Signiphoridae

Taxobox
name = Signiphoridae
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Hymenoptera
subordo = Apocrita
superfamilia = Chalcidoidea
familia = Signiphoridae
familia_authority = Ashmead, 1880
subdivision_ranks = Genera
subdivision ="Chartocerus"
"Clytina"
"Signiphora"
"Thysanus"

Signiphoridae (historically also known as Thysanidae) is a small family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. They are almost exclusively associated with scale insects, either as parasitoids or hyperparasitoids of other parasitic wasps or flies. There are only some 45 species in 4 genera, and they are primarily tropical and subtropical in the New World.

They are typically short, squat wasps, best recognized by subtle features of the wings (long marginal setae but few setae on the membrane), and a long, unsegmented antennal club. Some species are highly modified into a polished, smooth teardrop shape.

External links

* [http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/projects/chalcidoids/signiphoridae.html Universal Chalcidoidea Database]