green vegetable bug.
Idris is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Platygastridae, containing about 160 described species. This genus is part of the tribe Baeini, which are egg parasitoids. Members of the genus Idris are mostly parasitoids of spider eggs, but at least one member of the genus uses stink bugs as hosts.
Proterosceliopsis is an extinct genus of platygastroid parasitic wasp, known from the Mid-Cretaceous of Eurasia. The genus was first described in 2014 from the Albian amber of the Escucha Formation. In 2019 additional species were described from the Cenomanian-age Burmese amber, and was placed into the monotypic family Proterosceliopsidae.
Sparasion is a genus of wasps belonging to the family Sparasionidae, whitin the superfamily Platygastridae. The genus has specimens widespread in Eurasia, Africa, and temperate North America.
