Genus Elasmus Westwood

(Eulophidae: Elasminae)

Species within this genus exhibit a dual role as hyperparasitoids targeting Apanteles genus species (refer to Graham 1976, 1995) and ectoparasitoids specialising in larvae of the wasp genus Polistes (Hymenoptera, Vespidae), as well as various lepidopteran families, including Coleophoridae, Tortricidae, Gracillariidae, Cosmopterigidae, and Gelechiidae (Yefremova and Strakhova 2010). Identifying characteristics of the genus include the female’s antenna with two anelli, a three-segmented flagellum, and a three-segmented clava, while the male possesses a trifurcate four-segmented flagellum and a two-segmented clava. The mesoscutum is densely covered with hairs, and the scutellum features two pairs of long setae. Notable wing characteristics include an elongated marginal vein, a short post marginal vein, and a slightly reduced stigma vein. The hind coxa is smooth, subdiscoidal (plate-like), and significantly enlarged, while the hind tibia exhibits short setae forming a continuous diamond shape. Colourations commonly involve yellow, black, and brown hues, often adorned with distinctive spots (Kim et al. 2016).