Family PTEROMALIDAE
Introduction
The Pteromalidae is one of the three largest families of Chalcidoidea, and is quite commonly collected. The family is not as clearly defined as many other chalcid families, and members are generally recognised by the lack of distinctive characters which are used to define other families. Indeed, some of the pteromalid subfamilies appear to be assigned to this family mainly because they do not fit into any other chalcid family. A great deal of work still needs to be done to establish a more stable classification for the chalcids, and a re-evaluation of the pteromalid groups could form the basis for such a study. The biologies and host-associations of pteromalids are extremely varied, but most species are idiobionts, many developing as ectoparasitoids of larvae and pupae of Lepidoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera. Concealed hosts, such as leaf-miners and gall-formers are commonly attacked. Other species are idiobiont endoparasitoids, commonly of lepidopterous pupae. Most members of the tribe Miscogasterini are koinobiont larval-pupal parasitoids of Diptera: Agromyzidae, and Tomicobia species develop on adult Coleoptera. A number of pteromalids are predatory rather than parasitic, and still others are phytophagous. Thus almost the whole range of biologies found in the Chalcidoidea is present in the Pteromalidae.
Economic Importance. Several species have been used successfully in biological control; however, they do not rival the success of other parasitoid groups such as Aphelinidae, Encyrtidae and Braconidae.
Distribution. Cosmopolitan.
Classification. There are currently 31 subfamilies of Pteromalidae, with 27 of them known from Australia. Boucek (1988) gives the only coherent discussion of these subfamilies.
Important genera: Pteromalus, Trichomalopsis, Halticoptera, Macroglenes, Trichilogaster, Pachyneuron, Scutellista, Spalangia
Identification of Australian genera: Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988).
Diagnosis
Tarsi 5-segmented. Antenna usually with 5–7 funicular segments. Ovipositor rarely exserted. Postmarginal and stigmal veins well-developed. Mesopleuron not swollen and convex. In general not displaying distinctive features characteristic of other families.
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.