Family PROCTOTRUPIDAE

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Introduction

This is a moderately small family of some 30 described species in Australia, but this is probably less than a quarter of the true size of the fauna. Proctotrupids vary in size from 3–15 mm, and usually have reduced venation with a subtriangular pterostigma. Many species have the posterior metasoma narrow and down-curved.

In Australia, all known species are endoparasitic on beetle larvae, although some Northern Hemisphere species are reported to parasitise fungus gnats (Diptera) (Naumann 1991; Masner 1993). The family is divided into two subfamilies, the Austroserphinae and Proctotrupinae.

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

General References

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

Masner, L. 1993. Superfamily Proctotrupoidea. pp. 537-557 in Goulet, H. & Huber, J.T. (eds). Hymenoptera of the World: An Identification Guide to Families. Ottawa : Research Branch, Agriculture Canada 668 pp.

Naumann, I.D. 1991. Hymenoptera (Wasps, bees, ants, sawflies). pp. 916-1000 in CSIRO (ed). The Insects of Australia. A textbook for students and research workers. Carlton : Melbourne University Press.

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