This superfamily consists of parasitic wasps, with a body length ranging from very small to rather large. The wing venation is reduced. The fore wing usually has four or more closed cells, the hind wing two. The costal cell is fused with the radius or is lost. Some genera have a narrow, apical costal cell. Wingless forms can be found in some genera. Generally, the antennae are long and multisegmented, with 16-90 segments. The pedicellus is typically followed by a minute ring segment, the annelus. The scape is short, the pedicellus relatively long, and the antennae are not elbowed. The metasoma (gaster) has a variation of forms in the different genera. The ovipositor is short and retactile or exserted, slender and elongate.
The members of this superfamily consist solely of parasites, living on some stage in the life-history of other insects, or occasionally on other arthropods. The form of the body of the larva is varied, especially in the first instars. The host can be parasitized by one or numerous larvae, depending on the ichneumonoid taxon.
This superfamily contains two families, occurring worldwide wherever the habitat is sufficiently moist and hosts are found: Braconidae (including Aphidiinae and Apozyginae) and Ichneumonidae (including Agriotypinae). Most described species belong to the Ichneumonidae.