Chalcidoid
Guides
Acaenacis
Acaenacis is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, described by Girault in 1917. These are small parasitoid wasps belonging to the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The genus is placed in the subfamily Pteromalinae and tribe Pteromalini. As with many pteromalid genera, Acaenacis is poorly known in terms of biology and species diversity.
Acrias
Acrias is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1847. The genus belongs to the subfamily Entiinae and is part of the diverse chalcidoid wasp radiation. Members of this genus, like other eulophids, are likely parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and has received limited taxonomic study.
Aulogymnus
Aulogymnus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, first described by Förster in 1851. Members of this genus are small parasitoid wasps, part of a diverse family that primarily parasitizes other insects. The genus has been recorded from Europe and Asia. Specific biological details for the genus as a whole remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
parasitoidEulophidaeChalcidoideaHymenopteraPalearcticwaspsinsectsarthropodsentomologytaxonomyFörster-1851DenmarkSpainTibetChinaEuropeAsiaminute-waspschalcid-waspsEulophinaeTerebrantesApocritaHexapodaAnimaliaArthropodaInsectaAulogymnussmall-waspstiny-waspsparasitic-waspsbiological-controlinsect-parasitoidssystematicsmorphologyidentificationkeysNearcticOrientalXizangcitizen-scienceiNaturalistobservationsrecordsdistributionFörster1851genusacceptedvalidsynonymychalcidoidchalcidchalcidseulophideulophidseulophid-waspseulophinesparasitoid-waspsparasitic-Hymenopterabiological-control-agentsinsect-diversitybiodiversityfaunaentomologicalhymenopteranarthropodhexapodhexapodspterygotepterygotesendopterygoteendopterygotesholometabolousholometabolatiny-insectsminute-insectssmall-insectsmicrohymenopteramicro-waspsmicro-parasitoidsmicro-chalcidsmicro-eulophidswing-venationantennaethoraxdiagnostic-characterstaxonomic-keysidentification-keysgeneric-keysNearctic-faunaEuropean-faunaAsian-faunaTibetan-faunaSpanish-faunaDanish-faunapoorly-knowndata-deficientunderstudiedcryptic-diversityhost-unknownbiology-unknownlife-history-unknownecology-unknowndistribution-recordsoccurrence-recordsspecimen-recordsmuseum-recordsdatabase-recordsGBIFCatalogue-of-LifeNCBIWikipediaUniversal-Chalcidoidea-DatabaseKey-to-Nearctic-eulophid-generaliteraturesourcesreferencescitationsbibliographyoriginal-descriptiontype-speciestype-localitynomenclaturesystematic-entomologyhymenopterologychalcidologyparasitologybiological-control-researchintegrated-pest-managementIPMagricultural-entomologyforest-entomologymedical-entomologyveterinary-entomologyurban-entomologyconservation-entomologyinsect-ecologycommunity-ecologypopulation-ecologybehavioral-ecologyevolutionary-ecologyphylogeneticsphylogenymolecular-systematicsDNA-barcodingtaxonomy-and-phylogenyclassificationbiodiversity-informaticsbiogeographyhistorical-biogeographyphylogeographydispersalvicariancespeciationdiversificationevolutionadaptationnatural-selectionsexual-selectionlife-history-evolutionhost-parasitoid-interactionscoevolutiontritrophic-interactionsfood-websecosystem-servicesnatural-enemiesbiocontrolaugmentative-biological-controlclassical-biological-controlconservation-biological-controlinvasive-species-managementpest-managementsustainable-agricultureorganic-farmingagroecologyecosystem-healthenvironmental-monitoringbioindicatorsindicator-speciesclimate-changeglobal-changehabitat-lossfragmentationconservation-statusIUCNred-listnot-evaluatedresearch-needsknowledge-gapsfuture-researchprioritiesspecimen-collectionvoucheringmuseum-collectionsnatural-history-collectionsdigitizationdata-sharingopen-scienceFAIR-principlescitizen-science-contributionscommunity-sciencepublic-engagementscience-communicationeducationoutreachnatural-historyinsect-watchingwasp-watchingnature-observationbiodiversity-appreciationBlastophaga psenes
Common Fig Wasp
Blastophaga psenes is a minute chalcidoid wasp, approximately 2 mm in length, and the obligate pollinator of Ficus carica (common fig) and Ficus palmata. Females are winged, black, and shiny; males are smaller, wingless, and do not disperse from the fig. The species exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism and a highly specialized mutualistic relationship with its host figs. Adults live only a few days to weeks, breeding exclusively within fig syconia without constructing nests or colonies. The species is native to the Palaearctic region and has been introduced globally to support commercial fig cultivation.
