Mymaridae

The Mymaridae, commonly known as fairyflies or fairy wasps, are a family of chalcidoid wasps found in temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions throughout the world. The family contains around 100 genera with 1,400 species.

Fairyflies are very tiny insects, like most chalcidoid wasps, mostly ranging from long. They include the world's smallest known insect, with a body length of only , and the smallest known flying insect, only long. They usually have nonmetallic black, brown, or yellow bodies. The antennae of the females are distinctively tipped by club-like segments, while male antennae are thread-like. Their wings are usually slender and possess long bristles, giving them a hairy or feathery appearance, although some species may have greatly reduced stubby wings or lack wings altogether. These unusual-looking wings work by utilizing air resistance—which at their minuscule size is equivalent to moving through honey—so they sort of function as miniature paddles that swim through the air. They can be distinguished from other chalcidoids by the H-shaped pattern of sutures on the front of their heads.