Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
classification in the guide follows
(1)Explanation of Names
Braconidae Latreille 1829
Numbers
>1700 spp. in >200 genera of 36 subfamilies in our area; close to 20,000 spp. in >1000 genera of ~50 subfamilies worldwide. Ghahari et al. (2003) estimate 120,000 spp.
subfamilies not yet in the guide [# spp. in our area]:
Dirrhopinae [1]
Masoninae [2 in 1 genus, se.US]
Meteorideinae [2 in 1 genus]
Size
rarely >15 mm; smallest 1‒3 mm
Identification
Antennae with ≥16 segments in most individuals (11 segments in some
Aphidiinae)
Vein 2m-cu absent, (RS+M)a usually present
see also
(2)(3) • morphology diagrams in
(4)Food
Larval hosts: immature insects incl. Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, &c. Phytophagous gall-forming species exist in the Doryctinae (Marsh 1991)
Life Cycle
Many are egg-larval parasitoids (eggs laid into host eggs but start to develop after the host larva hatch). Unlike ichneumonids, many pupate in silken cocoons outside the host; others spin cocoons away from the host.
(5) Very few use host pupae to complete the cycles, except for fly parasitoids in Alysiinae and Opiinae.
Print References
Marsh P.M. (1991) Description of a phytophagous doryctinae braconid from Brazil (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Proc. Ent. Soc. Wash. 93: 92‒95.