Spalangia spp.

Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae: Spalangiinae

Body blackish, occasionally with a metallic sheen, generally smooth between piliferous punctures which may be very sparse. Head prognathous, antennal insertions widely separated and close to mouth border, antennae filiform, with 7 funicular segments without anellus, in male first funicular segment longer than pedicel. Eyes with sparse, long hairs. Pronotum with a low subhorizontal neck with transverse rugosity, and convex, bell-shaped collar part. Mesoscutum between punctate notaular grooves with irregular punctures, rarely a cross-row. Forewing with very long marginal vein but very short, subequal marginal vein and stigmal vein, stigmal vein strongly bent. Petiole of gaster conspicuous with longitudinal ribs. Associated with Diptera (from Boucek, 1988).

   Head, thorax

 Adult - dorsal view

Primary parasites of Diptera. Some species attack synanthropic flies and are used in biological control of such flies.