S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 27/2. (Budapest, 1974)
Agathiinae, Helconinae, Macrocentrinae, Zelinae, Euphorinae, Neoneurinae, Blacinae , Calyptinae, Triaspiinae, Opiinae, Alysiinae, Dacnusinae, Cheloninae, Microgasteri- nae, Adeliinae . For easy survey (and in back reference) the subfamilies will be discussed in alphabetical order. Each subfamily is trated from the viewpoints of morphology, ethology or other characteristics. The characterization is followed by two numbers, the first one refers to world, the second the Hungarian species (of course, these numbers are approximative only). 1. Adeliinae . - The first three tergites are fused, the shield-like central area of the first tergite is missing. The radial vein originates from the distal third of the stigma, the first cubital cross vein (cuqu^) reaches the stigma directly, wing venation (especially the distal veins) is more atrophied than general (apomorph feature). The larvae have caudal vescicle. Size: 1.5-3 mm. They parasitize mining moths (Lithocolletidae ) . 30-6 species. Very inadequately known subfamily, it is most likely that their number will suddenly increase with more intense study. 2. Agathiinae . - A unique apomorph feature characterizes this subfamily: the cheek is very long, i.e. at least as long as the width of the mandible, the labium is proboscislike, which is quite frequently longer than the height of the head. The second cubital cell (Cu2) is small, the radial cell is narrow and elongate. The young larva (first and second instars) bears a ventral process as against all the other Braconidae . Size: 3-10 mm, in the tropical and subtropical regions many species reach the length of 15-20 mm. - They parasitize various caterpillars, very little is known about their hosts, 750100 species. 3. Alysiinae . - Head strikingly transverse (usually twice wider than long). The mandibles in repose (closed position) do not cover each other, but bend outward instead, the 2-3(-4) (distal) teeth are approximately equal in length. This extraordinary construction of the jaws (a much advances apomorphy) helps the animal to open the pupae of its host (Diptera), cocoon are only rarely spun. The number of cubital cells is 3 (plesiomorphy), and certain veins (e.g. cuqui, cu^) may entirely disappear. The radial vein (r) originates as a rule from the middle or from the distal half of the stigma, and it is never strikingly long. Size: 1.5-5 mm. Their hosts are among the flies of Sarcophaginae and Calliphorinae . 600 - 200 species. 4. Blacinae . - Head is cubic, r^ and r2 conjoin at a right angle, the radial vein (r) reaches the apex of the wing (plesiomorph feature). The second discoidal ceU P2) on its exterior-lower side is open. The first abdominal segment is petiolate. The notaulus is well developed. Size: 2-6 mm. Their hosts live in wood (larvae and adults of Coleoptera). 60 - 35-40 species. They lead a hidden life, thus not much is known about their ethology. Their number will most probably increase at a closer study of this peculiar subfamily . 5. Braconinae. - A common feature of this subfamily is that immediately above the mandibles a hemispherical hoUow is seen (Cyclostomi) . So far no rational explanation has yet been offered as to the function of this character (apomorphy): no physiological ethological cause has yet been found to explain the presence of this eidonomic character. The further features of this subfamily are rather of plesiomorph in nature. The
