Introduction

This is a small, rarely collected family with 11 described species in Australia. Leucospids are among the largest of the chalcidoids, with some species up to 16 mm in length. They are characterised by the hind femur swollen and the ventral surface toothed; the tegula elongate, more than two times longer than wide; the fore wing often longitudinally folded; the ovipositor generally exserted and curving upward over the metasoma; the body usually black, non-metallic and with yellow or red markings.

Leucospids are parasitoids of solitary aculeate Hymenoptera, mostly bees. Leucospis is the only Australian genus, and is treated in Boucek (1988).

General References

Bouček, Z. 1988. Australasian Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera). A biosystematic revision of genera of fourteen families, with a reclassification of species. London : CAB International 832 pp.

History of changes

• Leucospis Fabricius, J.C. 1775. Systema Entomologiae, sistens Insectorum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, adiectis Synonymis, Locis, Descriptionibus, Observationibus. Flensburgi et Lipsiae [= Flensburg & Leipzig] : Kortii xxxii 832 pp. [Date published 17 April] [361].

  Type species:

   Leucospis dorsigera Fabricius, 1775 by monotypy.
• Coelogaster Schrank, 1780.
• Leucopsis Dummeril, 1823.
• Leucaspis Burmeister, 1835.
• Metallopsis Westwood, 1839.
• Exochlaenus Shipp, 1894.
• Epexoclaenoides Girault, 1915.
• Exoclaenoides Girault, 1915.
• Parexoclaenus Girault, 1915.

History of changes