The Homolobinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps.
Taxonomy and phylogeny The subfamily Charmontinae was previously included within Homolobinae as the tribe Charmontini.Sharanowski BJ, Dowling APG, Sharkey MJ. 2011. Molecular phylogenetics of Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea), based on multiple nuclear genes, and implications for classification. Systematic Entomology 36: 549-572.
Description and identification Homolobines are relatively large braconids, often resembling species of Macrocentrinae. They have non-cyclostome mouth parts. Many are pale in coloration with large eyes and long tibial spurs on the hind leg. They can be separated from macrocentrines by the presence of an occipital carina, which is a ridge along the back of the head.
Biology Homolobines are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars. Females lay a single egg on each host. Most recorded hosts are in the families Noctuidae and Geometridae. Most species of Homolobinae are nocturnal.
Genera There are 3 genera of Homolobinae, which are arranged as follows:
Tribe Homolobini van Achterberg, 1979 Exasticolus van Achterberg, 1979 Homolobus Förster, 1863
Westwoodiellini van Achterberg, 1992 Westwoodiella Szépligeti, 1904
References
External links Photos on BugGuide DNA barcodes at BOLD systems