Epipyropidae

The Epipyropidae are a small family of which the species are probably all ectoparasitic on Homoptera. Indeed, the family at present appears best defined by this unusual biology. The world fauna (and host range) was reviewed by Krampl & Dlabola (1983), a total of 32 described species. Most regions of the world support species but the family is perhaps best known from the Indian Subregion and Australia.

The family is suggested to be related to the Neotropical Dalceridae in Krampl & Dlabola, though Brock (1971) placed the Epipyropidae in the Tineoidea and the Dalceridae in the Cossoidea. Common (1970) placed both families in the Zygaenoidea.

Krampl & Dlabola did not list any species from the Sundanian area but one specimen, perhaps in the genus Epieurybrachys Kato, has been taken in Brunei by T.W. Harman. It is illustrated below. Further specimens are known from Sulawesi; they key out to Epiricania Kato in the only published key, relying entirely on wing venation (Kato 1940).