Family Torymidae Walker, 1833.

This chapter includes differential characters to distinguish the family Torymidae (Chalcidoidea), hypothesized phylogenetic relationships with other families, and general biological attributes of the family. Previous cataloguing efforts of the Iranian fauna for the family are summarized, as well as the information included in the checklist of species for the family. This summary information includes the number of species recorded from Iran, any newly recorded species, a comparison of the Iranian fauna with those of adjacent countries, and major host attributes of the family in Iran. For each species record, reference is included to catalogues that previously reported presence of the species in Iran, including Noyes (2019), distribution in Iran by province and extra-limital distribution by country. In addition to currently recognized countries, previously recognized political units are also included such as Yugoslavia and USSR, as well as some non-political regions such as Caucasus and Transcaucasus (a geographical region in the vicinity of the southern Caucasus Mountains on the border of Eastern Europe and Western Asia that roughly corresponds to present-day Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan). Also included for each species record are host records and plant associates in Iran, when known, and additional comments as necessary.

Diversity of Iranian Chalcidoidea.

This chapter tabulates the species diversity of Iranian Chalcidoidea by family, the species newly exclude from Iran, the species presently considered as endemic to Iran and the number of species of each family that are known from each of the 31 provinces that comprise Iran. It also tabulates the fauna of Iran compared with those of 15 adjacent countries having land and sea borders with Iran: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates, as well as the former USSR. Finally, comments are provided concerning the importance of accurate taxonomy and species checklists to help resolve economic issues resulting from agricultural and forestry pest insects.

Family Ormyridae Förster, 1856.

This chapter provides a checklist for the family Ormyridae. It provides information on species diversity, host records, distribution records by province in Iran, as well as world distribution. Comparison of the ormyrid fauna of Iran with adjacent countries indicates that the fauna of Iran (13 species) is similar in diversity to Turkey (12 species) and Russia (11 species), but more diverse than Kazakhstan (six species), Turkmenistan and United Arab Emirates (both with five species), Azerbaijan (three species), Afghanistan (two species) and Armenia, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia (each with one species); no species have been recorded from Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar. Russia and Turkey both share eight known species with Iran, followed by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan (each with three species) and Afghanistan, Armenia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (each with one species). A total of 44 species of Ormyridae from the Palaearctic region were recorded.

Family Eucharitidae Walker, 1846.

This chapter provides information on the taxonomy, evolution, ecology, morphological characteristics, importance and geographical distribution of the hymenopteran family Eucharitidae. A checklist of members of the Iranian Eucharitidae is also presented.

Family Tetracampidae Förster, 1856.

This chapter includes differential characters to distinguish the family Tetracampidae (Chalcidoidea), hypothesized phylogenetic relationships with other families, and general biological attributes of the family. Previous cataloguing efforts of the Iranian fauna for the family are summarized, as well as the information included in the checklist of species for the family. This summary information includes the number of species recorded from Iran, any newly recorded species, a comparison of the Iranian fauna with those of adjacent countries, and major host attributes of the family in Iran. For each species record, reference is included to catalogues that previously reported presence of the species in Iran, including Noyes (2019), distribution in Iran by province and extra-limital distribution by country. In addition to currently recognized countries, previously recognized political units are also included such as Yugoslavia and USSR, as well as some non-political regions such as Caucasus and Transcaucasus. Also included for each species record are host records and plant associates in Iran, when known, and additional comments as necessary.

Family Eupelmidae Walker, 1833.

This chapter provides a checklist for the family Eupelmidae. It provides information on species diversity, host records, distribution records by province in Iran, as well as world distribution. Comparison of the eupelmid fauna of Iran with adjacent countries indicates that the fauna of Iran (48 species) is most diverse, followed by Russia (28 species), Turkey (17 species), Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan (both with nine species), Azerbaijan and United Arab Emirates (both with five species), Afghanistan, Armenia and Pakistan (each with three species), Iraq (two species) and Oman and Saudi Arabia (both with one species); no species have been recorded from Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar. Russia shares 14 known species with Iran, followed by Turkey (13 species), Kazakhstan (seven species), Armenia and Turkmenistan (both with three species), Azerbaijan (two species) and Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (each with one species).

Family Mymaridae Haliday, 1833.

This chapter provides a checklist for the family Mymaridae. It provides information on species diversity, host records, distribution records by province in Iran, as well as world distribution. Comparison of the mymarid fauna of Iran with adjacent countries indicates that the fauna of Russia (104 species) is much greater than that of Iran (33 species), followed by Turkey (19 species), Turkmenistan (11 species), Pakistan and United Arab Emirates (five species) and Iraq and Oman (both with one species); no species have been recorded from the other eight neighbouring countries. However, the much fewer number of species recorded from countries other than Russia, including Iran, certainly results from inadequate sampling and poor taxonomic study. Russia shares the highest number of known species with Iran (21 species), followed by Turkey (11 species), Turkmenistan (one species), Pakistan (two species) and Iraq, Oman, United Arab Emirates and the former USSR (each with one species).

Family Aphelinidae Thomson, 1876.

This chapter focuses on the taxonomy, evolution, morphological characteristics, ecological importance, habitats and geographical distribution of members of the hymenopteran family Aphelinidae. A checklist on Iranian Aphelinidae is also provided.

Family Azotidae Nikol'skaya and Yasnosh, 1966.

This chapter focuses on the taxonomy, evolution, morphological characteristics, ecology, importance and geographical distribution of the hymenopteran family Azotidae. A checklist of members of the Iranian Azotidae is also presented.

Family Encyrtidae Walker, 1837.

Species from the family Encyrtidae are all endoparasitoids and some are polyembryonic. Many species have been used successfully in various biological control programmes in different regions of the world. This chapter provides a checklist for the family Encyrtidae. It provides information on species diversity, host records, distribution records by province in Iran, as well as world distribution. Comparison of the encyrtid fauna of Iran with adjacent countries indicates that the faunas of Russia (492 species) and Turkmenistan (246 species) are more diverse than Iran (236 species), followed by Armenia (174 species), Turkey (165 species), Azerbaijan (159 species), Kazakhstan (148 species), Pakistan (62 species), Saudi Arabia (47 species), Afghanistan (32 species), Iraq (seven species), United Arab Emirates (three species), Oman (two species), Kuwait (one species) and Bahrain and Qatar (no species). Among the adjacent countries, Russia shares 129 known species with Iran, followed by Azerbaijan (105 species), Turkey (98 species), Armenia (91 species), Turkmenistan (67 species), Kazakhstan (64 species), Pakistan (27 species), Afghanistan (17 species), Saudi Arabia (16 species), Iraq (five species), United Arab Emirates (three species) and Oman (two species).