Family PLATYGASTRIDAE
Compiler and date details
N.B. Stevens, M. Iqbal & A.D. Austin, Centre for Evolutionary Biology & Biodiversity (CEBB), The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia
Introduction
In Australia, the Platygastridae are extremely poorly studied with many undescribed species occurring in collections. They are usually tiny in size, and can be recognised by their highly reduced (short submarginal vein only) or absent venation, reduced antennae (10 segments or less), and dense mat of whitish hairs on the metapleuron (and sometimes the propodeum and first metasomal segment). The family was divided into two subfamilies, Sceliotrachinae and Platygastrinae, after the apparently polyphyletic Inostemmatinae were found to be defined only on plesiomorphic characters (Masner & Huggert 1989). However, the phylogenetic status and internal relationships of the current subfamilies remain largely unknown. Platygastrids develop in one of two ways. The parasite develops and emerges from the egg stage of the host, or development is delayed and emergence occurs from post embryonic stages. Platygastrinae are restricted to cecidomyiid hosts while Sceliotrachinae oviposit into the eggs of a range of hosts including Coleoptera, Homoptera and, rarely, Sphecidae.
General References
Masner, L. & Huggert, L. 1989. World review and keys to genera of the subfamily Inostemmatinae with reassignment of the taxa to the Platygastrinae and Sceliotrachelinae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada 147: 1-214