Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida
Date of this Version
December 1986
Abstract
The Bethylidae are a primitive family of aculeate Hymenoptera which presently consists of about 2,200 nominal species. They are worldwide in distribution and all species are primary, external parasites of Lepidoptera and Coleoptera larvae. Due t o their host associations, bethylids are potentially useful for the biological control of various agricultural pests in the aforementioned groups. Unfortunately, the true potential of bethylids in applied biological control cannot be ascertained now because they have been used infrequently. Some species show strong promise, but t h e i r use is handicapped by a relative lack of basic taxonomic and biological knowledge. The most recent world catalog for bethylids is Kieffer (1914). A world catalog is forthcoming (Gordh, in prep.). There has never been a compilation of the world literature.
Comments
Published in Insecta Mundi Vol. 1 , no. 4, December 1986. Copyright © 1986 Hawkins.
Insecta Mundi, published by the Center for Systematic Entomology, is available online at http://centerforsystematicentomology.org/.