Eulophidae

The family Eulophidae is a highly diverse monophyletic taxon recognizable chiefly by reduction in features of the antennae and legs, including having at most ten flagellomeres and four tarsomeres, and a reduced protibial spur. Eulophidae exhibit a very wide diversity of host relationships. Some are phytophagous, but most are idiobiont or koinobiont parasitoids of arthropods and even nematodes. The chapter provides a taxonomic diagnosis, discusses morphology unique to the family, summarizes distributions, reviews the history of classification for the family, details what is known about their natural history and ecological and economic importance, and discusses the implications of the fossil record. A key to subfamilies and tribes is followed by short discussions of each one.