Family EUPELMIDAE
Introduction
The Eupelmidae is a medium-sized family of chalcids. Eupelmids are, for the most part, primary parasitoids of a variety of insect hosts, often associated with hosts concealed in plant tissue. Calosotines and neanastatines develop primarily on wood-boring beetles, although Neanastatus species attack various gall-midges (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae). In contrast, Eupelmines display a much wider host range, including species of Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera (Coccoidea), Orthoptera, Blattaria, Mantodea and Diptera. They can act as either primary parasitoids or hyperparasitoids (usually through cocoons of braconids). One genus, Anastatus, attacks large eggs of Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Mantodea and Blattaria.
Economic Importance. Eupelmids have shown little value in biological control. Several species have been used in various biological control projects, but without significant success.
Distribution. Cosmopolitan.
Classification. Boucek (1988) and Gibson (1989) recognised (and provided keys to) three subfamilies of Eupelmidae: Eupelminae, Calosotinae, and Neanastatinae (= Metapelmatinae).
Important genera: Eupelmus, Anastatus, Macroneura, and Brasema.
Identification of Australian genera: Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988). Gibson provided keys to world genera of Calosotinae and Neanastatinae (Gibson, 1989), and world genera of Eupelminae (Gibson, 1995).
Diagnosis
Mesopleuron large, convex, longer than tall and without a median groove or furrow. Spur of middle tibia usually somewhat enlarged. Insertion of middle coxae anterior to the midline of the mesopleuron. Insertion of middle coxae at posterior margin of mesopleuron. Marginal vein distinctly longer than stigmal vein. Cerci usually placed at or near the apex of the metasoma. Antenna usually with 1–2 anelli, or with more than 6 funicular segments. Prepectus not swollen anteriorly. Notauli, when present, straight and not converging medially. Mesoscutum often with large, concave median groove or furrow.
General References
Boucek, Z. 1988. Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A biosystematic revision of genera of fourteen families, with a reclassification of species. London : CAB International 832 pp.
Gibson, G.A.P. 1989. Phylogeny and classification of Eupelmidae, with a revision of the world genera of Calosotinae and Metapelmatinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 149: 1-121
Gibson, G.A.P. 1995. Parasitic wasps of the subfamily Eupelminae: classification and revision of world genera (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eupelmidae). Memoirs on Entomology, International 5: 1-421