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 most 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.
According to Azevedo et al. eight subfamilies of the Bethylidae are recognized:
According to Azevedo et. al. there are 96 genera belong to the family Bethylidae. Some are listed here:
Data sources: i = ITIS, c = Catalogue of Life, g = GBIF, b = Bugguide.net

Evolution

The oldest known records of the group are from the Barremian aged Lebanese amber.