Family Braconidae Nees, 1811 ( Ichneumonoidea: Hymenoptera) is the second largest family of the order Hymenoptera. Braconid diversity, though of enormous importance in biological control, is taxonomically challenging as they are minute, morphologically homogeneous and highly speciose. The arbitrary diversity estimates of total valid species described to date is 18,000. Perhaps barely 3,000 species are known from Asia (tropical), as compared to 17,000 species from Africa and 11,000 species from the Neotropics. Indian species accounts to diminutive as compared to the total diversity under 27 subfamilies, 59 tribes, 238 genera and 1189 species. Braconids are ecto or endoparasitoids of immature stages (more specifically larvae and in some case pupae) of Coleoptera, Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Hemiptera (mostly aphids). Some members of this group are known to form plant galls. They have found key role in biological pest control and hence are of great economic importance.
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