The genus Schildia is distinguished from other Leptogastrinae by the long, regularly spaced seta-like trichoid spicules on dorsal and ventral sides of at least wings veins R and M, the asymmetrical tarsal claws wherein the median claw is shorter than the lateral claw, long posteriorly oriented presutural, and sometimes postsutural, dorsocentral setae on the scutum, and features of the male terminalia. Species exhibit a very elongate, slender abdomen and are very gracile. So far, 10 species are known to science of which one has been described as a fossil from Dominican amber from Hispaniola Island (about 20 Million years old).

The genus Schildia was thought to be restricted to the New World occurring from Guatemala in the north to southern Brazil in the south and Jamaica in the Caribbean. A recent revision of this genus has added two species from the Old World from Madagascar and Malaysia.

For a map with specimen occurrence data follow this link.

For a table with specimen records follow this link.