The superfamily Chrysidoidea is a very large cosmopolitan group, all of which are

parasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host (biology), host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionarily stable str ...

s or cleptoparasites of other insects. There are three large, common families ( Bethylidae, Chrysididae, and Dryinidae) and four small, rare families ( Embolemidae, Plumariidae,

Sclerogibbidae The Sclerogibbidae are a small family of Aculeata, aculeate wasps in the superfamily (biology), superfamily Chrysidoidea. Overview Sclerogibbidae are ectoparasitoids of Embioptera. The female wasp oviposits an egg on the abdomen of a host. Once ...

, and Scolebythidae). Most species are small (7 mm or less), almost never exceeding 15 mm. This superfamily is traditionally considered to be the basal taxon within the

Aculeata Aculeata is an infraorder of Hymenoptera containing ants, bees, and stinging wasps. The name is a reference to the defining feature of the group, which is the modification of the ovipositor into a stinger. However, many members of the group cann ...

, and, as such, some species can sting, though the

venom Venom or zootoxin is a type of toxin produced by an animal that is actively delivered through a wound by means of a bite, sting, or similar action. The toxin is delivered through a specially evolved ''venom apparatus'', such as fangs or a sti ...

is harmless to humans. Members of the families Dryinidae and Embolemidae are the only

s among the

Hymenoptera Hymenoptera is a large order of insects, comprising the sawflies, wasps, bees, and ants. Over 150,000 living species of Hymenoptera have been described, in addition to over 2,000 extinct ones. Many of the species are parasitic. Females typi ...

to have a life cycle in which the wasp larva begins its life inside the body of the host, and then later forms a sac (called a ''thylacium'') that protrudes out of the host's

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

. The closely related family

contains more traditional ectoparasitoids, attacking the

nymphs A nymph (; ; sometimes spelled nymphe) is a minor female nature deity in ancient Greek folklore. Distinct from other Greek goddesses, nymphs are generally regarded as personifications of nature; they are typically tied to a specific place, land ...

webspinner The order Embioptera, commonly known as webspinners or footspinners, are a small group of mostly tropical and subtropical insects, classified under the subclass Pterygota. The order has also been called Embiodea or Embiidina. More than 400 spe ...

s. The extinct, monotypic family Plumalexiidae was described in 2011 from fossils preserved in

Turonian The Turonian is, in the International Commission on Stratigraphy, ICS' geologic timescale, the second age (geology), age in the Late Cretaceous epoch (geology), Epoch, or a stage (stratigraphy), stage in the Upper Cretaceous series (stratigraphy), ...

age New Jersey amber.

References

External links

Online identification guide to eastern North American Chrysididae wasps
Apocrita superfamilies Late Cretaceous insects Cenozoic insects Turonian first appearances Extant Barremian first appearances {{Apocrita-stub