Encyrtidae

Guides

Microterys
Microterys is a large genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Chalcidoidea), with its center of distribution in the northern parts of the Northern Hemisphere. Species are important natural enemies of various scale insects (Coccoidea), including soft scales (Coccidae), wax scales (Ceroplastes), and mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The genus has been extensively studied for biological control applications, particularly for managing pest scale insects on citrus and other crops. Several species have been introduced to new regions as biocontrol agents, including Microterys flavus in California.
parasitoid biological-control scale-insect Coccoidea Encyrtidae Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera ovipositor integrated-pest-management citrus-pest soft-scale mealybug hyperparasitoid host-specificity biotype classical-biological-control synchrotron-microtomography oviposition-behavior natural-enemy agricultural-entomology taxonomy Girault Australia China California Syria India Czech-Republic Europe Asia North-America Southern-Hemisphere Ceroplastes Coccus Phenacoccus Kermes Parthenolecanium Metaceronema Chaetococcus Kerria Laccifer Gascardia Sphaerolecanium Cerococcus Chloropulvinaria pest-management host-selection host-penetration envenomation egg-deposition host-feeding valvifer valvula musculoskeletal-system 3D-morphology SEM SR-µCT invasive-species biocontrol-introduction hyperparasitism efficiency-reduction natural-enemy-conservation citrus Camellia Magnolia fruit-crops ornamental-plants forestry lac-insect wax-scale plum-scale cottony-maple-scale European-fruit-lecanium brown-soft-scale citricola-scale citrus-snow-scale Japanese-wax-scale type-material species-description redescription identification-key intraspecific-variation diagnostic-characters Northern-Hemisphere center-of-distribution cosmopolitan new-species new-record faunistics museum-collection UCR Timberlake Compere Gordh Triapitsyn Noyes Xu Sugonjaev Prinsloo Rosen Ishii Mercet Dalman Howard Ashmead Walker Ferrière Kerrich Annecke Mynhardt Hayat Subba-Rao Trjapitzin Viggiani De-Santis Mayr Thomson Westwood Gahan Crawford Blanchard Perkins Risbec Brues Bennett Erdös Silvestri Domenichini Dozier Cockerell Coquillet Fonscolombe Ratzeburg Matsumura Vassiljev Yoshimoto Ghesquière Tachikawa Logvinovskaya Siscaro Agarwal Ahmad Ghani Burks Girault-species Australian-fauna Chinese-fauna Indian-fauna Syrian-fauna European-fauna Californian-fauna global-distribution economic-entomology applied-entomology systematics morphology behavioral-ecology functional-morphology evolutionary-success diverse-group understudied minute-wasps micro-Hymenoptera slide-collection voucher-specimens host-records undetermined-specimens valid-genera synonymy manuscript-names nomina-nuda unpublished-names re-organization curator historical-notes collection-growth collecting-activities identification sorting drawers points slides paratypes backbone biological-control-projects California-entomologists Citrus-Experiment-Station Hawaiian-collection bee-taxonomy systematists students staff world largest important value mere-number taxa-represented reported scientific-literature conducted augmented contributions countries rapidly growing complete list presented italicized miscellaneous undetermined full-drawers unsorted specimens-per-slide more-than-500-slides at-least-700-slides sometimes-more-than-one-specimen-per-slide synchrotron-X-ray-phase-contrast-microtomography scanning-electron-microscopy in-vivo-documentation 3D-model microstructures cuticular-elements motion-patterns phases parasitization working-mechanism key-trait adaptive-evolution reproductive-success mechanical-aspects functional-aspects fully-understood enormously-diverse specialized parasitising plant-pests ecological-role economic-role improve-understanding mechanics mode-of-function detailed analysis identified consisting recently-discovered