The Braconidae are a family of parasitoid wasps. After the closely related Ichneumonidae, braconids make up the second-largest family in the order Hymenoptera, with about 17,000 recognized species and many thousands more undescribed. One analysis estimated a total between 30,000 and 50,000, and another provided a narrower estimate between 42,000 and 43,000 species.
The Stephanidae, sometimes called crown wasps, are a family of parasitoid wasps. They are the only living members of the superfamily Stephanoidea. Stephanidae has at least 345 living species in 11 genera. The family is considered cosmopolitan in distribution, with the highest species concentrations in subtropical and moderate climate zones. Stephanidae also contain four extinct genera described from both compression fossils and inclusions in amber.
Microgastrinae is a subfamily of braconid wasps, encompassing almost 3,000 described species, with an estimated 30,000–50,000 total species. This makes it one of the richest subfamilies with the most species of parasitoid wasps.
The Cheloninae are a cosmopolitan subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps.
The Doryctinae or doryctine wasps are a large subfamily of parasitoid wasps within the family Braconidae.
The Euphorinae are a large subfamily of Braconidae parasitoid wasps. Some species have been used for biological pest control. They are sister group to the Meteorinae.
The Alysiinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps with over 1000 described species. Several species have been used in biocontrol programs. They are closely related to the Opiinae.
The Rogadinae are a large subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps. Several Rogadinae species parasitize pest caterpillars and are important for naturally occurring biological control.
The Cardiochilinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps. This subfamily has been treated as a tribe of Microgastrinae in the past. Some species including Toxoneuron nigriceps have been used in biocontrol programs.
Aerophilus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Braconidae. As members of the subfamily Agathidinae, they are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars. The host is attacked as an early instar, but not consumed and killed until the host is about to pupate. Nearly all species of Aerophilus have a narrow host range, attacking only one caterpillar species. However, the host range of the genus as a whole is quite broad, including many families of Lepidoptera.
Blacini is a tribe of braconid Parasitoid wasps. Formerly the subfamily Blacinae, this group was demoted to a tribe and placed within the Brachistinae based on molecular evidence in 2011.
Lytopylus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae. As members of the subfamily Agathidinae, they are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars. This genus is primarily found in the neotropics, but ranges from the northeastern United States to Argentina. There are 39 species of Lytopylus, and many more undescribed.
Alabagrus is a genus of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae. There are at least 100 described species in Alabagrus.
Brachistinae is a subfamily of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae.
Wroughtonia is a genus of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae. There are over 40 described species in Wroughtonia.
Helconinae is a subfamily of braconid wasps in the family Braconidae.
The Acampsohelconinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps. Extant members of this subfamily were previously included in the Helconinae, Blacinae, or Sigalphinae. The four genera included are †Acampsohelcon, Afrocampsis, Canalicephalus, and Urosigalphus.
Agathis is a genus of braconid parasitoid wasps. This genus was established by Latreille in 1804, and the type species is Agathis malvacearum Latreille, 1805. There are at least forty six species of Agathis in the western palearctic region.
