Braconidae
Guides
Acanthocaudus caudacanthus
Acanthocaudus caudacanthus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Smith in 1944. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive morphological features related to the ovipositor. The species is known from North America. Like other braconid wasps, it likely functions as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented.
Acrisis
Acrisis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Förster in 1862. These insects belong to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the most diverse groups of parasitoid wasps. Very little is known about the biology of this genus, with only one observation documented on iNaturalist. The genus is recorded from Norway and Sweden.
Adelius floridensis
Adelius floridensis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Shimbori and Shaw in 2019. The genus Adelius comprises small braconid wasps that are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. Species in this genus are generally poorly known, with limited published information on their biology and distribution. The specific epithet "floridensis" indicates a connection to Florida, though the precise type locality and host associations for this species remain undocumented in readily accessible literature.
Adialytus
A genus of aphid parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Aphidiinae. Species within this genus are solitary, koinobiont endoparasitoids of aphids (Aphididae), developing within living hosts. The genus is represented by four species in Europe, with records from Turkey, Ukraine, and Scandinavia. Members are of economic interest as potential biological control agents of pest aphids on crops and woody plants.
Agathidini
Agathidini is a tribe of braconid parasitoid wasps within the subfamily Agathidinae. Members are found primarily in Southeast Asia, with particular diversity in Thailand. The tribe has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with ten new genera described in 2017 to address previous issues of species being placed in 'dumping ground' genera. Females lay eggs inside early-stage caterpillars of various moths, with larvae developing internally and consuming the host before it pupates.
Agathirsia
Agathirsia is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Braconidae (subfamily Agathidinae). Species exhibit interspecific variation in mouthpart length, with glossa lengths ranging from short to elongated. Adult wasps visit flowers for carbohydrate resources, and mouthpart length influences feeding efficiency and floral visitation patterns. Pollen analysis indicates that species with elongated mouthparts access similar nectar sources regardless of tongue length, while short-tongued species show distinct floral associations.
Alabagrus stigma
Alabagrus stigma is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Brullé in 1846. As a member of the genus Alabagrus, it belongs to a group of braconid wasps known for their role as parasitoids of other insects. The species is documented in the Catalogue of Life and NCBI Taxonomy databases, with 35 observations recorded on iNaturalist. Specific ecological and biological details remain limited in available sources.
Aleiodes aciculatus
Aleiodes aciculatus is a species of braconid wasp described by Ezra Cresson in 1869. It belongs to the genus Aleiodes, a large group of koinobiont endoparasitoids known for mummifying their caterpillar hosts. The species is among the earliest described members of this genus in North America. Like other Aleiodes species, it parasitizes lepidopteran larvae, though specific host records for A. aciculatus remain limited in published literature.
Aleiodes burrus
Aleiodes burrus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Cresson in 1869. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, it is a koinobiont endoparasitoid of caterpillars. The species is part of a large genus containing numerous species that mummify their hosts. Specific biological details for A. burrus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Aleiodes graphicus
Aleiodes graphicus is a parasitoid wasp species in the family Braconidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. It belongs to the genus Aleiodes, commonly known as "mummy-making wasps" for their habit of mummifying host caterpillars. The species is part of a diverse group of rogadine braconids that parasitize lepidopteran larvae. Like other Aleiodes species, it is presumed to be a koinobiont endoparasitoid, developing inside living hosts before emerging.
Aleiodes laphygmae
Aleiodes laphygmae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, originally described by Viereck in 1912. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, it is a koinobiont endoparasitoid that develops inside host caterpillars. The species is part of a diverse genus containing numerous recently described species from tropical regions, many of which exhibit distinctive mummification behaviors in their hosts.
Aleiodes malacosomatos
Tent Caterpillar Mummy Wasp
Aleiodes malacosomatos is a parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Mason in 1979. The common name "Tent Caterpillar Mummy Wasp" reflects its parasitic relationship with tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.), a genus of lappet moths. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, this species is a koinobiont endoparasitoid that develops inside living caterpillars, eventually killing and mummifying the host. The species is part of a diverse genus of mummy-wasps that have gained scientific and public attention for their distinctive biology and, in some cases, celebrity-inspired species names.
