Encyrtidae

Encyrtidae is a family of very small parasitic wasps within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. With thousands of described species and a world-wide distribution, encyrtids are among the most diverse groups of chalcidoid parasitoids. Individuals are typically 0.2 to 5 millimeters in length and often have a shiny, smooth appearance with relatively simple wing venation.

Ecology and hosts play a central role in encyrtid biology. Most species are endoparasitoids of other insects, particularly pests in the order Hemiptera such as scale insects (Coccoidea) and mealybugs, though some attack eggs or larval stages of other insects. The precise host range is highly variable, with many species specialized on a narrow group of hosts. Encyrtids are important natural enemies in many ecosystems and are frequently used in biological control programs.

Life history typically involves the female laying eggs in or on a host, with the larva developing inside (or on) the host and eventually killing it as it pupates and emerges as an adult. Many encyrtids exhibit a koinobiont strategy, allowing the host to continue development after parasitism, while others are more idiobiont in their approach. Morphology is adapted to their parasitoid lifestyle, with small size, often reduced wing venation, and various antennal and body shapes that aid in host location and oviposition.

Economic and practical significance is notable because several Encyrtidae species have been used successfully in agricultural pest management. Notable genera include Encarsia, such as Encarsia formosa, a widely employed biological control agent against greenhouse whiteflies, and Aphytis, used against various scale insects. The group remains an active area of taxonomic and ecological research.