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Pelecinellidae

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Pelecinellidae are a small family of metallic wasps in the chalcidoid group. They were once treated as a subfamily (Leptofoeninae) inside Pteromalidae, but now they are recognized as their own family.

The family has three genera: Nefoenus, Doddifoenus, and Leptofoenus. Doddifoenus includes four species and Leptofoenus includes five living species.

Doddifoenus wallacei is the largest known chalcidoid wasp, growing up to about 5 cm long when the ovipositor is included.

The oldest pelecinellid fossil is Leptofoenus pittfieldae, described in 2009 from Dominican amber.


This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 09:58 (CET).