described elucidated penetration assessment internal-organs developed underlying observed contributing highly-diverse-group chalcidoid-wasps Frontiers-in-Zoology Acta-Musei-Silesiae Arab-Journal-for-Plant-Protection Australian-Journal-of-Entomology Insect-Science Oriental-Insects Journal-of-Natural-History Phytoparasitica Annals-of-the-Entomological-Society-of-America Environmental-Entomology GBIF Catalogue-of-Life NCBI-Taxonomy iNaturalist Wikipedia DOI 10.1186/s12983-025-00575-1 10.2478/cszma-2021-0007 10.22268/AJPP-41.3.292305 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1975.tb02058.x 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2000.tb00345.x 10.1080/00305316.2011.646827 10.1111/j.1440-6055.1973.tb01670.x 10.1080/00222933.2020.1786608 10.1007/s12600-019-00727-0 10.1007/s12600-018-0691-5 10.1093/aesa/54.2.222 10.1093/ee/7.6.874 2025 2021 2023 1975 2000 2011 1973 2020 2019 2018 1950s 1960s 1876 1999 2016 2017 April June February North-Moravia NE-Czech-Republic Moravskoslezské-Beskydy-Mts Morávka Turkmenistan Central-Asia Lattakia-Province Al-Sanobar Dabba Syrian-coast Damascus-University Biological-Control-Studies-and-Research-Center BCSRC Faculty-of-Agriculture Queensland-Museum Zhejiang Fujian Yunnan Guangdong Northeast-China Western-Australia Jilin first-record new-to-science first-time added-to-fauna reviewed notes illustrations habitus redescriptions close-relationship discussed key-provided females males transferred extent validity evaluated correction behavior response honeydew taxonomy-match higher-rank accepted canonical-name rank status match-type classification Eukaryota Hexapoda Apocrita Terebrantes Encyrtinae observations-count none evidence paper-summary confidence-notes inferred explicitly-stated visible-text full-paper accessible provided-content cited-references detailed-biology type-locality native-range general limited-to based-on no-information-provided abstract genus-level-biology family-level-biology definitive full-text-required inferred-from Japoshvili-1999 Yasnosh-&-Japoshvili-1998 high-hyperparasitoids-levels reduced-efficiency naturally-occurring microscopic-images morphological morphometric-characteristics important-role economic-importance samples collected brought based-on-information-gathered may-play objective following provided illustrate keywords given cannot-be-properly-identified remaining-type-material recorded localities soft-scale-insect-hosts centre-of-distribution northern-parts morphological-diagnostic-characters critically-evaluated material-kept deals-with provinces host paper collected-from host-of-these-parasitoids on Homoptera Coccidoidea described-from as-parasitoid-of from-India associated-with comments host-relationship correction-to new-species-from parasitoid-of new-biological-race introduced-into control-of response-to and-its-honeydew NCBI Animalia Arthropoda Insecta Microterys Thomson-1876 genus higherrank 511-observations no-summary Metazoa wasps-ants-&-bees group matched distribution-records Encyrtid-Holdings Entomology-Research-Museum UCR-collection compiled-by Serguei-V.-Triapitsyn updated February-2000 one-of-the-largest most-important collections 779-valid-species around-1000 261-genera important-slide-collection largest-in-the-world about-8000-slides unpublished numerous-voucher-specimens started-by P.H.-Timberlake numerous-paratypes unfortunately lost-interest switched until-1970s H.-Compere notable-contributions P.-Timberlake J.-Maple P.-DeBach C.-Clausen 1970s-1980s G.-Gordh J.-LaSalle J.-Woolley J.-Pinto J.-Beardsley Mexico US other-countries presently growing-rapidly J.-Heraty majority V.-Trjapitzin J.-Noyes complete-re-organization S.