Eurytomidae
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| 3 subfamilies c.85 genera c.1420 species |
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Eurytominae |
Eurytomidae is a family within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. The group is apparently polyphyletic, though the different subfamilies may each be monophyletic, and may be elevated to family status in the near future. As presently defined, there are some 1420 described species in 87 genera.
Unlike most chalcidoids, the larvae of many are phytophagous (feeding in stems, seeds, or galls), while others are more typical parasitoids, though even then the hosts are usually found within plant tissues. They are found throughout the world in virtually all habitats, and a few are considered pests.
They tend to be dull and non-metallic, heavily punctured, with a very thick, collar-like pronotum, but none of these characters is unique within the Chalcidoidea, nor do they appear to define a natural group, and the family is likely to be divided up.
