Overview
Many perilampids are
hyperparasitoids of Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), developing through Hymenoptera (Ichneumonidae, Braconidae) or Diptera (tachinid flies). Other species are primary parasitoids of Hymenoptera, Coleoptera (beetles) or Neuroptera (lacewings). The biology of perilampids is often quite complex. In species that are primary parasitoids, the active first instar larvae, or planidia, are
external and attack the host at the time of pupation. With hyperparasitic species, the planidia seek out and enter hosts that would serve as potential primary hosts for other parasitoids. If the primary parasitoid is present, the planidium then enters the primary parasitoid's body, waits without further development for the primary to finish its development and pupate, at which point the planidium exits the primary host to feed externally.
Description
They are characterised by the prepectus lying in the same plane with, and usually fused to, the lateral face of the pronotum; the first two metasomal segments generally accounting for most of the exposed metasoma; and the thorax often with coarse punctures
.
In addition, most species are robust, of moderately small size (1.5 6 mm) and strongly sculptured.
Distribution
The Perilampidae are a small family, not commonly collected. Thirty-three described species are known from Australia, and only one from New Zealand.
Boucek (1988) recognised two subfamilies, Perilampinae and Chrysolampinae, however other authors postulate that the Chrysolampinae more correctly belongs in the
Pteromalidae.
Keys to Australasian genera are included in Boucek (1988).
Further information about the Perilampidae can be found in Boucek 1988, Gibson 1993, Naumann 1991, Noyes & Valentine 1989 and Noyes 2001.