Lyciscidae is a family of chalcid wasps. The genera comprising this family were previously placed in the Cleonyminae subfamily of a paraphyletic Pteromalidae.
Description and biology
Many species have metallic green, blue and bronze colours, and stout hind legs and fore legs. The females of most species have a tapered abdomen and a long ovipositor suited to accessing hosts concealed in wood; they are often encountered on trunks or branches of trees. Many are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles of the families Buprestidae (jewel beetles), Cerambycidae (longhorn beetles), and Curculionidae (weevils). However, some Agamerion species are parasitoids of cockroach egg masses, Epistenia species parasitize twig-nesting aculate wasps and bees, and Marxiana grandiosa is a hyperparasite of braconid wasps (which are, in turn, parasitoids of wood-boring beetles).
Subfamilies and genera
Lyciscinae
Agamerion, Amazonisca, Chadwickia, Epistenia, Eupelmophotismus, Hadroepistenia, Hedqvistia, Lycisca, Marxiana, Mesamotura, Neboissia, Neoepistenia, Nepistenia, Paralycisca, Parepistenia, Proglochin, Proshizonotus, Protoepistenia, Riekisura, Romanisca, Scaphepistenia, Shedoepistenia, Striatacanthus, Thaumasura, Urolycisca, Westwoodiana.
Solenurinae
Grooca, Solenura.