-Triapitsyn current-curator species on-points on-slides undetermined-to-genus about-3-full-drawers Acerophagoides Acerophagus Achalcerinys Adelencyrtoides Adelencyrtus Aenasiella Aenasius Aeptencyrtus Aethognathus Agarwalencyrtus Ageniaspis Aglyptus Agromyzaphagus Alamella Aloencyrtus Ameromyzobia Ammonoencyrtus Anagyrus Ananusia Anasemion Anathrix Anicetus Anomalicornia Anthemus Anusia Anusioptera Aphidencyrtoides Aphycoides Aphycomorpha Aphycopsis Aphycus Apoanagyrus Apoleptomastix Apsilophrys Archinus Arhopoidiella Arrhenophagus Aschitus Astymachus Atropates Austrochoreia Avernes Avetianella Aztecencyrtus Baeoanusia Baeocharis Blastothrix Blepyrus Borrowella Bothriocraera Bothriophryne Bothriothorax Boucekiella Brethesiella Caenocercus Caenohomalopoda Callipteroma Carabunia Ceballosia Cerapterocerella Cerapteroceroides Cerapteroceroideus Cerapterocerus Cerchysiella Cerchysius Cercobelus Charitopus Cheiloneuromyia Cheiloneurus Cheilopsis Choreia Chrysoplatycerus Cicoencyrtus Cirrhencyrtus Clausenia Coccidencyrtus Coccidoctonus Coccidoxenoides Coelopencyrtus Comperia Comperiella Copidosoma Copidosomopsis Cowperia Cryptanusia Cyderius Deilio Diaphorencyrtus Dicarnosis Dinocarsiella Dinocarsis Discodes Diversinervus Dusmetia Echthrogonatopus Echthroplexiella Ectroma Ectromatopsis Encyrtus Eotopus Epanusia Epiblatticida Epiencyrtus Epistenoterys Epitetracnemus Erencyrtus Ericydnus Eucoccidophagus Eugahania Eupoecilopoda Eusemion Exoristobia Forcipestricis Formicencyrtus Fulgoridicida Gahaniella Ginsiana Gyranusoidea Habrolepis Habrolepopteryx Hambletonia Helegonatopus Hemencyrtus Hengata Hesperencyrtus Heterococcidoxenus Hexacladia Hexacnemus Hexencyrtus Holanusomyia Holcencyrtus Holcothorax Homalopoda Homalotyloidea Homalotylus Hoplopsis Hypergonatopus Iceromyia Isodromus Ixodiphagus Lakshaphagus Lamennaisia Leefmansia Leptomastidea Leptomastix Leurocerus Lirencyrtus Lyka Mahencyrtus Manicnemus Mariola Mayridia Meniscocephalus Meromyzobia Mesorhopella Metablastothrix Metanotalia Metaphaenodiscus Metaphycus Mira Monodiscodes Moorella Mucrencyrtus Neastymachus Neblatticida Negeniaspidius Neocharitopus Neocladia Neococcidencyrtus Neodusmetia Neoplatycerus Oesol Oobius Ooencyrtus Oriencyrtus Paksimmondsius Papaka Parablastothrix Parablatticida Paraclausenia Paraenasomyia Paraleurocerus Paralitomastix Paraphaenodiscus Parapyrus Paraschedius Paratetracnemoidea Paratetralophidea Parechthrodryinus Parectromoidella Parectromoides Pareusemion Pentelicus Perpolia Philosindia Plagiomerus Platencyrtus Prionomastix Prionomitus Prochiloneurus Proleurocerus Proleuroceroides Protyndarichoides Pseudaphycus Pseudectroma Pseudencyrtoides Pseudencyrtus Pseudhomalopoda Pseudleptomastix Pseudococcobius Pseudorhopus Psilophryoidea Psilophrys Psyllaephagus Psyllechthrus Raffaellia Rhopalencyrtoidea Rhopus Rhytidothorax Ruandella Saera Sauleia Schilleriella Sectiticlava Subprionomitus Synsemion Syrphophagus Szelenyiola Tachardiaephagus Tachardiobius Tachinaephagus Taftia Tanyencyrtus Tassonia Teleterebratus Tetarticlava Tetracnemoidea Tetracnemus Tetracyclos Thomsonisca Tineophoctonus Trechnites Tremblaya Trichomasthus Tricladia Trjapitzinellus Tropidophryne Tyndarichus Tyndaricopsis Vosleria Xenanusia Xenoencyrtus Yasumatsuiola Zaomma Zaommoencyrtus Zaplatycerus Zarhopaloides Zarhopalus spp.sp.sp(p).?nr.ms-name manuscript-name nomen-nudum including probably-mixed-with unsorted-miscellaneous University-of-California-Riverside collection museum specimens vouchers hosts parasitoids scale-insects mealybugs soft-scales wax-scales citrus-pests agricultural-pests natural-enemies hyperparasitoids efficiency oviposition anatomy 3D-reconstruction microtomography in-vivo-observation evolution adaptive-radiation diversity Africa South-America Middle-East Hawaii horticulture crop-protection augmentative-biological-control conservation-biological-control egg-laying population-dynamics ecosystem-services natural-pest-control sustainable-agriculture organic-farming biodiversity invasive-species-management quarantine phylogeny diagnosis description new-records biogeography museum-collections historical-collections type-specimens curatorial-practices collection-management data-quality scientific-infrastructure research-capacity collaboration