Cuckoo-wasp

Guides

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.
cuckoo-wasp Chrysididae cleptoparasite parasitoid aphid-parasitism indirect-parasitism crabronid-host
Microchridium
Microchridium is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae, established by Bohart in 1980. It belongs to the order Hymenoptera, a group that includes wasps, bees, and ants. As with other chrysidids, members of this genus are likely cleptoparasitic, laying eggs in the nests of other wasps or bees. The genus is poorly known, with minimal published information and very few observations documented. Its taxonomic status is marked as doubtful in some databases, indicating potential issues with its validity or circumscription.
chrysididae hymenoptera cuckoo-wasp cleptoparasite rarely-observed taxon-status-doubtful monotypic-or-oligotypic bohart-1980
Microchridium minutum
Microchridium minutum is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. It is among the smallest members of the family, with the genus name reflecting its diminutive size. Like other chrysidids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid or kleptoparasite, though specific host associations remain undocumented. The species is known from extremely limited material, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist.
Chrysididae cuckoo-wasp parasitoid minute rare data-deficient
Nysson intermedius
Nysson intermedius is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It was described by Viereck in 1908. Members of the genus Nysson are kleptoparasitic, laying their eggs in the nests of other digger wasps, particularly those in the genus Bembix and related taxa. The species occurs in North America.
Crabronidae Bembicinae Nyssonini kleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp North-America sand-wasp-parasite Viereck-1908
Nysson subtilis
Nysson subtilis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae, subfamily Bembicinae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada including Nova Scotia. The species is a cleptoparasite (cuckoo wasp) that targets nests of other ground-nesting crabronid wasps, particularly those in the genus Hoplisoides. It can be distinguished from congeners by its entirely black front.
cleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp ground-nesting sand-wasp-parasite Crabronidae Bembicinae North-America
Nysson tristis
Nysson tristis is a species of solitary wasp in the family Crabronidae (formerly Bembicidae). It is a member of the genus Nysson, which comprises cleptoparasitic wasps that exploit the nests of other digger wasps. The species is known from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. Like other Nysson species, it likely targets the nests of sand wasps (Bembicini) as hosts.
cleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp solitary-wasp sand-wasp-parasite North-America Crabronidae Bembicidae Nyssoninae
Omalus aeneus
Cuckoo Wasp
Omalus aeneus is a small, metallic cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Females reach 4.5–5.4 mm in body length, males 4.4–5 mm. The species exhibits striking metallic coloration ranging from blue, green, and purple to nearly black or golden, with greenish-blue abdomen and legs. This cleptoparasitic wasp has two or more generations annually in southern Europe and exploits a remarkable indirect parasitism strategy: females oviposit into living aphids, which are subsequently captured by aphid-hunting crabronid wasps and transported to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva develops.
cuckoo-wasp cleptoparasite indirect-parasitism aphid-exploitation metallic-coloration Chrysididae Hymenoptera introduced-species Nearctic Palearctic
Omalus downeyi
Downey's Cuckoo Wasp
Omalus downeyi is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Omalus, it is a kleptoparasite that targets the nests of solitary wasps, particularly aphid-hunting wasps in the family Crabronidae such as Pemphredon and Passaloecus. The species exhibits an indirect parasitic 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.
kleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp aphid-parasite indirect-parasitism Chrysididae Crabronidae-host
Omalus glomeratus
Omalus glomeratus is a species of cuckoo wasp (family Chrysididae) known for its kleptoparasitic lifestyle. Like other members of the genus Omalus, females oviposit directly into aphids, exploiting the hunting behavior of aphid wasps in the family Crabronidae (such as Pemphredon and Passaloecus). When a crabronid wasp captures and carries the parasitized aphid to its nest, the Omalus larva hatches and consumes the food provisions intended for the host larva. This indirect parasitic strategy avoids the risks of direct nest entry. The species has been observed in Europe and represents part of a broader behavioral pattern documented across Omalus, Pseudomalus, and Holopyga.
kleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp aphid-parasite indirect-parasitism Chrysididae behavioral-innovation Europe
Omalus iridescens
Omalus iridescens is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Omalus, it is a cleptoparasite that exploits the nesting behavior of solitary wasps. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of chrysidid wasps. Based on documented behaviors of closely related Omalus species, females likely oviposit into aphids that are subsequently captured by crabronid wasps and transported to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva develops at the expense of the host's offspring.
cuckoo-wasp cleptoparasite indirect-parasitism Chrysididae Hymenoptera aphid-parasite Pemphredon-parasite
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.
