The Ichneumonidae, also known as the ichneumon wasps or ichneumonids, is a parasitoid wasp family within the insect order Hymenoptera. This insect family is among the most species-rich branches of the tree of life. At the same time, it is one of the groups for which our knowledge most severely lags behind their actual diversity. The roughly 25,000 species described today probably represent less than a quarter of their true richness, but reliable estimates are lacking, as is much of the most basic knowledge about their ecology, distribution and evolution. Ichneumonid wasps, with very few exceptions, attack the immature stages of holometabolous insects and spiders, eventually killing their hosts. They thus fulfill an important role as regulators of insect populations, both in natural and semi-natural systems, making them promising agents for biological control.
The Crabronidae are a large paraphyletic group of wasps, including nearly all of the species formerly comprising the now-defunct superfamily Sphecoidea. It collectively includes well over 200 genera, containing well over 9000 species. Crabronids were originally a part of Sphecidae, but the latter name is now restricted to a separate family based on what was once the subfamily Sphecinae. Several of the subfamilies of Crabronidae are often treated as families in their own right, as is true of the most recent phylogenies.
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. It is presently composed of one extinct and three extant families, with 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.
Platygaster is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are more than 560 described species in Platygaster.
Scelio is a large genus, the largest within the family Scelionidae, of parasitic wasp whose known target host include the eggs of grasshoppers. They are found worldwide and some species have been implemented as biological control agents.
Anteris is a genus of wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are about 15 described species in Anteris.
Telenominae is a subfamily of Hymenoptera in the family Platygastridae.
Telenomus podisi is a species of egg parasitoid wasps described by William Harris Ashmead in 1893 and placed in the family of Platygastridae. It is a parasitoid of the brown stink bug, Euschistus heros.
Oethecoctonus oecanthi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae.
Synopeas hopkinsi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae.
Synopeas is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are more than 250 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 Platygastridae. 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 considered to be a family Scelionidae but has been reclassified as a subfamily of the Platygastridae.
Platygaster rubi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae.
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.
Macroteleia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae. There are more than 140 described species in Macroteleia.
Platygaster munita is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae. It is found in Europe.
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.
Trissolcus oenone is a parasitoid wasp in the family Platygastridae, native to Australia and New Zealand. It parasitises the eggs of stink bugs (Pentatomidae), but little is known about its biology.
