HYMENOPTERA > APOCRITA | Parasitica > Ichneumonoidea > Braconidae

The Braconidae are closely related to the Ichneumonidae with both families grouped together in the superfamily Ichneumonoidea as previously noted. They are superficially similar in many ways, but can be separated by wing venation, although I suspect that anyone who specialises in these species probably know whether they're looking at a braconid or an ichneumon simply from experience. In general, braconids are small and inconspicuous insects that, in most cases, are not going to be identified from photos.

There are well over 1300 species on the current British Checklist in 140 or more genera that are separated into numerous subfamilies and/or tribes. Each subfamily has defined characters that enable the entomologists that deal with these species to be able to place them accordingly.

I shall amend the layout of this page if any further species are added, but at present I can only include the three individuals featured below.

Braconinae

This subfamily is dominated by the Bracon genus that now comprises around 85 species in various subgenera. They are extremely difficult to identify and obtaining confirmation that an individual is in this genus is the very best you can hope for from photos. Most species are idiobiont ectoparasitoids of wood or stem boring Coleoptera and Lepidoptera concealed larvae.

Rogadinae

The wasp that I photographed at Sovell Down was initially identified as a member of this subfamily with the suggestion that it was possibly an Aleiodes species. Another expert on the British Ichneumonoidea FB Group subsequently confirmed that the genus was correct. There are around 40 species and, as far as I can ascertain, they are all endoparasitoids of various Lepidoptera larvae.

Opiinae

The taxonomic arrangement of this large subfamily seems to differ from one source of reference to another, but I believe that there are currently in excess of 100 species in 16-18 genera. I don't think that it's possible to confirm the genus from a photo. Opiinae species are endoparasitoids of Cyclorrhapha (Diptera) larvae, mainly late instars.

Updated, March 25 (v.2)