Seed-wasp
Guides
Eurytoma
Eurytoma is a large genus of chalcid wasps in the family Eurytomidae, containing at least 620 described species. Members are primarily parasitoids, attacking a diverse range of hosts including gall-forming insects and seeds of fruit crops. The genus is currently recognized as polyphyletic based on morphological and phylogenomic studies, indicating that extensive taxonomic revision is required. Species occupy varied habitats from agricultural orchards to natural gall systems on wild plants.
Eurytomidae
seed chalcids, eurytomid wasps
Eurytomidae is a family of chalcid wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, comprising approximately 1,420 described species across 87 genera. Members exhibit diverse life histories: larvae are endophytic, developing within plant tissues (stems, seeds, or galls) as phytophages, parasitoids of other insects, or both. The family is cosmopolitan, occurring in virtually all terrestrial habitats. Some species are agricultural pests, notably the almond seed wasp (Eurytoma amygdali) and plum seed wasp (Eurytoma schreineri), while others serve as biocontrol agents. Phylogenomic studies have confirmed monophyly of the four recognized subfamilies (Buresiinae, Eurytominae, Heimbrinae, Rileyinae), though many large genera remain para- or polyphyletic.