Studies on the families Drynidae, Heloridae and Ismaridae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Abstract

Most Dryinidae act as cenobiont ectoparasitoids of Cicadellidae, Delphacidae, Flatidae and Membracidae (Hemiptera). Females of Dryinidae feed on nectar and other sugary solutions and, with the exception of Aphelopinae, they also have a predatory habit and feed on fluids and tissues of their hosts. Only Crovettia Olmi (Aphelopinae) act as polyembryonic endoparasitoids that attack Membracidae nymphs. The Heloridae Family Individuals of this family are solitary, endoparasitoids of Chrysopidae (Neuroptera) larvae, and use the cocoon created by the host to complete their cycle. The Family Ismaridae are primary parasitoids of cicadas (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Species of Ismarus act as hyperparasitoids or secondary parasitoids of larvae of Dryinidae (Hymenoptera). This paper aims to seek knowledge about the Drynidae, Heloridae and Ismaridae families. The methodological basis of the present work consists of bibliographical research of scientific articles published in national and international academic scientific journals classified by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The search criterion for articles was to prioritize articles that dealt with the topic. Document analysis was used as a data collection method to gather information in theoretical books, theses banks, university dissertations, scientific journals, documents and digital platforms of the University of São Paulo (http://www.usp.br/), Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences (http://www.bireme.br/), Scielo (http://www.scielo.org) and University of Brasilia (http://www.bce.unb .br/sistemas/pesq_bibliografica.php).