Family Signiphoridae Howard, 1894.

Abstract

Abstract This chapter includes differential characters to distinguish the family Signiphoridae (Chalcidoidea), hypothesized phylogenetic relationships with other families, and general biological attributes of the family. Previous cataloguing efforts of the Iranian fauna for the family are summarized, as well as the information included in the checklist of species for the family. This summary information includes the number of species recorded from Iran, any newly recorded species, a comparison of the Iranian fauna with those of adjacent countries, and major host attributes of the family in Iran. For each species record, reference is included to catalogues that previously reported presence of the species in Iran, including Noyes (2019), distribution in Iran by province and extra-limital distribution by country. In addition to currently recognized countries, previously recognized political units are also included such as Yugoslavia and USSR, as well as some non-political regions such as Caucasus and Transcaucasus (a geographical region in the vicinity of the southern Caucasus Mountains on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia that roughly corresponds to present-day Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). Also included for each species record are host records and plant associates in Iran, when known, and additional comments as necessary.