Diptera-parasitoids
Guides
Diapriinae
Diapriinae is a subfamily of minute parasitoid wasps within the family Diapriidae. Members are typically 1–8 mm in length, with most species averaging 2–4 mm. They are characterized by a distinctive ledge-like extension of the face above the clypeus (the "shelf face"), from which the antennae originate. The subfamily contains three tribes: Diapriini, Psilini, and Spilomicrini. Most species are parasitoids of Diptera larvae and pupae, particularly fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae and Sciaridae), though some lineages have evolved specialized associations with ants. Many species remain undescribed, with an estimated 4,500 species worldwide compared to approximately 2,300 currently described.