The majority of all chrysidids, about 80%, belong to this subfamily (Kimsey and Bohart 1991). Its members are characterised by a bright metallic colouration (with a few rare exceptions), three (or less commonly two or four) external tergites, and a concave or flat metasomal venter (with one rare exception). They are mainly nest parasites of solitary wasps and bees, although one genus, Praestochrysis, attacks prepupal moth larvae. The subfamily is distributed in all zoogeographical regions and consists of four tribes: Allocoelini (not present in Europe), Elampini, Chrysidini and Parnopini (Kimsey and Bohart 1991, Carpenter 1999).