Brasema allynii
Brasema allynii is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, a group of small parasitic wasps. The species was described by French in 1882. Eupelmids are generally known as parasitoids of insect eggs and larvae, though specific host records for this species remain limited. It has been documented across several Canadian provinces and in Hawaii.
Brasema rhadinosa
Brasema rhadinosa is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, described by Gibson in 1995. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps associated with insect hosts. The species has been recorded from multiple states in the southeastern and eastern United States.
Burkseus
Burkseus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, described by Perry in 2019. The genus belongs to the subfamily Eulophinae, a diverse group of small chalcid wasps that parasitize other insects. As a recently described genus, Burkseus is known from limited collection records in northern Europe, including Norway and Sweden. The genus represents part of the ongoing taxonomic refinement within the hyperdiverse Chalcidoidea.
Cleonymus magnificus
Cleonymus magnificus is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Cleonymidae, described by Ashmead in 1888. It belongs to a group of parasitoid wasps that attack wood-boring beetle larvae. The species has been recorded from Canada (Quebec) and the United States, though detailed biological information remains limited in available literature.
Dicladocerus
Dicladocerus is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, first described by Westwood in 1832. The genus contains species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions, including North America north of Mexico and Japan. Several North American species—specifically D. nearcticus, D. pacificus, and D. terraenovae—are known to attack larch casebearer (Coleophoridae), a moth pest of larch trees. The genus was taxonomically revised in 1976, with twelve new species described from North America and one from Japan.
Encarsia lanceolata
Encarsia lanceolata is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Aphelinidae, described by Evans and Polaszek in 1997. The genus Encarsia comprises minute chalcidoid wasps that parasitize whiteflies and other hemipteran hosts. Species in this genus are extensively studied for their importance in biological control programs targeting agricultural pests. E. lanceolata belongs to a genus noted for its extensive cryptic species diversity, making accurate identification dependent on detailed morphological or molecular analysis.
Erimerus
Erimerus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Torymidae, established by Crawford in 1914. It is the type genus of the subfamily Erimerinae, a small and poorly known group within the Torymidae. The genus is characterized by distinctive morphological features that separate it from other torymids, though detailed biological information remains scarce. Erimerus species are believed to be parasitoids, consistent with the biology of related torymids, but specific host associations are largely undocumented.
Eupelmus
Eupelmus is a large genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eupelmidae, comprising over 330 species with cosmopolitan distribution. Species exhibit dual life histories: most are ectoparasitoids attacking larval and nymphal stages of diverse holometabolous insects, while some are phytophagous with larvae feeding on plant tissues. The genus has been subject to extensive taxonomic revision, with molecular studies challenging the traditional three-subgenus classification (Eupelmus, Episolindelia, Macroneura) in favor of approximately twelve species groups. Several species have demonstrated potential for biological control of agricultural pests.
Euspilotus incertus
Euspilotus incertus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. The genus Euspilotus comprises small chalcidoid wasps, and this species is documented in the extensive Encyrtidae collection at the University of California, Riverside (UCR). The specific epithet "incertus" (Latin for "uncertain") suggests historical taxonomic ambiguity regarding its placement or identification. Members of this genus are known to parasitize scale insects and other homopteran pests.
Eutrichosomatinae
Eutrichosomatinae is a subfamily of chalcidoid wasps established by Peck in 1951. The group has undergone significant taxonomic revision, having been placed in Eutrichosomatidae by some authorities and in Pteromalidae by others. Members are small parasitoid wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The subfamily contains relatively few described species and remains poorly known biologically.
