Perilampidae

The Perilampidae are a small family within the Chalcidoidea, composed mostly of hyperparasitoids. The family is closely related to the Eucharitidae, and the eucharitids appear to have evolved from within the Perilampidae, thus rendering the family paraphyletic (if the two families are joined in the future, the name with precedence is Eucharitidae). As presently defined, at least 15 genera and 270 species are described worldwide. They are often brilliantly metallic (especially blue or green), with robust mesosomae and a small, triangular metasomae (swollen and bulbous in the Philomidinae). They are generally very strongly sculptured. The prothorax is typically very broad and disc-like, and the labrum is multidigitate, a feature shared with the Eucharitidae.

Perilampidae Temporal range: Ypresian–Recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Indeterminate
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Superfamily:	Chalcidoidea
Family:	Perilampidae Latreille, 1809
Subfamilies
Chrysolampinae Perilampinae Philomidinae
Diversity
3 subfamilies 17 genera c. 270 species

Euperilampus triangularis

Unknown species, (possibly Euperilampus triangularis)

Another feature shared by the Eucharitidae and Perilampidae is the first-instar larvae are called "planidia" and are responsible for gaining access to the host, rather than the egg-laying females. Those species which are hyperparasitoids burrow into a secondary host's body and seek out endoparasitoid larvae, such as tachinid flies or ichneumonoid wasps, and attack them.