Overview
Although no host records are known for Australia, members of this family are all thought to be
ectoparasitic
on crickets (Orthoptera: Gryllidae).
Description
In Australia, this small family is known from only two described species from north Queensland that belong to the ant-like, reduced-winged genus
Olixon
that is also characterised by having a sharply angled vertex at the top of the head, relatively small eyes, an enlarged pronotum, swollen fore femur, and a pair of spines or teeth on the propodeum. This genus may also occur in New Guinea, but the family is absent from New Zealand.
Elsewhere in the world rhopalosomatids are normally fully winged and
ichneumonid-
like in appearance. There are at least a further 10 15 species of
Olixon
occurring across the Australian continent, including arid and semi-arid habitats. Previously thought to be rare, several species have been
collected i
n moderate numbers in long-term pitfall traps.
Further information about the Rhopalosomatidae can be found in Brothers & Finnamore 1993 and Townes 1977.