Glyphomerinae
Glyphomerinae is a subfamily of chalcidoid wasps within Torymidae, established in 2018 based on molecular phylogenetic studies. The group represents a distinct lineage within torymid wasps, separated from other subfamilies due to genetic and morphological evidence. It contains relatively few described species compared to other torymine groups. Members are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Heimbra
A small genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eurytomidae, subfamily Heimbrinae. Species of Heimbra are poorly represented in entomological collections and have been documented from Mexico, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil. At least three species are recognized: H. bicolor, H. dioneae, and H. pulchra. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of Heimbrinae, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Henryana
Henryana is a monotypic genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, subfamily Tetrastichinae. The genus was described by Yoshimoto in 1983 and is distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. As a monotypic genus, it contains a single described species. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Herbertiidae
Herbertiidae is a family of chalcidoid wasps elevated from subfamily status in 2022 based on molecular, morphological, and life history data. The family contains three genera—Herbertia, Exolabrum, and the extinct Versolabrum—with approximately ten species worldwide. These small, dark wasps are parasitoids associated with hosts in multiple insect orders.
Lamennaisia
Lamennaisia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Girault in 1922. The genus belongs to the subfamily Encyrtinae, a diverse group of chalcidoid wasps known for their role as biological control agents of scale insects and other Hemiptera. The type species is Lamennaisia ambigua (Nees). Specimens of this genus have been documented in museum collections including the University of California, Riverside Encyrtidae holdings, which contains both pinned and slide-mounted material.
Lecaniobius
Lecaniobius is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Eupelmidae, established by Ashmead in 1896. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, a characteristic common to the Eupelmidae family. The genus has been documented from Peru and the United States based on specimen records. As with many chalcidoid genera, detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Lelaps
Lelaps is a genus of minute chalcidoid wasps in the family Diparidae, containing over 40 described species. These wasps were formerly classified in Pteromalidae but were reassigned to Diparidae based on phylogenetic studies. The genus name derives from Greek mythology, referencing the hound Laelaps that always caught its prey. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented for most species.
Leptofoenus rufus
Leptofoenus rufus is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Pelecinellidae, described by LaSalle and Stage in 1985. The genus Leptofoenus is notable within the Chalcidoidea for its relatively large body size compared to most members of this superfamily. This species is known from Mexico based on distribution records.
Leucospidae
leucospid wasps
Leucospidae are a specialized family of parasitic wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, distinguished by their relatively large size compared to other chalcidoids. They are ectoparasitoids of solitary bees and wasps, with females laying eggs in host nests where larvae attach externally to developing host larvae. The family exhibits distinctive morphological features including enlarged, toothed hind femora and a uniquely recurved ovipositor that extends dorsally along the abdomen in females.
Leucospis
Leucospis is a genus of large chalcidoid wasps in the family Leucospidae. Adults are typically 2–14 mm long with distinctive yellow and black coloration that resembles mason wasps. Females possess a uniquely curved ovipositor that arches over the back, used to drill into wood and reach host larvae in sealed cells. Larvae develop as ectoparasites on solitary bees and wasps, with typically only one parasite emerging per host cell. The genus has a global distribution in tropical and temperate regions.
Leucospis affinis
Leucospis affinis is a large chalcidoid wasp and the most common and widespread North American species in the family Leucospidae. Females are easily recognized by their whip-like ovipositor that curls over the dorsal surface of the abdomen, which they use to drill through wood and deposit eggs in the nests of solitary bees. The species is an external parasite (ectoparasitoid) primarily of megachilid bees including leafcutter bees (Megachile), mason bees (Osmia), and resin bees (Dianthidium), though it has also been recorded from the mason wasp Ancistrocerus antilope.
Leucospis affinis affinis
Leucospis affinis affinis is a chalcidoid wasp in the family Leucospidae, notable for being among the largest members of its superfamily. Females are distinguished by an ovipositor that curves over the dorsal abdomen, used to drill into wood and parasitize solitary bees nesting in pre-existing cavities. The subspecies is primarily a parasite of megachilid bees including leafcutter bees (Megachile), mason bees (Osmia), and resin bees (Dianthidium). Larvae develop as external parasites attached to host bee larvae, completing development in approximately 7–12 days before pupating within the host's cocoon.
Leucospis affinis floridana
Leucospis affinis floridana is a subspecies of chalcidoid wasp in the family Leucospidae. As a member of this family, it is notably large compared to typical chalcid wasps and possesses distinctive morphological adaptations for parasitism. The species is a parasitoid of solitary bees, particularly megachilid bees including mason bees and leafcutter bees. Females use a specialized ovipositor that curves over the abdomen to drill through wood and deposit eggs in host nests.
