Overview
The Australasian fauna is very poorly studied, but they are commonly collected in traps associated with soil and litter. The biology of the group is largely inferred from studies of northern hemisphere species. They have been reared as primary endoparasitoids of Diptera (flies), Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Thysanoptera (thrips) and Neuroptera (lacewings), while some species are hyperparasitic on these host groups via braconid cocoons.
Description
This is a relatively small family of tiny wasps (0.7 2 mm) that are closely related to the Megaspilidae. They can be identified by the absence of a pterostigma in the fore wing, a curved stigmal vein, the mesoscutum having a single medial longitudinal groove, and the anterior margin of the metasoma lacking a neck-like constriction. In addition, the antennae are inserted low on the face but are separated from each other rather than almost touching basally (as in Scelionidae). Some species are brachypterous (short winged) or apparently apterous (wingless).
Further Information about the Ceraphronidae can be found in Dessart 1995, Johnson & Musetti 2004, Masner 1993, Muesebeck 1979 and Naumann 1991.