Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) from the State of Tamaulipas, Mexico

Family Ichneumonidae is the biggest in the Order Hymenoptera. Its members generally are parasitic wasps of other insects, some groups parasitize spiders; other species are egg predators of spiders or pseudoscorpions. They have been used successfully in Biological Control of insect pests on vegetables, fruits and forests. At world level exists more than 23,000 valid species; more than 1,200 described species have been registered for Mexico, and for the State of Tamaulipas 26 subfamilies, 275 genera and 802 species (52 % identified), being the Mexican state best represented. Genera with more identified species are Cryptanura (19), Lymeon (16), Enicospilus (15), Messatoporus (14), Diapetimorpha (12), Neotheronia (11), Mesostenus (10), Pimpla (10), Phytodietus (10), and Exetastes (10).