The Ichneumonidae is the largest Hymenoptera family with ca. 25,000 species (at least that many species remain undescribed), and is diverse in both temperate areas and the tropics. They occur on all continents with the exception of Antarctica, inhabiting virtually all terrestrial habitats, where suitable invertebrate hosts are found. These are slender wasps ranging is size from a few millimetres to over 7 cm; uniformly coloured or brightly patterned; the antennae are long, at least half the length of the body. The ovipositor is not modified into a sting and varies from the very short (Ichneumoninae and Ophioninae) to longer than the body length (Rhyssinae). The vast majority of Ichneumonidae are parasitoids of larvae or pupae of other insects (Lepidoptera, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera, including other ichneumonoids), and spiders. Females lay eggs inside or on their host, generally injecting venom along with the egg, sometimes drilling through substrate around the host, including solid wood (e.g., in Megarhyssa spp.). After hatching, the ichneumonid larva consumes the paralyzed host, emerges and then pupates. A very few species lay their eggs in the ground. Adults feed on plant sap and nectar. Many Ichneumonidae are used for biological control of pest insects, and some have been introduced outside of their native ranges.

Cryptinae
		Mesostenus thoracicus
Ichneumoninae
		Ichneumon centrator
Rhyssinae
		Long-tailed Giant Ichneumon (Megarhyssa macrurus)
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