Family PROCTOTRUPIDAE
Compiler and date details
N.B. Stevens, M. Iqbal & A.D. Austin, Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity and the Department of Applied and Molecular Ecology, Waite Campus, Adelaide University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Introduction
This is a moderately small family of some 30 described species in Australia, but this is probably less than a quarter of the true size of the fauna. Proctotrupids vary in size from 3–15 mm, and usually have reduced venation with a subtriangular pterostigma. Many species have the posterior metasoma narrow and down-curved.
In Australia, all known species are endoparasitic on beetle larvae, although some Northern Hemisphere species are reported to parasitise fungus gnats (Diptera) (Naumann 1991; Masner 1993). The family is divided into two subfamilies, the Austroserphinae and Proctotrupinae.
General References
Masner, L. 1993. Superfamily Proctotrupoidea. pp. 537-557 in Goulet, H. & Huber, J.T. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: An Identification Guide to Families. Ottawa : Research Branch, Agriculture Canada 668 pp.
Naumann, I.D. 1991. Hymenoptera. pp. 916-1000 in Naumann, I.D. (ed.). The Insects of Australia. Melbourne, Vic. : Melbourne University Press Vol. 2 pp. 543-1037