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Chalcid wasps (, , for their metallic colour) are insects within the superfamily Chalcidoidea, part of the order Hymenoptera. It is one of the largest groups within the order, with some 22,000 known species, and an estimated total diversity of anywhere from 60,000 to more than 500,000 species, meaning the vast majority have yet to be discovered and described. Most of the species are parasitoids of other insects, attacking the egg or larval stage of their host, though many other life cycles are known. These hosts are to be found in at least 12 different insect orders including Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths), Diptera (true flies), Coleoptera (beetles), Hemiptera (true bugs), and other Hymenoptera, as well as two orders of Arachnida, and even one family of nematodes. A few species are phytophagous and the larvae feed inside seeds, stems, and galls. Generally beneficial to humans as a group, chalcids keep various crop pests under control, and many species have been imported to control insect pests. ''Copidosoma floridanum'' serves as a useful example of a wasp that provides pest control, and most recently, the wasp's genome is being sequenced by the Human Genome Sequencing Center as part of the i5K project, which aims to sequence the genomes of 5,000 arthropods. They can be found almost everywhere, particularly on flowers, foliage, and in leaf litter, but are often overlooked due to their very small size, which includes the smallest of all known insects (''Dicopomorpha echmepterygis''). Most larvae are parasites of other insects, if not hyper-parasites. A few are plant-feeders (such as Eurytomidae and Agaonidae). Chalcids are tiny, dark-coloured wasps, often metallic blue or green with complex sculpturing on the body. They are also recognized by the characteristic reduced wing venation, similar to that seen in other superfamilies of parasitic wasps. They have a significant part to play in ecosystems and their true importance must not be underestimated. == Description == Chalcid wasps exhibit the following morphological characters: the pronotum in profile is somewhat squarish and not quite reaching the tegulae, while the antennae are elbowed and usually short, with 5-13 segments. It has at least one pair of doubly segmented trochanters. The ovipositor is short, occasionally as long as the body, and rising in front of the abdomen apex. As a common feature of chalcid wasps, the wing venation is also greatly reduced, towards . Wings are usually held flat against the abdomen when at rest. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Chalcid wasp」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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