| Eulophidae | |
|---|---|
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| Colpoclypeus florus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Superfamily: | Chalcidoidea |
| Family: | Eulophidae Westwood 1829 |
| Subfamilies | |
Elasminae | |
| Diversity | |
| Five subfamilies about 300 genera about 4300 species | |
TheEulophidae is a large family ofhymenopteraninsects, with over 4,300 described species in some 300genera. The family includes the genusElasmus, which used to be treated as a separate family, "Elasmidae", and is now treated as a subfamily of Eulophidae.[1] These minute insects are challenging to study, as they deteriorate rapidly after death unless extreme care is taken (e.g., preservation inethanol), making identification of most museum specimens difficult. Thelarvae of very few species feed on plants, but the majority are primaryparasitoids on a huge range ofarthropods at all stages of development. They are exceptional in that they are one of two hymenopteran families with some species that are known to parasitizethrips.[2] Eulophids are found throughout the world in virtually all habitats (one is even aquatic, parasitisingwater-penny beetles).
Eulophids are separable from most otherChalcidoidea by the possession of only fourtarsomeres on each leg, a small, straight protibial spur (as opposed to the larger, curved one in most other chalcidoids), and by antennae with two to four funicle segments and at most 10 antennomeres.
Authority control databases: National |
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