Chalcididae
Guides
Acanthochalcis
Acanthochalcis is a genus of chalcidid wasps in the family Chalcididae, subfamily Cratocentrinae. These are large, distinctive parasitic wasps characterized by their greatly swollen, toothed hind femora and exceptionally long ovipositors. The genus contains at least two commonly encountered North American species, A. nigricans and A. unispinosa, which are parasitoids of jewel beetles (Buprestidae), particularly species in the genus Chrysobothris.
Acanthochalcis nigricans
Acanthochalcis nigricans is a large chalcidid wasp distinguished by white pubescent patches on the abdomen, which separate it from the similar A. unispinosa. Females possess an exceptionally long ovipositor and measure approximately 19 mm in total length. The species is a known parasitoid of Chrysobothris jewel beetles, including C. femorata and C. edwardsii, and has been observed seeking oviposition sites on dead mesquite branches. It occurs across the southwestern United States from Kansas and Oklahoma west to California.
Acanthochalcis unispinosa
Acanthochalcis unispinosa is a large chalcidid wasp distinguished from its congener A. nigricans by the absence of white pubescent patches on the abdomen. It ranges from Texas to California and is a known parasitoid of jewel beetles (Buprestidae), particularly species in the genus Chrysobothris. The genus is notable among chalcidids for its large body size and extraordinarily long ovipositor, adaptations for reaching wood-boring beetle larvae in their galleries.
Brachymeria
chalcid wasps
Brachymeria is a large genus of chalcidid wasps containing over 300 species worldwide. These small parasitoids are primarily solitary endoparasitoids of insect pupae, with most species attacking Lepidoptera. They are characterized by enlarged hind femora typical of the family Chalcididae. Some species function as hyperparasitoids, attacking parasitic Hymenoptera and Diptera. Several species have been employed in biological control programs against pest insects.
Brachymeria flavipes
Brachymeria flavipes is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Fabricius in 1793. Like other members of the genus Brachymeria, it is a small wasp (3–6 mm) with characteristically enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is a primary or secondary parasite of Lepidoptera and muscoid fly larvae, with adults emerging from host pupae. Specific biological details for B. flavipes are sparse in the literature, though genus-level traits suggest it likely shares the typical Brachymeria life history of attacking host larvae and completing development in approximately 20–27 days under favorable conditions.
Brachymeria ovata
Brachymeria ovata is a small parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The genus Brachymeria contains 26 known species in North America, all characterized by heavily armored bodies and enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. These 3-6 mm wasps are primary or secondary parasites of Lepidoptera and muscoid fly larvae, emerging from host pupae. The species has been recorded from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada.
Brachymeria podagrica
Brachymeria podagrica is a cosmopolitan parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae, known from Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and multiple other regions worldwide. The species is a solitary idiobiont parasitoid of dipteran pupae, particularly flesh flies (Sarcophagidae) and blow flies (Calliphoridae). It has been documented attacking Sarcodexia lambens, Peckia collusor, Hemilucilia flavifacies, Chrysomya albiceps, and Sarcophaga dux, among other hosts. Development from egg to adult emergence takes approximately 20–27 days under favorable conditions, with overwintering generations requiring 155–180 days. Adults are commonly observed near aphid colonies feeding on honeydew, and occasionally visit flowers such as wild carrot. The species has forensic significance due to its predictable emergence from fly pupae on decomposing corpses.
Brachymeria tegularis
Brachymeria tegularis is a small parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, originally described from North America by Cresson in 1872. The genus Brachymeria comprises approximately 26 species in North America, with members typically ranging 3-6 mm in length. Species in this genus function as both primary and secondary parasitoids, attacking larvae of Lepidoptera and muscoid flies, with adults emerging from host pupae. The distinctive 'thunder thighs'—greatly swollen hind femora with bowed tibiae—are characteristic of the family and aid in rapid escape from danger.
Conura
Conura is a large genus of chalcidid wasps comprising over 300 described species, with approximately 295 species occurring in the New World. The genus is divided into three subgenera and 63 species groups based on morphological patterns. Species exhibit diverse life history strategies including primary parasitism of lepidopteran pupae and hyperparasitism through other parasitoid wasps.
Conura albifrons
Conura albifrons is a native North American hyperparasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae. It has been documented attacking Diadromus pulchellus, an exotic ichneumonid parasitoid introduced for biological control of the leek moth (Acrolepiopsis assectella). This hyperparasitoid relationship represents a potential challenge to biological control programs, as native hyperparasitoids can reduce the effectiveness of introduced natural enemies. The species is recorded from multiple Canadian provinces including Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.
Conura dema
Conura dema is a species of chalcidid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Burks in 1940. It belongs to the large genus Conura, which comprises parasitoid wasps associated with various host insects. The species is known from limited observations, with only five records documented on iNaturalist. Like other chalcidid wasps, it likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific host relationships for this species remain undocumented.
Conura igneoides
Conura igneoides is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae. It is a small parasitoid wasp, part of a genus known for attacking lepidopteran pupae. The species was described by William Kirby in 1883. Like other members of Chalcididae, it possesses enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The specific epithet "igneoides" suggests a resemblance to fire or flame in coloration.
Conura lasnierii
Conura lasnierii is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Guérin-Méneville in 1844. The genus Conura comprises parasitoid wasps, and members of this genus are known to attack pupae of Lepidoptera. This species has been documented from a limited number of observations, with records primarily from the Neotropical region.
