Aphid-parasitism
Guides
Holopyga
cuckoo wasps
Holopyga is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae. Species in this genus exhibit a distinctive cleptoparasitic life history: females oviposit into aphids, and when crabronid wasps such as Pemphredon collect these aphids as prey for their nests, the Holopyga larva emerges first and consumes the food stores intended for the host larva. This indirect parasitism of wasp nests via aphid intermediates has been documented for Holopyga by Veenendaal (2012). The genus contains approximately 35 described species distributed across Europe and other regions.
Holopyga ventralis
Holopyga ventralis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. The genus Holopyga comprises small, brilliantly metallic-colored wasps that are cleptoparasites of other wasps. Based on observations of related species in the genus, H. ventralis likely exhibits the distinctive parasitic behavior of laying eggs into aphids, which are then carried as prey by crabronid wasps into their nests where the Holopyga larva develops at the expense of the host wasp's offspring.
Omalus variatus
Omalus variatus is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of its genus, it is a kleptoparasite that targets the nests of solitary wasps, particularly aphid-hunting wasps in the family Crabronidae. The species exhibits a distinctive indirect parasitism strategy: females oviposit into aphids, which are then captured by host wasps and transported to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva develops by consuming the host's provisions.