Darwin-wasp
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Phygadeuontinae
Darwin wasps
Phygadeuontinae is a subfamily of Darwin wasps within Ichneumonidae, comprising numerous genera including Atractodes, Chirotica, Gelis, Lochetica, and others. The subfamily exhibits cosmopolitan distribution with substantial diversity in the Neotropics, Europe, and Asia Minor. Members are primarily parasitoids with varied host associations including Lepidoptera (Psychidae), Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae), and other insects. The genus Gelis includes at least one documented endoparasitoid of insect eggs, representing an unusual life history strategy for ichneumonids.