ABSTRACT
Among the parasitic Hymenoptera, the chalcidoid family Mymaridae, commonly called fairyflies, are important in the natural management of many insects. Mymarids are usually solitary parasitoids with a few being gregarious in habit. Ashmead classified Mymaridae into subfamilies based on the number of tarsal segments and further to tribes based on attachment of gaster with propodeum and projection of mesopostphragma into gaster. Studies on immature stages of mymarids with reference to India are scanty. In many species of mymarids, host eggs containing advanced stages of larvae and pupae are bright red or yellow in colour which is visible through the delicate chorion. Mymarids are economically very important as they parasitize the eggs of agriculturally important insect pests like leafhoppers and planthoppers in different crop ecosystems. To be effective, mymarids may need access to alternate hosts, adult food resources, overwintering habitats, constant supply of food, and appropriate microclimate.
