Family TETRACAMPIDAE
Introduction
The Tetracampidae is a small family that is rarely collected. The biology of very few species is known, but most appear to be parasitoids of leaf-miners, or egg-parasitoids.
Economic Importance. None.
Distribution. Cosmopolitan.
Classification. The Tetracampidae currently comprises three extant subfamilies; only the Tetracampinae occurs in Australia.
Important genera: Epiclerus.
Identification of Australian genera: Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988).
Diagnosis
Females with 5 tarsal segments, males with 4; both with fore tibial spur small and straight. Antenna with 6 (rarely 5) funicular segments. Pronotum long, greater than half the length of the mesoscutum, and rounded without prominent anterior corner. Basal cell of forewing usually densely setose, speculum may be absent.
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.