Proctotrupoidea

Proctotrupidae is a family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Proctotrupoidea. There are about 400 species in more than 30 genera in Proctotrupidae, found throughout most of the world.

Proctotrupoidea is a hymenopteran superfamily containing seven extant families, though others have been recognized in the past, most of these having been removed to a recently erected superfamily Diaprioidea. Of the remaining families, only Proctotrupidae contains a substantial number of species, with over 400 described. The others are small, often relictual groups. See links for individual families for details of life history and diversity.

Roproniidae is a family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, of which only two genera are still extant, the others being fossils. Species are known from Eurasia and North America. At least some living species are known to parasitise the larvae of tenthredinid sawflies.

species of insect

Heloridae is a family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Proctotrupoidea, known primarily from fossils, and only one extant genus, Helorus, with 12 species found worldwide. Members of Helorus are parasitic on green lacewings.

The genus Pelecinus is the only living member of the family Pelecinidae (there are also many fossil genera), and contains only three species, restricted to the New World. One species, Pelecinus polyturator, occurs from North through South America, and the others occur in Mexico (Pelecinus thoracicus) and South America (Pelecinus dichrous). The females are glossy wasps, very long (up to 7 cm) and the abdomen is extremely attenuated, used to lay eggs directly on scarab larvae buried in the soil.

species of insect

genus of insects

species of insect

Vanhornia is a genus of parasitic wasps. It is the only member of the family Vanhorniidae within the Proctotrupoidea. Of the four known species, V. eucnemidarum (type) is widespread across North America, V. leileri is widespread across the Palearctic, V. quizhouensis is found in South China and Thailand, and V. yurii is found in Northeast Asia. Members of Vanhornia are parasitoids on beetles belonging to the family Eucnemidae.