Oodera

Oodera is the sole genus in the monotypic family Ooderidae. Almost all species are parasatoids of xylophagous beetles in the families Buprestidae and Curculionidae, however much of their biology is unknown. They are rarely collected especially by common methods used by Chalcidoidea specialists such as malaise traps, sweep nets, and pan traps. Species occur in the warm areas of the Palaeartic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan regions. Only one species Oodera formosa has been introduced into the new world. Species are one of the most easily distinguished chacloids due to their distinctive morphology.

== Morphology == The fore femora of Oodera species is greatly enlarged and covered in spines and spinelike setae. The front legs resembling raptorial legs in addition to a prolonged pronotum give species a mantis-like habitus, however as with many other characteristics the function of this feature is unknown. The mesonotal structure is unique in that the mesoscutum and mesoscutellar-axillar complex are fused, this along with the axilla being highly developed cause transcutal articulation to be absent. Members in this genus are relatively large ranging in size from 3.6-17mm.