Distribution and Habitat
Fairyflies are some of the most common chalcid wasps, but because of their minute sizes, they are seldom noticed by humans. This apparent invisibility, their delicate bodies, and their hair-fringed wings have earned them their common name 'fairyfly'.
Fairyflies are found in temperate and tropical regions throughout the world. The largest number of species can be found in tropical forests, with the greatest diversity in genera found in the Southern Hemisphere (South America, New Zealand, and Australia). In the Nearctic (North America), only around 28 (of around 100) genera and 120 (of around 1424) species are found.
Fairyflies can survive in all kinds of terrestrial habitats, from deserts to rainforests. At least five species of fairyflies are also known to be aquatic, inhabiting freshwater ponds and streams. Among these is Caraphractus cinctus, which use their wings as paddles to swim around. They can remain underwater for as long as 15 days. Because of their small sizes, however, they have to exit the water by climbing up plant stems that jut through the surface, as they would not be able to break the surface tension of the water otherwise.
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