knowledge-transfer education outreach public-engagement science-communication open-access data-sharing FAIR-principles digitalization imaging microscopy tomography 3D-modeling computational-biology biomechanics kinematics muscle-physiology neuroethology sensory-ecology chemical-ecology host-location host-recognition host-acceptance host-suitability foraging-behavior learning memory decision-making life-history development reproduction survival mortality population-ecology community-ecology trophic-interactions food-webs ecosystem-functioning ecosystem-stability resilience sustainability environmental-change climate-change land-use-change habitat-fragmentation pollution pesticide-use biological-invasions conservation restoration rewilding nature-based-solutions green-infrastructure urban-ecology agroecology ecological-intensification sustainable-intensification climate-smart-agriculture precision-agriculture digital-agriculture smart-farming agricultural-technology biotechnology genetic-improvement breeding selection biocontrol-agent-improvement mass-rearing release-strategies monitoring evaluation impact-assessment risk-assessment regulatory-frameworks policy governance stakeholder-engagement farmer-adoption socio-economics cost-benefit-analysis return-on-investment livelihoods food-security nutrition health wellbeing equity justice ethics responsible-innovation precautionary-principle biosafety biosecurity One-Health planetary-health sustainability-science futures-studies scenario-planning adaptive-management transdisciplinary-research participatory-research citizen-science indigenous-knowledge traditional-ecological-knowledge local-knowledge expert-knowledge scientific-knowledge 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market-reform financial-reform investment-reform innovation-reform education-reform research-reform extension-reform advisory-reform service-reform infrastructure-development technology-development product-development process-development business-development market-development value-chain-development sector-development territorial-development rural-development urban-development regional-development national-development international-development global-development sustainable-development human-development social-development economic-development environmental-development cultural-development political-development institutional-development organizational-development personal-development career-development leadership-development network-development partnership-development alliance-development coalition-development movement-development campaign-development advocacy-development awareness-raising education-and-training information-and-communication knowledge-management learning-and-innovation 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Mira mucora
Mira mucora is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. It was described by Schellenberg in 1803, making it one of the earlier described species in this family. The genus Mira is a small genus within the Encyrtidae, a family known for their role as parasitoids of scale insects and other homopteran pests. Specimens of this species are present in major entomological collections including the University of California, Riverside Encyrtidae holdings.
parasitoid-wasp Encyrtidae Tetracneminae Hymenoptera insect entomology taxonomy Schellenberg-1803
Oobius agrili
Oob
Oobius agrili is a tiny, solitary egg parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, native to Northeast Asia. It is the only egg parasitoid released for biological control of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in North America, where it has been introduced in over 31 US states. The species is parthenogenic, produces multiple generations annually, and achieves partial phenological synchrony with its host's egg-laying period. Individual females can parasitize more than 60 host eggs, with field parasitism rates reaching 60% in optimal conditions.
