Braconidae

The Braconidae family, comprising over 17,000 species, is a sister group to Ichneumonidae and includes parasitoid wasps. Key distinguishing features are wing vein structures: absence of the 2m-cu forewing vein (except in Apozyx penyai), presence of the 1/Rs+M forewing vein, and specific hind wing characteristics. Their evolutionary history traces back to the early Cretaceous, around 100 million years ago, coinciding with the rise of flowering plants and herbivorous insects.

Notably, Braconidae utilize polydnaviruses to suppress host immune systems, allowing their larvae to develop undetected. These viruses originated from an ancient infection that integrated viral genes into the wasp genome. Some species exhibit remarkable traits like extreme radiation resistance (withstanding up to 180,000 rads) and a highly developed sense of smell, useful for detection purposes. This family's diversity and unique biological adaptations highlight their significant ecological role as parasitoids.