The preimaginal stages of 14 species of Chrysidini-three postdefecating lar
vae (prepupae), nine mature larvae, two second-stage larvae, and nine first
-stage larvae-are described. After analyzing for 33 selected characters, th
e character states observed in the mature larvae studied, several apomorphi
es are described that could characterize the groups Bethylidae, Chrysididae
, Chrysidinae, and Chrysidini, as well as the genera Caenochrysis, Chrysis,
Exochrysis, and Trichrysis. Second-stage larvae are very similar to mature
larvae, those of the Chrysidini and Elampini being differentiated by the n
umber of mandibular teeth. First-stage larvae display several morphological
particularities derived from their cleptoparasitoid or parasitoid nature,
emphasis being placed on the long antennae, the degree of development of se
tae on the labrum, the ventral position of the maxillary and labial palpi,
the strong development of the mandibles, and the morphology of the last abd
ominal segment, For first-stage larvae, after analyzing 20 selected charact
ers, different apomorphies that could characterize the genera Caeonochrysis
, Chrysura, Pseudospinolia, and Trichrysis are discussed.