Aleiodes molestus
Aleiodes molestus is a species of braconid wasp first described by Cresson in 1872. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, this species is a koinobiont endoparasitoid that develops inside caterpillar hosts. The species belongs to a diverse group of 'mummy-making' wasps that induce characteristic behavioral and physical changes in their hosts. Very few specific details about A. molestus biology have been published in readily accessible sources.
Aleiodes nolophanae
Aleiodes nolophanae is a specialist braconid parasitoid wasp described by Ashmead in 1889. It parasitizes caterpillars of the green cloverworm (Hypena scabra, Noctuidae). Research demonstrates that host plant species significantly affects parasitoid phenotype: wasps reared from hosts feeding on alfalfa exhibit larger body mass and, in some populations, greater longevity compared to those from soybean-fed hosts. This geographic variation in plant-mediated effects has implications for biological control applications.
Aleiodes pseudoterminalis
Aleiodes pseudoterminalis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Marsh and Shaw in 2001. The species belongs to the genus Aleiodes, commonly known as mummy-making wasps due to their distinctive life history where parasitized caterpillars become desiccated and mummified. Like other members of this genus, it is presumed to be a koinobiont endoparasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, though specific host records for this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Aleiodes sanctihyacinthi
Aleiodes sanctihyacinthi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, originally described by Provancher in 1880. As a member of the genus Aleiodes, it is part of a diverse group known for their distinctive mummification of caterpillar hosts. The species epithet references Saint-Hyacinthe, a location in Quebec, Canada, reflecting its North American origin. Very few documented observations of this species exist in public databases.
Aleiodes stigmator
Stigmata Mummy Wasp
Aleiodes stigmator is a parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, it is a koinobiont endoparasitoid that develops inside living caterpillars, eventually killing and mummifying its host. The species has been recorded in the northeastern United States, including Vermont. It belongs to a diverse genus containing over 100 described species, many of which are understudied tropical taxa.
Aleiodes terminalis
Terminal Mummy Wasp
Aleiodes terminalis is a species of mummy wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Cresson in 1869. Like other members of the genus Aleiodes, it is a koinobiont endoparasitoid that develops inside living caterpillar hosts. The species is part of a diverse radiation of Aleiodes wasps that exhibit the distinctive trait of causing host caterpillars to mummify after the wasp larva emerges. It is one of the earlier-described species in a genus that has seen extensive taxonomic revision and species discovery in recent decades.
Alphomelon
Alphomelon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Microgastrinae. The genus comprises 49 described species, with 30 described in a 2023 revision. Species delimitation requires integration of morphology, DNA barcoding, host data, and distribution information; neither morphology nor DNA barcoding alone is sufficient to distinguish all species.
Alysia
Alysia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae. Members of this genus are known to develop as parasitoids within the puparia of dipteran hosts, with at least one species, Alysia manducator, documented to parasitize the blow fly Lucilia sericata. The genus exhibits sex ratio plasticity in response to host size, with larger host puparia producing female-biased offspring ratios. Alysia species function as biological control agents of fly populations.
Alysiini
Alysiini is a tribe of koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps within the subfamily Alysiinae (Braconidae). Members are characterized by a distinctive exodont mandible condition—the only group of Braconidae with mandibles that open outward rather than downward. The tribe includes approximately 16 genera in the Dapsilarthra genus group and numerous other genera globally, with substantial faunas in Europe (over 400 species in related Dacnusini) and Australia (14 genera). Host associations are primarily with cyclorrhaphan Diptera, including leaf-mining Agromyzidae, fungus-inhabiting flies, and gall-forming Chloropidae.
Apanteles
Apanteles is a large genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, containing over 600 described species worldwide. A 2014 study from Costa Rica's Area de Conservación Guanacaste alone documented 186 new species, suggesting the genus is far more diverse than previously recognized. These small wasps (1–5 mm) are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars, with most species showing high host specificity.
Apanteles diacrisiae
Apanteles diacrisiae is a species of braconid wasp described by Risbec in 1951. According to GBIF and Catalogue of Life records, this name is currently treated as a synonym of Apanteles bambeytriplus. The genus Apanteles belongs to the subfamily Microgastrinae, a diverse group of small parasitoid wasps (typically 1-5 mm) that are among the most common parasitoids recovered from caterpillars. Species in this genus are known to parasitize lepidopteran larvae, with many showing high host specificity.
