From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Kieffer - Bethylus hamatus female.png
Bethylus hamatus female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Suborder: Apocrita
Superfamily: Chrysidoidea
Family: Bethylidae

The Bethylidae are a family of aculeate wasps in the superfamily Chrysidoidea. As a family, their biology ranges between parasitoid wasps and hunting wasps.


Like most of the Chrysidoidea, the Bethylidae are stinging Hymenoptera, and yet, like many of the Chrysidoidea, most of the Bethylidae are parasitoids. Some of them, however, have developed their parasitoidal biology along predatory lines and they sting and malaxate their victims into paralysis. Then they hide the prey and lay their eggs on them.

The currently recognised subfamilies of the Bethylidae are:[1]


  1. ^ Alencar & Azevedo (2013) and Azevedo & Azar (2012)