Conura maria
Conura maria is a species of chalcid wasp described by Riley in 1870. It belongs to the family Chalcididae, a group of small parasitoid wasps known for their enlarged hind femora. The species epithet honors Maria Sibylla Merian, the pioneering 17th-century entomologist and scientific illustrator. Like other members of the genus Conura, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Conura odontotae
Conura side
Conura side is a species of chalcidid wasp first described by Walker in 1843. It is a hyperparasitoid that parasitizes Diadegma insulare, a parasitoid wasp that attacks diamondback moth larvae. The species belongs to the family Chalcididae, a group of small parasitoid wasps characterized by enlarged hind femora. Distribution records indicate presence across multiple Canadian provinces.
Dirhininae
Dirhininae is a subfamily of chalcidid wasps established by Ashmead in 1904, containing four genera and over 100 species, many of which remain undescribed. Members of the tribe Dirhinini are distinguished by a pair of prominent head horns and are primarily distributed in tropical regions. These wasps are parasitoids that develop within various Brachycera flies, with the adult wasp using its horns, mandibles, and robust body to forcefully emerge from the host.
Dirhinus
Dirhinus is a genus of chalcidid wasps comprising approximately 70 described species with worldwide distribution. These wasps are pupal parasitoids of Diptera, particularly flies associated with decomposing vertebrate matter, including synanthropic species such as house flies, blow flies, and flesh flies, as well as agricultural pests like fruit flies. Females locate host pupae in soil or substrate by digging with their horns and oviposit directly on the pupa within its puparium. Several species, notably Dirhinus giffardii, have been investigated for biological control applications against filth flies and fruit fly pests.
Epitraninae
Epitraninae is a subfamily of chalcid wasps within the family Chalcididae, characterized by reduced wing venation and distinctive antennal structures. Members are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented for many genera. The subfamily contains relatively few described species compared to other chalcidid subfamilies.
Epitranus clavatus
Epitranus clavatus is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, order Hymenoptera. The genus Epitranus comprises parasitoid wasps, and members of this family are typically associated with parasitizing other insects. Distribution records indicate occurrence in Yemen (YE). The species was described by Fabricius in 1804. Beyond taxonomic placement and limited distributional data, detailed biological information for this species is not well documented in available sources.
Haltichella onatas
Haltichella onatas is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Walker in 1843. Like other members of the genus Haltichella, it belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group characterized by specific morphological features of the hind femora. The species is part of the diverse Chalcidoidea superfamily, one of the largest groups of parasitoid wasps. Information on its biology and host associations remains limited in available literature.
Haltichella rhyacioniae
Haltichella rhyacioniae is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Gahan in 1927. The species epithet "rhyacioniae" indicates an association with moths of the genus Rhyacionia (pine tip moths), suggesting it is likely a parasitoid of these hosts. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group characterized by distinctive morphological features including modified hind legs. Records indicate presence in multiple U.S. states.
Hockeria
Hockeria is a genus of chalcidid wasps in the family Chalcididae, first described by Walker in 1834. These are small parasitoid wasps belonging to the subfamily Haltichellinae. Members of this genus, like other chalcidids, are characterized by enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The genus has been recorded from scattered localities including Hawaii, Himachal Pradesh (India), and Hubei (China).
Hockeria eriensis
Hockeria eriensis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Wallace in 1942. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group characterized by reduced wing venation and often metallic coloration. The species is known from the Canadian prairies, with records from Alberta and Saskatchewan. As with other chalcidids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Hockeria micra
Hockeria micra is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Halstead in 1990. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae, a group of chalcidid wasps characterized by their enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. The species is known from scattered records across the United States, with documented occurrences in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, and Missouri. Like other chalcidids, H. micra is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain unreported in available literature.
Hockeria tenuicornis
Hockeria tenuicornis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Girault in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae and tribe Haltichellini. The genus Hockeria is part of a diverse family of parasitoid wasps whose members are typically associated with other insects as hosts. The specific epithet "tenuicornis" refers to slender or thin antennae.
Hockeria unipunctatipennis
Hockeria unipunctatipennis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae, described by Girault in 1918. It belongs to the subfamily Haltichellinae and is part of a genus known for attacking lepidopteran hosts. The species has been recorded in eastern Canada, specifically Ontario and Quebec.
Phasgonophora
Phasgonophora is a genus of chalcidid wasps in the family Chalcididae, with at least two described species: Phasgonophora sulcata and Phasgonophora rugithorax. Members of this genus are solitary endoparasitoids of woodboring beetle larvae. Phasgonophora sulcata, the better-studied species, is native to North America and has been documented attacking Agrilus planipennis (emerald ash borer) as a novel host, as well as Agrilus bilineatus (twolined chestnut borer). The genus has gained attention for its potential role in biological control of invasive forest pests.
Phasgonophora algerti
Phasgonophora algerti is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Chalcididae. It belongs to the subfamily Phasgonophorinae, a group of chalcidid wasps that includes species associated with wood-boring beetles. The genus Phasgonophora contains native North American parasitoids that attack various wood-boring beetle larvae in trees.
Phasgonophora californica
Phasgonophora californica is a species of chalcidid wasp in the family Chalcididae. It belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps that attack woodboring beetle larvae. The species was described by Rohwer in 1917 and is native to western North America.
Phasgonophora sulcata
Phasgonophora sulcata is a native North American chalcidid wasp and solitary endoparasitoid of woodboring beetles in the genus Agrilus. It has adopted the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) as a novel host and is under investigation as a biological control agent. Adult emergence occurs 20–24 days after host emergence at 21°C, with females emerging 5–6 days before males. Field parasitism rates range from 12% to 34%, with activity concentrated in ash trees below 360 cm height.
Schwarzella
Schwarzella is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Chalcididae, described by Ashmead in 1904. The genus belongs to the tribe Hybothoracini within the subfamily Haltichellinae. Chalcidid wasps in this group are generally small parasitoids, though specific biological details for Schwarzella remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in field observations, with limited published natural history information.