Leucospis birkmani
Leucospis birkmani is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Leucospidae, a group notable for being unusually large among chalcidoid wasps. Like other leucospids, it is an external parasite of solitary bees and wasps. The female possesses a distinctive whip-like ovipositor that curves over the top of the abdomen, which she uses to drill through wood and deposit eggs in host nests. The species occurs in the southern United States including Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
Leucospis slossonae
Leucospis slossonae is a parasitic wasp in the family Leucospidae, a group of unusually large chalcidoid wasps. Like other leucospids, females possess a distinctive whip-like ovipositor that curls over the top of the abdomen, used to drill into wood and deposit eggs in the nests of solitary bees. The species is known from the southeastern United States.
Licrooides
Licrooides is a genus of minute parasitic wasps in the family Eupelmidae, described by Gibson in 1989. As members of the subfamily Eusandalinae, these wasps share the family's characteristic jumping ability powered by specialized mesothoracic musculature. The genus is part of the hyperdiverse chalcidoid wasp superfamily, with only three observations recorded on iNaturalist suggesting it is rarely encountered or underdocumented. Like other eupelmids, species in this genus are parasitoids of other arthropods, though specific host relationships for Licrooides remain poorly known.
Merismus
Merismus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, established by Walker in 1833. Members of this genus are placed in the tribe Sphegigastrini within the subfamily Miscogastrinae. The genus is part of the diverse chalcidoid wasp superfamily, which contains numerous species that parasitize other insects. Very few observations of this genus exist in public databases.
Merismus megapterus
Merismus megapterus is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Pteromalidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1833. The species belongs to the subfamily Miscogastrinae and tribe Sphegigastrini. It is a member of the chalcidoid wasps, a diverse group of mostly minute parasitoids. The specific epithet "megapterus" (Greek for "large wing") may refer to relatively prominent wing features compared to congeners. Distribution records indicate presence across parts of Europe and East Asia.
Metapelma schwarzi
Metapelma schwarzi is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Eupelmidae, characterized by its relatively large size among chalcidoid wasps at approximately six millimeters in body length. The species is known to parasitize wood-boring beetles, particularly in the families Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. It has been documented from the southwestern United States, including Arizona and Texas.
Metapelma spectabile
Metapelma spectabile is a relatively large chalcidoid wasp, measuring approximately six millimeters in body length—exceptional for this group of typically minute parasitoids. The species belongs to the family Eupelmidae and is parasitic on wood-boring insects, likely targeting beetle families such as Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. It can be encountered in the field on tree trunks with exposed dead wood, unlike most eupelmids which require rearing from hosts.
Monodontomerinae
Monodontomerinae is a subfamily of chalcidoid wasps within the family Torymidae, established by Ashmead in 1899. Members are small parasitoid wasps that attack the larvae of other insects, particularly those developing in plant galls. The subfamily is characterized by distinctive morphological features of the antennae and ovipositor structure. Taxonomic status has been debated, with some classifications treating it as a synonym of Toryminae.
Mymaridae
Fairy Wasps, Fairyflies
Mymaridae, commonly known as fairy wasps or fairyflies, is a family of microscopic chalcidoid wasps containing approximately 100 genera and 1,400 described species distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical regions. Members are among the smallest known insects, with body lengths ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 mm; the smallest species, Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, measures only 0.139 mm and is the smallest known insect. All known species are solitary, idiobiont endoparasitoids of insect eggs, with hosts primarily in Hemiptera (especially leafhoppers, planthoppers, and true bugs), Coleoptera, and Psocodea. The family is economically significant as biological control agents for agricultural pests, particularly for leafhoppers that vector plant diseases.
Notanisus
Notanisus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Cleonymidae, first described by Walker in 1837. These small parasitic wasps are part of a family historically treated as a subfamily within Pteromalidae but now recognized as distinct. The genus has been recorded from multiple continents including North America and Asia. Species in this genus are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented.
Ogloblinisca
Ogloblinisca is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, described by Hedqvist in 1968. It belongs to the subfamily Trigonoderinae and tribe Trigonoderini. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered, with only a handful of observations recorded in biodiversity databases.
