This section is an Introduction to Chrysidid wasps. Chrysidid wasps are insects belonging to the order of Hymenoptera, suborder Apocrita, infraorder Aculeata, superfamily Chrysidoidea, family Chrysididae. The scientific name of the family comes from the greek word krusòs meaning gold, because of the metallic-golden reflections of their body.

Their common names are: Chrysidids, Cuckoo-wasps, Gold wasps, Ruby-tailed wasps in English; Goldwespen in German; Guêpes dorèes (or d'or or de feu or coucou) and Chrysidès in French; Avispas ladronas (or doradas) and Crisìdidos in Spanish and Portuguese; Vespe dorate, Vespe cuculo, Crisidi in Italian; Zlatih os in Slovenian; Goudwespen in Dutch; Guldhvepse in Danish; Guldsteklar in Swedish; Gullveps in Norwegian; Kultapistiäiset in Finnish; Zlotolitki in Polish; Kuldherilaste in Estonian; Krāšnlapsenes in Latvian; Fémdarazsak in Hungarian; Zlatěnky in Czech; Blyskavky in Slovak; Blestyanki in Russian; Viespilor aurii in Romanian.

generalities systematics biogeography biology habitat hosts

coloration morphology field search preparation identification Bibliography