Apanteles megathymi
Apanteles megathymi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Riley in 1881. It belongs to the genus Apanteles, a large and diverse group of microgastrine braconids that are important biological control agents. The species name 'megathymi' suggests a historical association with the genus Megathymus (giant skippers), though current host records require verification. Like other Apanteles species, it is likely a larval parasitoid of Lepidoptera.
Aphidiinae
Aphid Mummy Wasps
Aphidiinae is a subfamily of Braconidae comprising approximately 400 species in 50 genera worldwide. These wasps are koinobiont endoparasitoids that develop exclusively within aphid hosts, with larvae consuming the host from the inside. Most species pupate inside the dead aphid, though members of the tribe Praini exit below to form external volcano-like cocoons. The group is economically significant for biological control of aphid pests in agriculture and horticulture.
Aphidiinae
Aphid Mummy Wasps
Aphidiinae is a subfamily of tiny parasitoid wasps within Braconidae that exclusively parasitize aphids. Adults are minute, typically under 5 mm, with reduced wing venation characteristic of microgastroid wasps. The common name 'Aphid Mummy Wasps' refers to the distinctive 'mummy' formed when parasitized aphids die, dry out, and become leathery brown or black shells containing the wasp pupa. Several species have been successfully deployed in biological control programs targeting agricultural aphid pests.
Aphidiini
Aphidiini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps within Braconidae (Hymenoptera) that specialize in attacking aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Members of this tribe are koinobiont endoparasitoids, developing within living aphid hosts. Several species have been introduced globally as biological control agents for aphid pests in agricultural and forestry systems. The tribe includes genera such as *Diaeretus*, *Aphidius*, and *Lysiphlebus*.
Aridelus
Aridelus is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Euphorinae, comprising approximately 40 described species with cosmopolitan distribution but greatest diversity in tropical regions. These wasps are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of heteropteran bugs, primarily targeting nymphs and adults of stink bugs (Pentatomidae) and related families. Several species have been investigated for biological control potential against agricultural pests, particularly Nezara viridula.
Aridelus nigrithorax
Aridelus nigrithorax is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Muesebeck in 1936. As a member of the genus Aridelus, it belongs to a group of small wasps that are parasitoids of other insects. The species epithet 'nigrithorax' refers to a dark or black thorax. No specific biological or ecological information about this species has been documented in the provided sources.
Aspilota
Aspilota is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Alysiinae. The genus was established by Förster in 1863 and includes species distributed across the Holarctic and Neotropical regions. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from Denmark and Argentina, expanding the known geographic range of the genus. Aspilota is classified within the Alysiinae, a subfamily characterized by koinobiont endoparasitoid biology, though species-specific biological details for Aspilota remain poorly documented.
Atanycolus
Atanycolus is a genus of braconid wasps comprising over 70 described species distributed worldwide. Species in this genus are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, primarily targeting larvae in families Buprestidae (jewel beetles) and Curculionidae (weevils). Several species have been documented as natural enemies of invasive pests, including the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The genus has been recovered from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Atanycolus cappaerti
Atanycolus cappaerti is a North American braconid wasp that parasitizes larvae of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The species was described in 2009 and has been studied for its potential as a native biological control agent against this destructive forest pest. It is one of several native parasitoids that may be adapting to exploit the emerald ash borer as a host in invaded areas.
Austrozele
Austrozele is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Roman in 1910. The genus belongs to the ichneumonoid lineage of Hymenoptera, a group characterized by their larval development as parasitoids of other insects. As a braconid genus, Austrozele species are presumed to be koinobiont parasitoids, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus has been recorded from Southeast Asia based on specimen data.
Biosteres
Biosteres is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Förster in 1862. Species in this genus are solitary or gregarious endoparasitoids, primarily attacking larvae of tephritid fruit flies. Several species, including B. longicaudatus, B. arisanus, and B. tryoni, have been extensively studied for their use in biological control programs against economically important fruit pests. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution, with species documented across Europe, Asia, North America, and other regions.
Blacus ruficornis
Blacus ruficornis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, subfamily Blacinae. The species was first described by Christian Gottfried Daniel Nees von Esenbeck in 1811. It belongs to a genus characterized by specific morphological traits including reduced wing venation and particular antennal structures. Records indicate presence in Northern Europe and on Madeira Island.
