Ceraphronoidea

Ceraphronoidea is a superfamily of parasitic wasps within the order Hymenoptera. These insects are small, rarely exceeding 5 millimeters in length, and are characterized by their dark coloration and often reduced or absent wings in females. They are endoparasitoids, meaning their larvae develop inside the body of a host insect. The superfamily is divided into two families: Ceraphronidae and Proctiteridae.

Ceraphronidae is the larger family, containing numerous genera and species. The most common hosts for Ceraphronidae are the pupae and larvae of other insects, particularly flies (Diptera) and beetles (Coleoptera). Proctiteridae, on the other hand, is a much smaller and less understood family, with fewer described species and a more limited host range.

The life cycle of Ceraphronoidea is typical of endoparasitoids. Adult females lay their eggs, often singly, inside or on their host. The egg hatches into a larva that consumes the host's tissues from within, eventually killing it. The larva then pupates, and the adult wasp emerges. Due to their small size and cryptic habits, the biology and host associations of many Ceraphronoidea species remain poorly documented. They play a role in regulating populations of other insects, though their impact is often overshadowed by more abundant parasitoid groups.