The perilampids are another family of chalcidoids with
a distinctive habitus. In the Nearctic, recent research includes a revision
of New World Euperilampus (Darling l983), world Krombeinius
(Darling 1988), and New World Chrysolampinae (Darling 1986). Darling (in
Gibson, et al. 1997) updated information for the Nearctic Region in which
two subfamilies are currently recognized:
Perilampinae: 30 Nearctic species, 3 genera. There are
over 200 world species in 6 genera. Boucek (1978) published a key to these
6 genera, but in general there is little literature with which to
identify species.
Chrysolampinae: 6 Nearctic species, 2 genera. There are
about 25 world species in 5 genera. Some authors place the members of this
group as perilampines (Boucek 1988, Burks 1979) while others treat them
as a distinct subfamily of Pteromalidae (Graham 1969). New World species
may be identified by using Darling (1986).
STATISTICS: Number of world species: 250 (36
Nearctic); number of world genera: 11 (5 Nearctic).
BIOLOGY: Species of perilampines are primarily hyperparasitic
upon Lepidoptera through dipterous and hymenopterous primaries. A few species
are primary parasites of Hymenoptera (e.g. Sphecidae), Coleoptera (e.g.
Curculionidae), and Neuroptera (e.g. Chrysopidae). This subfamily has planidial
larvae as does the Eucharitidae (for a comparative discussion of the planidia
of both families see Heraty and Darling, l984). Eggs are laid on plant parts
and the eclosed larvae must await the presence of a host. In a secondarily
parasitic species, the planidia first enters the host, then searches for
the primary parasite (e.g. tachinid or ichneumonid). It enters the primary,
waits for it to pupate, emerges from the primary, and feeds externally upon
it. The perilampine species which feed directly on the host (for example
on Chrysopa), are apparently completely external, feeding upon the
host at time of pupation. The hosts of chrysolampines are virtually unknown,
but most evidence suggests they are restricted to Coleoptera. Known hosts
include Nitidulidae, Curculionidae, and perhaps Cerambycidae (Darling 1986,
Boucek 1988).
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS: In perilampids the pronotum
is short (but visible from above) and the prepectus is usually
(most Perilampinae), though not always (Chrysolampinae, Steffanolampus),
fused to it laterally as in the eucharitids. The body is
characteristically short and "dumpy" with the metasoma
somewhat triangular in side and dorsal view. Notauli are present and the
mesosoma is often covered dorsally with pits. A few species have a
petiolate metasoma. These wasps are often metallic blue or green, but may
be black. Some species may be mistaken for Chrysididae because of the
compactness of the body and the metallic coloration. The genus
Steffanolampus keys to Chrysolampinae in our key, but it is a
Perilampinae. It is distinguished by two transverse elevations on the
pronotal collar.
COLLECTING: Perilampids are relatively common, at least
in small numbers, and occasionally they are quite numerous. They are generally
collected by sweeping meadows and low shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION: This group is apparently worldwide, with
most species occurring in warm regions.
