The Hymenopteran order is one of the largest and most diverse insect groups, whose members range from the familiar ants, bees, and wasps to a huge variety of predatory, parasitic, and plant-feeding insects. They can be any size from the tiny 0.2mm fairy flies to spider-hunting wasps with wingspans of more than 10cm and are of immense significance, primarily as pollinators but also because of their increasing use as biological control agents.

This is the first time that comprehensive coverage of the hymeopterous fauna of a tropical country has been published.