Boreogalba
Boreogalba is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by Mackauer in 1962. As a member of the Ichneumonoidea superfamily, species in this genus are presumed to be koinobiont or idiobiont parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of braconid wasps, including reduced wing venation and a compact body form. Taxonomic knowledge of Boreogalba is limited, with few species descriptions and minimal biological study.
Boreogalba gladifer
Boreogalba gladifer is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Mackauer in 1962. The genus Boreogalba is a small group within the ichneumonoid wasps, and this species is known from North America. Braconid wasps in this genus are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host records for B. gladifer are not well documented.
Callihormius stigmatus
Callihormius stigmatus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Marsh in 1966. The genus Callihormius belongs to a group of braconid wasps characterized by distinctive wing venation patterns. Like other members of Braconidae, this species is presumed to be a koinobiont parasitoid, developing within a living host. Published biological data for this species remain extremely limited.
Cantharoctonus
Cantharoctonus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Viereck in 1912. Members of this genus are part of the diverse ichneumonoid wasp fauna, which are primarily known for their role as parasitoids of other insects. The genus is placed within the subfamily-level grouping of Braconidae, though its precise phylogenetic position within the family requires further study. As with many braconid genera, species-level diversity and biology remain poorly documented.
Capitonius
Capitonius is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Brullé in 1846. Members of this genus are small wasps belonging to the diverse ichneumonoid wasp radiation. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published biological information and only a handful of observations recorded.
Cardiochiles
Cardiochiles is a genus of braconid wasps with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Species are larval endoparasitoids, primarily attacking lepidopteran hosts. The genus includes economically significant species used in biological control, particularly against noctuid pests in agricultural systems.
Cardiochilinae
Cardiochilinae is a subfamily of braconid wasps comprising approximately 20 genera and 220+ species. Members are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera caterpillars. Females inject polydnavirus during oviposition to manipulate host immune response. Some species, notably Toxoneuron nigriceps, have been employed in biological control programs against agricultural pests.
Cenocoelius
Cenocoelius is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Cenocoeliinae. Species with documented life histories are koinobiont parasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae. The genus is relatively poorly known, with few observations and limited geographic records.
Charmon
Charmon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Charmontinae, established by Haliday in 1833. The genus comprises 10 recognized species with a predominantly Holarctic distribution, though recent records extend its range to Southeast Asia. Charmon thailandensis, described from Doi Phu Kha National Park in Thailand, represents the first documented occurrence of the genus in Southeast Asia. DNA barcode data suggest that morphologically similar species may not be closely related, indicating potential cryptic diversity within the genus.
Charmontinae
Charmontinae is a small subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). The subfamily contains the genus Charmon, with 10 recognized species distributed primarily in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. The first Southeast Asian record was documented from Thailand in 2023 with the description of Charmon thailandensis. Species identification relies on morphological characters and DNA barcode data.
Chasmodon
Chasmodon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae. Species in this genus are ground-dwelling and function as parasitoids of stem-boring Diptera, particularly frit flies (Oscinella spp.) in grassland ecosystems. The genus has been documented in northern Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Cheloninae
chelonine wasps
Cheloninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps, distinguished by a distinctive metasomal carapace formed from the fusion of the first three tergites. Members are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids that primarily attack Lepidoptera, particularly Pyraloidea and Tortricoidea. They are egg-larval parasitoids, ovipositing into host eggs but completing development only after the caterpillar hatches and matures. Chelonines carry polydnaviruses that aid in suppressing host immune responses.
Chorebus
Chorebus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Alysiinae, tribe Dacnusini. The genus was established by Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833 and contains approximately 430 accepted species. Species in this genus are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Diptera, particularly leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae.
Chrysopophthorus
Chrysopophthorus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, with approximately eight described species distributed across four continents. The genus exhibits a notably wide geographic range, with species described from North America, South and Central America, Europe, and Asia. At least one species, C. americanus, is known to parasitize adult green lacewings (Chrysopidae), representing a specialized host association.
Chrysopophthorus americanus
Chrysopophthorus americanus is a minute parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Mason in 1964 from the United States. It belongs to a genus distributed across four continents, with species specialized as parasitoids of chrysopid larvae (green lacewings). The wasp has been observed at blacklight traps, where it likely seeks its lacewing hosts that are also attracted to ultraviolet light. Adults exhibit distinctive pale, almost ghostly coloration with striking emerald eyes.