A Catalogue of the Irish Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea)

Abstract

The Braconidae is one of the largest families in the Hymenoptera. The majority are small, active, inconspicuous insects, black brown or orangish in colour. All (except a few exceptions) are primary parasitoids of other insects. Full data are given where available including distributions, flight-periods and hosts. In some instances, it has been possible to give unpublished information gleaned from museum material when it was unavailable in the literature. A total of 529 species of these parasitic wasps are reported from Ireland, including nineteen new to the fauna.