Cardiochilinae

Distinguished from Microgastrinae by presence of r-m vein in forewing and more than 16 flagellomeres (Microgastrinae typically have fewer flagellomeres and lack r-m vein). Non-cyclostome condition separates from cyclostome braconid subfamilies. Generic-level identification requires examination of propodeal areola structure, hind basitarsus shape, tarsal claw dentition, and metasomal tergite morphology.

Non-cyclostome braconids with slender body form. Forewing possesses r-m vein (radiomedial crossvein). Antenna with more than 16 flagellomeres. General habitus similar to Microgastrinae but distinguished by wing venation and antennal segmentation.

Worldwide distribution across all major biogeographic regions. Documented from Afrotropical, Australasian, Nearctic, Neotropical, Oriental, and Palearctic regions. Species occur in diverse habitats ranging from lowland tropical wet forest (100 m elevation) to montane forests (1,500–1,700 m).

• Lepidoptera - parasitoidSolitary koinobiont endoparasitoid of caterpillars. Specific host records include: Stenoma cathosiota (Depressariidae), Carthara abrupta (Pyralidae), Phazaca theclata (Uraniidae), Cleora tulbaghata (Geometridae), and Diaphania spp. (Crambidae).

Koinobiont endoparasitoid development: egg and larval stages completed within living host caterpillar. Host continues feeding and developing during parasitoid larval growth. Parasitoid emerges from host, which subsequently dies. Solitary development (one parasitoid per host).

Females inject polydnavirus during oviposition; this virus suppresses host immune encapsulation response, enabling successful parasitoid development. Specimens frequently collected using Malaise traps. Some species exhibit elevation-associated melanism, with darker coloration at higher elevations.

Parasitoid wasp contributing to regulation of Lepidoptera populations. Functions as biological control agent in natural and agricultural ecosystems.

Toxoneuron nigriceps and other species utilized in biocontrol programs against lepidopteran crop pests. Schoenlandella species investigated for control of bitter gourd pests (Momordica charantia). Potential value in integrated pest management of agricultural systems.

• MicrogastrinaeSimilar general appearance and shared koinobiont endoparasitoid lifestyle on Lepidoptera. Distinguished by absence of r-m vein in forewing and typically fewer than 16 flagellomeres.

• parasitoid
• biological control
• polydnavirus
• Lepidoptera
• koinobiont
• endoparasitoid
• Braconidae
• Hymenoptera

• BugGuide
• Wikipedia
• iNaturalist taxon
• NCBI Taxonomy
• Systematics of the world genera of Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera:Braconidae)
• Revision of the Australasian species of Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera : Braconidae)
• Two new species and distribution records for the genus Bohayella Belokobylskij, 1987 from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae)
• Two new species of the genus Austerocardiochiles Dangerfield, Austin & Whitfield, 1999 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Cardiochilinae) from Vietnam
• Revision of the genus Schoenlandella (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) in the New World, with a potential biological control agent for a lepidopteran pest of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.)
• Two new reared species of Heteropteron Brullé (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) from northwest Costa Rica, with the first definitive host records for the genus
• Figure 2 from: Kang I, Shaw SR, Lord NP (2020) Two new species and distribution records for the genus Bohayella Belokobylskij, 1987 from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae). ZooKeys 996: 93-105. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.996.59075
• Figure 1 from: Kang I, Shaw SR, Lord NP (2020) Two new species and distribution records for the genus Bohayella Belokobylskij, 1987 from Costa Rica (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae). ZooKeys 996: 93-105. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.996.59075
• Dickyyuellaargentinensis a tentative new genus and species of Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the Neotropical region.
• Ophiclypeus, a new genus of Cardiochilinae Ashmead (Hymenoptera, Braconidae) from the Oriental region with descriptions of three new species.
• Three new species of Retusigaster Dangerfield, Austin & Whitfield, 1999 (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Cardiochilinae) with an illustrated key to the New World species.