Chalcidae

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Chalcidae (chalcid wasps; suborder Apocrita, superfamily Chalcidoidea) Family of fairly common wasps most of which are 2–7 mm long, generally uniformly dark in colour, and with greatly enlarged hind coxae and femora (see FEMUR). The femora are often toothed ventrally. The wings are not folded longitudinally at rest, and the ovipositor is short. Members of the family are larval parasites of Lepidoptera, pupal parasites of Diptera, and some are egg parasites of cockroaches. When disturbed, chalcids often roll up and feign death.

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