Family PERILAMPIDAE

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Introduction

The Perilampidae are a small family, not commonly collected. Thirty-three described species are known from Australia. They are characterised by the prepectus lying in the same plane with, and usually fused to, the lateral face of the pronotum; the first two metasomal segments generally accounting for most of the exposed metasoma; and the thorax often with coarse punctures. In addition, most species are robust, of moderately small size (1.5–6 mm) and strongly sculptured.

Many perilampids are hyperparasitoids of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), developing through Hymenoptera (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae) or Diptera (tachinid flies). Other species are primary parasitoids of Hymenoptera, Coleoptera (beetles) or Neuroptera (lacewings). The biology of perilampids is often quite complex. In species that are primary parasitoids, the active first instar larvae, or planidia, are external and attack the host at the time of pupation. With hyperparasitic species, the planidia seek out and enter hosts that would serve as potential primary hosts for other parasitoids. If the primary parasitoid is present, the planidium then enters the primary parasitoid's body, waits without further development for the primary to finish its development and pupate, at which point the planidium exits the primary host to feed externally.

Boucek (1988) recognised two subfamilies, Perilampinae and Chrysolampinae; however, other authors postulate that the Chrysolampinae more correctly belongs in the Pteromalidae. Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988).

Jennings & Austin (2015) list 2 unidentified species from Lord Howe Island in the Australian Museum.

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.

Jennings, J.T. & Austin, A.D. 2015. Synopsis of the hymenopteran fauna of Lord Howe Island with a preliminary checklist of species. Zootaxa 3931(3): 423–432

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