eflornitiini

Eflornitiini is a tribe of ichneumonid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. As with many groups in this family, the exact circumscription of the tribe has shifted over time as taxonomic revisions and molecular phylogenetic studies have refined relationships among genera. The tribe is one among several within Ichneumonidae that are characterized by their parasitic life histories rather than by strong, easily observed morphological synapomorphies.

Members of eflornitiini are parasitoids, and like other ichneumonids they typically lay eggs in or on other insects. The developing wasp larvae feed on their hosts, ultimately leading to host demise. The hosts can include caterpillars, beetle larvae, and other insect groups, with ecological roles spanning natural pest control and complex predator–prey interactions in various ecosystems. Morphologically, ichneumonids in this group are often slender and may possess long ovipositors in females, adaptations that facilitate oviposition into hosts in plant tissue, wood, or concealed substrates.

Geographically, species assigned to eflornitiini have a broad distribution, occurring in multiple biogeographic regions around the world. The precise number of genera and species within the tribe varies among authors, reflecting ongoing revisions in ichneumonid taxonomy. Research on eflornitiini continues to incorporate morphological reevaluations and molecular data to clarify intertribal relationships and genus-level classifications within Ichneumonidae.