Overview
The majority of eurytomids are parasitic, although a large number are phytophagous, feeding on seeds or boring in stems. Parasitic species are often associated with insect larval hosts hidden in plant tissue, such as stem-borers, seed-eaters or gall-formers. Several species have been recorded from spider (Araneae) and cicada (Hemiptera) eggs. Some species display a remarkable mixture of biologies. The larvae of some species start their development as parasitoids, but after their host is consumed they complete their development by feeding on plant tissue. Other species are facultative hyperparasitoids, and often have a very broad host range. Eurytomidae are interesting among the Chalcidoidea because they contain many pest species. The almond wasp,
Eurytoma amygdali
, is a key pest of almonds in the Palaearctic region, some
Tetramesa
species are cereal pests, and certain
Bruchophagus
species may be pests of legume crops. However, some of the phytophagous species can be beneficial, e.g.
Eurytoma attiva
, which has been used successfully for the control of the weed black sage (
Cordia macrostachia
) in Mauritius. A few eurytomid parasitoids have been used in biological control programs but without noticeable success.
Description
The Eurytomidae are a medium-sized family, characterised by the pronotum large, rectangular, generally at least half the medial length of the mesoscutum and with prominent anterior corners; the dorsal thorax generally with coarse setiferous punctures; and the metasoma convex dorsally and well-sclerotised (non-collapsing). Most species are black or dark in colour and non-metallic.
Distribution
Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988).
Further information about the Eurytomidae can be found in Boucek 1988, Naumann 1991, Noyes 2001 and Noyes & Valentine 1989.