Diagnosis – Euderinae can best be distinguished from other eulophids by having eight distinct gastral segments, rather than seven segments that occur in all the other eulophids (this best seen as a distinct separation of tergites at the level of the cercal plates). Species of this subfamily have 4 or, rarely, 5 funicular segments in both sexes. Notauli complete; scutellum with 4 or more setae and without longitudinal grooves. Fore wing with more than 3 setae on submarginal vein (SMV); postmarginal vein (PMV) as long as or, more often, longer than stigmal vein (STV); often there are at least 3 rows of setae departing from stigmal vein (STV); usually there is a large bare area behind marginal vein (MV) exposing a row of admarginal setae (on the underside of the wing) (Graham, 1987; Boucek, 1988; Coote, 1994; Schauff et al., 1997). Males are sometimes difficult to identify as Euderinae, but in both sexes the scutellum lacks submedian grooves, and the notauli are straight, deep and complete.
Classification and distribution –
The Euderinae is a small subfamily, with 17 genera and about 150 species
worldwide (Noyes, 2003).
Identification – Keys to genera of Euderinae are available for Australasia (10 genera) (Boucek, 1988) and North America (Coote, 1994; Schauff et al., 1997) (5 genera). Asian Euderinae have been studied by Yefremova and Shrol (1996a). Gauthier et al. (2000) provided a list of all genera in this subfamily. Noyes (2003) provided an electronic catalogue for the Universal Chalcidoidea.
Biology - The biology is known for some
genera. Two genera (Astichus Förster, Allocerastichus
Masi) are associated with beetles in bracket fungi (Polyporales),
while the large genus Euderus includes species with a wide range of
hosts and biology; including primary parasites of leaf-tying, leafmining,
twig-boring, and fruit boring Lepidoptera, stem-boring Coleoptera,
and gall-making Hymenoptera. Other species are hyperparasitoids of
Hymenoptera on Lepidoptera. Although there are very few detailed studies
of the biology, members of this subfamily are presumably ectoparasitic
idiobionts (Schauff et al.,
1997; Noyes, 2001).
