Overview
Host records for Australasian species are scarce, but records from other continents indicate that they are endoparasitoids of wood-boring wasp (Xiphydriidae) and beetle (Cerambycidae and Buprestidae) larvae. For
Aulacus
, host data indicate they mostly parasitise xiphydriid wasps in the northern hemisphere and cerambycids in the southern hemisphere, whereas almost all records for
Pristaulacus
indicate that their hosts are wood-boring beetle larvae.
Description
The Aulacidae are medium to large wasps (8- 25 mm) with the metasoma inserted high on the propodeum. They are readily distinguished from Gasteruptiidae and Evaniidae by the presence of fore wing vein 2m-cu.
Distribution
Aulacus
and
Pristaulacus
occur worldwide, but
Panaulix
, with just two species, is restricted to tropical Africa. The Australian fauna comprises 46 described species, but current taxonomic research is expected to more than treble this number. The family is absent from New Zealand, but is known from New Caledonia and New Guinea.
Further information about the Aulacidae can be found in Jennings & Austin 2004, Jennings, Austin & Stevens 2004, Mason 1993, Naumann 1991 and Smith 2001.