[1][2][3] The family contains the following genera and species:[4] The genome is not segmented and contains a single molecule of circular double-stranded DNA.

Among the encoded proteins are a caspase, a cathepsin B, several kinases, E3 ubiquitin ligases, a fatty acid elongase, a sphingomyelinase, a phosphate acyltransferase and a patatin-like phospholipase.

Cell infection induces apoptosis and in some species is associated with synthesis of a virus-encoded executioner caspase and several lipid-metabolizing enzymes.

Synthesis of viral proteins results in the rescue of developing apoptotic bodies that are converted into large vesicles in which virions accumulate and continue to assemble.

[6] Furthermore, ascoviruses have been suggested as the evolutionary source of ichnoviruses (family Polydnaviridae),[6][7] although other studies have not been able to confirm this link.