Defensive-sting
Guides
Netelia johnsoni
Netelia johnsoni is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae, described by Ashmead in 1900. It is a nocturnal parasitoid wasp with a painful defensive sting that has been documented from Edmonton, Canada, though the genus Netelia is more broadly distributed across North America north of Mexico with 73 species in six subgenera. Females use their sting primarily to temporarily paralyze caterpillar hosts for oviposition, but will sting humans if handled carelessly or trapped against skin.
Netelia leo
Netelia leo is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae, first described by Cushman in 1924. Like other members of the genus Netelia, females possess a functional sting and are capable of delivering painful stings when handled or trapped against skin. The species is nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights. Females are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of caterpillars, temporarily paralyzing hosts with their sting before laying stalked eggs on the exterior of the larva.
Ophioninae
Short-tailed Ichneumonid Wasps
Ophioninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of ichneumonid wasps comprising approximately 32–33 genera with exceptional diversity in tropical regions. These wasps are primarily koinobiont endoparasitoids of larval Lepidoptera, though at least one species parasitizes Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera). They are notable among parasitic wasps for possessing ovipositors capable of stinging vertebrates in self-defense. Adults are typically large, slender, and orange with compressed, curved abdomens, very large ocelli, and long antennae. They are predominantly nocturnal and strongly attracted to artificial light sources.
Sclerodermus macrogaster
Sclerodermus macrogaster is a small parasitic wasp in the family Bethylidae, native to the southeastern United States. The species gained attention in 2018 when it was documented for the first time infesting a home in North America, following a report from Florida where a resident was stung. Adults are typically wingless and easily mistaken for ants. The species parasitizes wood-boring beetles, which occasionally leads to co-infestation of structures where such beetles are present.