Bethylidae
| Bethylidae | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Bethylus hamatus female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Suborder: | Apocrita |
| Superfamily: | Chrysidoidea |
| Family: | Bethylidae |
The Bethylidae are a family of aculeate wasps in the superfamily Chrysidoidea. As a family, their biology ranges between parasitoid wasps and hunting wasps.
Overview
Like most of the Chrysidoidea, the Bethylidae are stinging Hymenoptera, and yet, like many of the Chrysidoidea, most of the Bethylidae are parasitoids. Some of them, however, have developed their parasitoidal biology along predatory lines and they sting and malaxate their victims into paralysis. Then they hide the prey and lay their eggs on them.
The currently recognised subfamilies of the Bethylidae are:[1]
- Pristocerinae
- Epyrinae
- Mesitiinae
- Bethylinae
- Scleroderminae
- Lancepyrinae
References
- ↑ Alencar & Azevedo (2013) and Azevedo & Azar (2012)
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