Chrysididae cuckoo-wasp kleptoparasite indirect-parasitism aphid-parasitism Pemphredon-parasite solitary-wasp-parasite
Parnopes chrysoprasinus
Parnopes chrysoprasinus is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this family, it is a parasitoid that lays its eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. The larvae consume the host's eggs, larvae, and stored food provisions. The genus Parnopes includes species that target sand wasps and other ground-nesting solitary wasps as hosts. Chrysidid wasps are known for their heavily sculptured, brilliantly metallic exoskeletons that serve as armor against host defenses.
parasitoid cuckoo-wasp metallic sand-wasp-parasite solitary-wasp-associate
Parnopes edwardsii
cuckoo wasp
Parnopes edwardsii is a parasitic cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, native to western North America. The species exhibits metallic blue-green coloration typical of chrysidid wasps. Females are nest parasites of sand wasps, specifically targeting burrows of species in the genus Steniolia and related crabronid wasps.
parasitoid cuckoo-wasp metallic western-North-America sand-wasp-parasite
Parnopes fulvicornis
Parnopes fulvicornis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. As a member of the genus Parnopes, it is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. The species is known from a limited number of observations, with records primarily from western North America. Like other chrysidid wasps, it likely exhibits the family's characteristic metallic coloration and heavily sculptured exoskeleton.
Hymenoptera Chrysididae cuckoo-wasp parasitoid North-America
Philoctetes variatus
Philoctetes variatus is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, a group known for their kleptoparasitic or parasitoid lifestyle targeting other Hymenoptera. The genus Philoctetes is a small, poorly documented group within Chrysididae. Information about this species is extremely limited, with minimal published research and few verified observations. It is known from a single iNaturalist record, indicating significant data gaps in its biology and distribution.
cuckoo-wasp kleptoparasite data-deficient rarely-observed
Pseudomalus
cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps
Pseudomalus is a genus of cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae), commonly known as jewel wasps for their brilliant metallic coloration. Species in this genus are kleptoparasites that exploit the nests of solitary wasps and bees. A distinctive behavioral trait involves females ovipositing into aphids, which are then captured by crabronid wasps and carried to their nests—indirectly delivering the cuckoo wasp larva to its eventual host. The genus includes both Palearctic natives and at least one introduced species (P. auratus) now established in North America.
kleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp jewel-wasp indirect-oviposition aphid-parasitoid introduced-species Hymenoptera Chrysididae
Pseudomalus auratus
cuckoo wasp, jewel wasp
Pseudomalus auratus is a small cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, notable for its striking metallic coloration with emerald green head and thorax contrasting with a ruby red abdomen. Native to the Palearctic region, it has been accidentally introduced to North America, likely before 1828. The species exhibits an unusual indirect parasitic strategy: females oviposit into aphids, which are then captured by crabronid wasps and carried to their nests, where the cuckoo wasp larva emerges to kill the host larva and consume the stored provisions.
kleptoparasite introduced-species cuckoo-wasp indirect-parasitism aphid-association
Sapyga louisi
Louis's Club-horned Cuckoo Wasp, club-horned cuckoo wasp
A small species of club-horned wasp in the family Sapygidae. Adults visit flowers for nectar. The larvae are kleptoparasites that develop by consuming the provisions and host larvae of leaf-cutter bees, including Heriades carinata. The species is distinguished from allies by distinctive yellow body markings and reduced size.
kleptoparasite cuckoo-wasp leaf-cutter-bee-parasite Hymenoptera Sapygidae Heriades-carinata flower-visitor
Vespula infernalis
cuckoo yellowjacket, American cuckoo yellowjacket
Vespula infernalis is an obligate social parasite (inquiline) that invades and usurps colonies of other yellowjacket species, primarily Vespula acadica in North America. Unlike most parasitic wasps, it exhibits intensely aggressive behavior during colony takeover, using specialized morphological adaptations including a large, heavily curved stinger to subdue host workers. The species lacks a worker caste and cannot build nests or rear its own young, instead forcing host workers to feed and care for its brood through dominance behaviors including mauling and forced trophallaxis.
social-parasite inquiline cuckoo-wasp yellowjacket aggressive-parasitism Vespula Hymenoptera Nearctic boreal-forest Vespula-acadica forced-trophallaxis mauling-behavior curved-stinger no-worker-caste obligate-parasitism Dufour's-gland oogenesis-suppression fourth-mandibular-tooth Kimsey-&-Carpenter-2012 Vespula-austriaca-sister-species short-flight-season June-to-September Canada United-States Alaska New-Jersey Michigan Wisconsin North-Dakota New-Mexico Arizona California stable-population subterranean-nests host-queen-usurpation host-worker-manipulation reproductive-monopoly venom-paralyzes-hosts minimal-foraging no-nest-construction no-thermoregulation-behavior egg-laying-on-comb-exterior autumn-queen-production longer-hibernation-than-hosts preusurpation-phase queen-reared-worker-stage-invasion post-emergence-colony-stage-invasion patrol-behavior cell-inspection dominance-assertion evolutionary-strategy-kill-older-workers-first worker-oviposition-suppression gastral-dragging 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