Eulophidae

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Eulophidae (suborder Apocrita, superfamily Chalcidoidea) Large and common family of parasitic insects, most of which are 1–3 mm long, and black or brightly metallic. They are unique among the Chalcidoidea in that some species, on approaching maturity, spin silken cocoons on or close to the host larvae. Some eulophids are parasites of leaf-miners, beetle larvae, Lepidoptera, Diptera, aphids, scale insects, and whiteflies. Others are hyperparasites of Braconidae.