Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

Cerocephalidae

Cerocephalidae is a small family of chalcid wasps, previously classified as subfamily Cerocephalinae, in the polyphyletic family Pteromalidae. Most species are parasitoids of small wood-boring beetles.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
178 w
Citations
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Source
Cerocephalidae
Theocolax formiciformis female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Superfamily: Chalcidoidea
Family: Cerocephalidae
Gahan, 1946
Type genus
Cerocephala
Westwood, 18321
Genera

See text

Cerocephalidae is a small family of chalcid wasps, previously classified as subfamily Cerocephalinae, in the polyphyletic family Pteromalidae.1 Most species are parasitoids of small wood-boring beetles.

Genera

  • Acerocephala
  • Cerocephala
  • Choetospilisca
  • Gahanisca
  • Gnathophorisca
  • Laesthiola
  • Muesebeckisia
  • Neocalosoter
  • Neosciatheras
  • Paracerocephala
  • Paralaesthia
  • Sciatherellus
  • Theocolax

Fossil genera: Dominocephala, Pteropilosa, Tenuicornis.

Description

The antennae have up to 10 flagellomeres (up to 3 clavomeres). There is a prominence between the toruli (bases of the antennae). Eyes are not ventrally divergent, and mandibles have two or more teeth. All legs have five tarsomeres and the protibial spur is stout and curved. The metasoma has a syntergum.1

References

References