Ormocerinae
Ormocerinae is a subfamily of chalcidoid wasps within the family Pteromalidae, established by Walker in 1833. The group contains approximately 40 described genera, including the type genus Ormocerus and the well-known genus Trichilogaster. Members are small parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented for most taxa.
Otitesellini
Otitesellini is a tribe of chalcidoid wasps within the family Pteromalidae, first described by Joseph in 1964. Members of this tribe are parasitoid wasps, a common ecological strategy within Chalcidoidea. The tribe is distinguished by morphological characteristics that separate it from other Pteromalinae tribes. The group has been documented in iNaturalist with over 600 observations, indicating some level of detectability in the field.
Philotrypesis
Philotrypesis is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Pteromalidae. These small chalcidoid wasps are primarily associated with fig trees (Ficus) as parasitoids of fig wasps. The genus has been recorded from multiple regions including Hawaii and Japan, with 266 observations documented on iNaturalist. Taxonomic placement has varied historically, with some sources formerly placing it in Agaonidae, though current consensus places it in Pteromalidae.
Platykula
Platykula is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Torymidae, tribe Boucekinini, established by Huber in 1927. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, a common ecological strategy within Torymidae. The genus is poorly documented in public sources, with minimal species-level information available. It belongs to a family known for attacking gall-forming insects and other concealed hosts.
Prionomitus
Prionomitus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Mayr in 1876. Members of this genus are chalcidoid wasps, a group characterized by their minute size and parasitoid lifestyle. The genus is represented in major entomological collections, including substantial holdings at the University of California, Riverside. Specific biological details for the genus remain limited in published literature.
Pteromalidae
Pteromalidae is a large family of chalcidoid wasps containing approximately 3,450 described species in about 640 genera. The family underwent major taxonomic revision in 2022, when it was split into 24 families due to recognition of its polyphyletic nature; the remaining Pteromalidae now comprises 8 subfamilies. Members are predominantly parasitoids of other insects, with life history strategies spanning solitary to gregarious, ectoparasitoid to endoparasitoid, and primary parasitoid to hyperparasitoid. Several species are important biological control agents of agricultural and nuisance pests.
Pteromalus
Pteromalus is a large genus of parasitic wasps in the family Pteromalidae, containing at least 430 described species. These small chalcidoid wasps are recognized as important biocontrol agents, particularly against pest fruit flies. The genus presents significant taxonomic challenges due to numerous cryptic species that are visually identical but genetically distinct. Many species remain undescribed, and identification relies heavily on detailed morphological measurements and modern interactive keys.
Steffanolampus
Steffanolampus is a monotypic genus of chalcidoid wasps established by Peck in 1974 to accommodate Perilampus salicetum Steffan. The single species has a Nearctic distribution, with records from eastern Canada and the United States extending from Quebec to Maryland and Michigan, plus an isolated western population in Washington State. It is associated with anobiid beetles, though the precise nature of this relationship remains unspecified.
Sympiesis marilandia
Sympiesis marilandia is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, described by Girault in 1917. It is a member of the genus Sympiesis, which contains numerous species of small chalcidoid wasps that parasitize various insect hosts. The species is recorded from multiple provinces in Canada, suggesting a temperate North American distribution. Like other Eulophidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species have not been documented in the available sources.
Tanaostigma
Tanaostigma is a genus of minute parasitic wasps in the family Tanaostigmatidae, within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The genus was established by Howard in 1890. Members of this family are characterized by tiny body size and reduced wing venation, making them difficult to distinguish from related chalcidoid families without detailed examination. The family Tanaostigmatidae is a small group within the diverse Chalcidoidea, which contains numerous families of parasitoid wasps.
Xiphydriophagus
Xiphydriophagus is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, described by Ferrière in 1952. The genus belongs to the subfamily Pteromalinae and tribe Pteromalini. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus has been recorded from limited localities in northern Europe.
Zaischnopsis bouceki
Zaischnopsis bouceki is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Eupelmidae, described by Gibson in 2005. The genus Zaischnopsis was established to accommodate species previously placed in related eupelmid genera, distinguished by specific morphological features of the mesosoma and wing venation. This species is part of the diverse Chalcidoidea superfamily, which contains numerous parasitoids of other insects. The species epithet honors the Czech entomologist Zdeněk Bouček, who made substantial contributions to chalcidoid systematics.