Abstract: This paper deals with the biology and distribution of Stenogastridae in southernChina. Stenogastricae wasps are small and rather inconspicuous insects with primitive social organization. Four species belonging to four genera were formerly reported in China. According to our investigation in some counties of southern China,10 species belonging to four genera were found and a new genus will be reportedelsewhere. The habitats and nest construction of the Stenogastridae wasps were observed and they could be divided into living in the field and living within human residence. The density of nests of Parischnogaster mellyi was 8.25 per residence onaverage, ranging from 2 to 16. The wasps do not hibernate in winter and can build their nests, feed on prey and breed throughout the whole year. They are distributed in tropical and subtropical southeastern Asia and New Guinea, from India to China including the northeastern region of Guizhou Province.

Key words: Stenogastridae——biology——geographical distribution