Biodiversity of Hymenopteran Parasitoids

Consideration of the biological and ecological needs of natural enemies is critical for the success of any biological control effort. Much progress has been made in the last several decades in elucidating the phylogeny of the Hymenoptera. A number of additions to our knowledge of the life histories and specializations of many groups also have been made. The general outlines of the evolution of parasitism within the order and within some superfamilies are becoming clearer. Nevertheless, we are still a long way from being able to even generalize about the biological habits of many of the component lineages within several superfamilies (Ceraphronoidea, Proctotrupoidea, Chalcidoidea), let alone to hypothesize about their evolutionary trends. Hymenoptera encompasses a vast array of biological life-styles, including two truly remarkable diversifications within the insects: the largest development of eusocial taxa among the animals and the greatest elaboration of parasitic behavior among the insects. The order will continue to provide the material for rewarding comparative research for many years to come.