Overview
Helorids are solitary
endoparasitoids
of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), ovipositing into the larvae but emerging from the host pupa. They are rarely collected.
Description
Helorids can be recognised by their somewhat unusual fore wing venation (elongate parallel-sided radial cell, and small looped or angulate vein inside the basal cell), sickle-shaped mandibles, moderately small size (5 mm), and smooth black body.
Distribution
This very small family, comprising the genus
Helorus
, has one species in Australia, and only seven species worldwide. They are not present in New Zealand.
Further information about the Heloridae can be found in Riek 1955, Masner 1993, Naumann 1991 and Townes 1977.