Ceraphronoidea, platygastroidea and proctotrupoidea from Brazil (Hymenoptera)

Abstract

The wasps of the "Proctotrupoidea complex" (Ceraphronoidea, Proctotrupoidea y Platygasteroidea) are a very large and diverse group of parasitic Hymenoptera. It is a relatively old group, with fossils from the Jurassic period. All of them are parasitoids or hiperparasitoids of other arthropods, attacking most groups of terrestrial insects as well as centipeds and spiders. The present study summarizes the knowledge of this complex in Brazil. A total of 221 species are listed; they are distributed in the families Ceraphronidae (1), Megaspilidae (1), Diapriidae (84), Monomachidae (9), Pelecinidae (2), Proctotrupidae (12), Platygastridae (20), Scelionidae (92). Taxonomy, fossil records, distribution and hosts are reviewed.