S. Mahunka szerk.: Folia Entomologica Hungarica 27/2. (Budapest, 1974)

head is cubic or shows a transition between cubic and transverse form (head at least twice wider than longer). No significant atrophy of veins is observable: radial cell (R) reaches or approximates the apex of the wing, the number of cubital cells is three or two, often the wing is partially or entirely fuscous. The occipital carina is present (plesiomorphy), or partly or wholly absent (apomorphy). Their majority parasitize xylophagous beetles (Buprestidae, Cicindellidae, Scolytidae, etc.), a smaller proportion lives as ectoparasites on various caterpillars. The preys are paralyzed. The number of described species is well-nigh 6000, in Hungary we know about 250 - 300 species. According to various plesiomorph and apomorph features the subfamily is divided into four distinct tribes. a) Doryctini

. - Besides Helconinae (Helconini-Diospilini) they are the most ancient representatives of Bj^£omdae_;_ Most of their characteristics are plesiomorph in nature, Head cubic (width at most 1.5-times greater than length), occipital carina well developed. The number of cubital cells is three. Dorsal furrow is deep and crenulated. Certain parts of the thorax (expecially the pronotum, mesopleura, postnotum, propodeum and the tergites 1 (2-3) are scabrous-reticulate (apomorph feature). Ovipositor long, only in exceptional cases it is shorter than half of the abdomen

. Size: 6-12 mm, but species from the Ethiopie, Orienal and Neotropic Regions attain a size around 20-25 mm. Hosts: Cicindellidae, Buprestidae, Scolytidae, etc. larvae. - 500 - 30 species. b) Hecabolini. - The shape of head is in transition between the cubic and transverse form, or it is cubic. Occipital carina well developed. The number of cubital cells is two. The length of ovipositor is around the same as that of the abdomen. Size: 3-10 mm. They parasitize the larvae of Cicindellidae and Scolytidae. 300 - 15-20 species.c) Spathiini

. - Head cubic or very slightly transverse. Occipital carina well developed. The number of cubital cells is three

. The length of the ovipositor is about that of the abdomen (plesiomorph characters). The first abdominal segment is petiolate (about as long as one-third the total length of abdomen), distally it does not (or only very slightly, become broad (apromorph feature). Size: 3-6 mm. They parasitize expecially the larvae of Anobiidae

.- 200 - 8-10 species. The highest number of species are found in the Oriental region (NIXON 1943). d) Braconini

. - Head rather transverse, only in exceptional cases cubic. Occipital carina missing (apomorph character). The number of cubital cells is three, the 2nd cubital cell is long (r2 much longer than cuqu^). Most of their thorax and abdomen is smooth, if some sculpture is seen then it is finely reticulate, only rarely rugose (e.g. propodeum) (plesiomorph feature)

. Notauli is not deep, often hardly perceiveable (apomorphy). The length of the ovipositor varies, mostly it is short (about the length of half the abdomen). Size under the temperate zone is between 2. 5 and 6 mm, in the tropics and subtropical zones 4-15 mm. They parasitize the larvae of Coleoptera, larvae of Symphyta, caterpillars and various maggots. 5000 - 150-200 species, this tribes contains the highest number of species in the subfamily. 6. Calyptinae

. - The first three abdominal tergites are moderately developed, the rest of the tergites transversally narrowed. The number of the cubital cells is two (apomorph features). Body size is above average. Dorsal suture generally deep. Ovipositor long (plesiomorph features). They parasitizes both eggs (apomorphy) and larvae as