Family Dryinidae - Dryinids

The North American Dryinidae are represented by five subfamilies; Aphelopinae, Anteoninae, Bocchinae, Dryininae, and Gonatopodinae.

The Aphelopinae are tiny winged wasps, and the females lack the modified tarsal characters that most people associate with dryinids. They are best told by the large heads, prominent stigma and bethyloid venation. They often get confused with Bethylidae, but lack the elongate form of that family.

The Anteoninae are fully winged, and the females have the tarsus chelate. They are separated from the other winged females by the chela lacking a rudimentary claw. In other words only the enlarged, modified claw is present.

The female Bocchinae are fully winged or micropterous, and chelate (the rudimentary claw is present). The median leg has a tibial spur present. The mandibles have 1-4 teeth. If the mandible has four teeth then there are three large teeth and a small tooth between the two posterior teeth. The enlarge claw of the chela always has a row of strong teeth.

The female Dryininae are fully winged and chelate (the rudimentary claw is present). The median leg has a tibial spur present. The mandibles have four teeth that get progressively larger. The enlarge claw of the chela lacks a row of strong teeth, with at most one preapical tooth.

The North American females in Gonatopodinae are wingless and chelate (the rudimentary claw is present). The median leg lacks a tibial spur. These are your typical ant-mimic dryinids.

All member of the Dryinidae are parasitoids of Hemiptera, Auchenorrhyncha.