A Catalogue of the Irish Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera)

Abstract

The Irish chalcidoid fauna is reviewed and a checklist provided. Data are given for 457 species, 59 of which are recorded from Ireland for the first time. The family Ormyridae is also added to the Irish fauna. The superfamily Chalcidoidea includes some 21,000 species world-wide, most of which are less than 3mm in length. Indeed, they average 1.5mm but the smallest is about 0.11mm. They have an extremely wide host range, attacking both plants and arthropods. Very many species are phytophagous and a small number are serious pests. However, most are parasitoids and some species have been successful in biological control programmes.