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

Subfamily (tribe) Plesiomorph characters Apomorph characters Neoneurinae Number of cubital cells three Palpi short, maxillary palpus with 2, labial palpus with 1 joint. Antenna short, with 13-16 joints. Legs modfied. Size: 1.5-2.5 mm Opiinae Number of cubital cells three

. Wing venation not atrophied

. First abdominal segment in most species not petiolate Ovipositor short. Size: 2-5 mm. Between clypeus and mandibles often with a split. Parasites of Diptera Rogadinae Number of cubital cells three. Second cubital cell quadrate

. Head weakly transverse, occipital carina present. Body with sculpture. Ovipositor short. Endoparasites. Triaspiinae : Notaulus deep, often crenulated. Tergites 1-3 fused to various degrees. Number of cubital cells two. Ovipositor short. Zelinae Occipital carina present. Body mainly smooth. Number of cubital cells three. First abdominal segment petiolate. Ovipositor short. The main evolutionary trends Studying the phylogenesis of Braconidae (Fig. 1) we can establish two main evolutionary trends. One is represented by the species of Braconinae-Rogadinae (Cyclostomi). Both subfamilies show the morphological feature being circular opening on clypeus, the wing venation is not atrophied, the first and second abdominal segments are free, easily movable with respect to each other. Most of their morphological characters are plesiomorph in origin. Braconinae are ectoparasites (plesiomorphy) mostly "on wood-boring beetle larvae, Rogadinae are endoparasites (apomorphy) of various groups of caterpillars. Ectoparasitism and the different morphological features accompanying this habit are regarded to be of ancient origin, thus, Braconinae are one of the most ancient groups of Braconidae. Rogadinae are close ally of Braconinae and are the youngest representatives of Cyclostomi. From geohistorical point of view (together with Helconinae) we have to look for the ancenstors of Braconidae among the members of this group. These forms most probably appeared in the last epoch of the Mesozoich, in the Cretaceous together with their hosts boring in wood. The other main trend of development is represented by the other members of Braconidae

, which are endoparasites in various groups of larvae (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Heteroptera, Homoptera). Endoparasitism was a significant step forward in the deve-