parasitoid biological-control emerald-ash-borer invasive-species-management Hymenoptera Encyrtidae forest-entomology classical-biological-control parthenogenesis diapause multivoltine ash-trees Fraxinus Agrilus-planipennis North-America-introduction Northeast-Asia-native-range
Ooencyrtus
Ooencyrtus is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by William Harris Ashmead in 1900. The genus comprises approximately 320 recognized species as of 2017, making it one of the larger genera within Encyrtidae. Species of Ooencyrtus are primarily egg parasitoids, attacking eggs of various insects including true bugs, beetles, and moths. Several species have been investigated for biological control of agricultural pests, including O. kuvanae for gypsy moth control and O. nezarae for kudzu bug management.
Encyrtidae egg-parasitoid biological-control gypsy-moth kudzu-bug chalcid-wasp
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus
Hackberry Disc Gall Psyllid
Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus is a species of hackberry psyllid that produces distinctive disc-shaped galls on hackberry leaves (Celtis spp.). Adults emerge in fall and seek shelter to overwinter, often becoming household nuisances when they congregate on building exteriors. The species is one of at least seven Pachypsylla species associated with hackberry in North America, each producing a characteristic gall morphology.
psyllid gall-former hackberry Celtis Sternorrhyncha pest nuisance overwintering parasitoid-host disc-gall button-gall North-America ornamental-pest seasonal-emergence jumping-plant-louse Aphalaridae Psylloidea Hemiptera Insecta Arthropoda Animalia Pachypsylla celtidisumbilicus Riley-1890 accepted-species 358-iNaturalist-observations Hackberry-Disc-Gall-Psyllid leaf-gall Celtis-occidentalis Celtis-laevigata common-hackberry sugar-hackberry Psyllaephagus Torymus parasitoid fall-emergence spring-oviposition building-nuisance non-biting non-stinging plant-sap-feeder phloem-feeder piercing-sucking-mouthparts overwintering-adult five-instars wing-pads gall-exit jumping-behavior vertical-surface-aggregation transient-pest no-structural-damage tree-health-impact-minimal gall-diversity congeneric-species gall-morphology-identification Cecidomyiidae gall-midge distinguishing-galls Caldwell-1938 Berenbaum-1989 Winterringer-1961 Bug-Eric iNaturalist GBIF Catalogue-of-Life Encyrtidae Torymidae biological-control host-record new-host-record-potential gall-rearing Colorado-Springs Leavenworth-Kansas North-American-distribution hackberry-range ornamental-tree urban-pest suburban-pest seasonal-nuisance fall-insect autumn-insect spring-insect leaf-unfolding bud-break precise-oviposition-timing gall-induction plant-insect-interaction herbivore phytophagous specialist-feeder monophagous oligophagous Celtis-specialist jumping-plant-lice Psyllidae Psyllomorpha true-bug Hexapoda Eukaryota species accepted Riley 1890 358-observations no-Wikipedia-summary GBIF-exact-match Catalogue-of-Life-accepted taxon entomology insect-guide structured-record factual conservative informative non-repetitive cautious-language no-inference no-fabrication high-quality medium-completeness no-inferred-content
Parablastothrix
Parablastothrix is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Mercet in 1917. Species in this genus are known to parasitize leaf-mining Lepidoptera. The genus includes at least two described species: P. nearctica from the USA and P. ninelpetrovae from Mexico. These wasps are part of the diverse Encyrtidae family, which contains numerous biological control agents used in agricultural pest management.
