The Diapriidae are a family of parasitoid wasps. These tiny insects have an average length of 2–4 mm and never exceed 8 mm. They typically attack larvae and pupae of a wide range of insects, especially flies. The about 2,300 described species in around 200 described genera are divided into three subfamilies, and the group has a global distribution.
Diapriids show considerable diversity of form, with aptery (lack of wings) fairly common, sometimes in both sexes. Nearly all species exhibit noticeable sexual dimorphism, with males and females often mistaken for separate species. The wings, when present, show characteristically reduced venation, with the greatest reduction in the subfamilies Ambositrinae and Diapriinae.
Selected genera
Acanopsilus Acanosema Acanthopsilus Aclista Acropiesta Anaclista Aneurhynchus Aneuropria Anommatium Antropria Aprestes Archaeopria Atomopria Aulacopria Auxopaedeutes Basalys Belyta Bruesopria Cardiopsilus Cerapsilon Cinetus Coptera Cordylocras Cyathopria Diapria Diphora Doliopria Ecitovagus Entomacis Erasikea Eumiota Eunuchopria Geodiapria Gwaihiria †Iberopria Idiotypa Labidopria Labolips Lepidopria Lyteba Macrohynnis Maoripria Miota Monelata Myrmecopria Neurogalesus Opazon Oxylabis Oxypria Pamis Panbelista Pantoclis Pantolyta Pantolytomyia Parabetyla Paramesius Paroxylabis Pentapria Plagiopria Platymischus Polypeza Praeaclista Propsilomma Psilomma Psilommacra Psilus Rhynchopsilus Scorpioteleia Solenopsia Spilomicrus Symphytopria Synacra Synbelyta Tetramopria Townesella Trichopria Valia Viennopria †Xenomorphia Zygota
References
Diapriidae page on Tolweb Family description The Diapriidae Family Diapriidae images at EOL Flickr Tagged Images