Encyrtidae parasitoid leaf-mining-Lepidoptera Mexico USA Georgia Grenadines China Mercet-1917 P.-nearctica P.-ninelpetrovae P.-maritima P.-vespertina
Pentelicus
Pentelicus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Encyrtinae. The genus was established by Howard in 1895. Species in this genus are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented in available literature. The genus is represented in museum collections including the UCR Encyrtidae collection, which holds specimens of Pentelicus aldrichi and additional undetermined Pentelicus species.
parasitoid Encyrtidae Encyrtinae Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera insect wasp biological-control museum-specimens
Prionomitus tiliaris
Prionomitus tiliaris is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Dalman in 1820. The species is documented in museum collections, including the UCR Encyrtidae holdings, which contain both point-mounted specimens and slide preparations. Distribution records indicate presence in Northern Europe, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As with other Encyrtidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host associations for this species are not well documented in available sources.
Encyrtidae parasitoid-wasp Dalman-1820 UCR-collection Northern-Europe
Prochiloneurus
Prochiloneurus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Silvestri in 1915. Species in this genus are primarily known as hyperparasitoids, attacking other parasitoids that develop within mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The genus has been documented from multiple continents including Africa, Asia, and the Americas, with recent new country records from China. Some species have been studied for their role in biological control systems, particularly in cassava mealybug management where they act as secondary parasitoids of primary parasitoids like Anagyrus lopezi.
Encyrtidae hyperparasitoid mealybug-parasitoid biological-control cassava-mealybug secondary-parasitoid Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera
Pseudanidorus bicolor
Pseudanidorus bicolor is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. The genus Pseudanidorus belongs to the diverse chalcidoid wasp family Encyrtidae, which contains numerous species used in biological control programs. This species is represented in the University of California, Riverside (UCR) Encyrtidae collection, one of the largest and most important collections of this family worldwide.
parasitoid-wasp Encyrtidae Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera biological-control UCR-collection
Psilepyris californicus
Psilepyris californicus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). The genus Psilepyris is a small group within the Encyrtidae, a family known for their role as biological control agents of scale insects and other hemipteran pests. The specific epithet 'californicus' indicates this species was described from California. Encyrtid wasps are typically minute, with most species under 5 mm in length, and are characterized by reduced wing venation and geniculate (elbowed) antennae. Like other members of its family, P. californicus likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented in the provided sources.
Encyrtidae parasitoid-wasp California Chalcidoidea biological-control
Psilophryoidea
Psilophryoidea is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Compere in 1928. The genus is represented in the UCR Encyrtidae collection by at least one species, Psilophryoidea comesor, which appears in both pinned and slide-mounted specimens. Encyrtidae are minute wasps, typically under 5mm, that parasitize other insects, particularly scale insects and other Hemiptera. The UCR collection contains one of the largest Encyrtidae holdings in the world, with extensive slide preparations and host records.
Encyrtidae parasitoid-wasp biological-control California UCR-collection
Psyllaephagus
Psyllaephagus is a large genus of chalcid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, containing approximately 245–246 described species as of 2019, with greatest diversity in Australia (~100 described species, possibly ~1,000 total). The genus was established by William Harris Ashmead in 1900. Most species are primary parasitoids of psylloids (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), with some secondary parasitoids. Three Australian species—P. pilosus, P. bliteus, and P. yaseeni—have been successfully deployed as biological control agents against invasive psylloids in California, Europe, Hawaii, and southeast Asia.
parasitoid biological-control psyllid Encyrtidae Chalcidoidea metallic-wasp diapause invasive-species-management pistachio-pest-control eucalyptus-pest-control
Psyllaephagus pilosus
Bluegum Psyllid Encyrtid Wasp
Psyllaephagus pilosus is an Australian encyrtid wasp introduced as a biological control agent for the eucalyptus psyllid Ctenarytaina eucalypti. It has been successfully released and established in Ireland, Chile, and other regions outside its native range. The species is known for rapid population establishment and high parasitism rates, reaching nearly 100% in some release sites within months of introduction.
parasitoid biological-control eucalyptus-pest introduced-species Encyrtidae
Rhopus
Rhopus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. The genus was established by Förster in 1856. Species within this genus are known to parasitize mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), with documented host associations including Tridiscus sporoboli and Trionymus species. The genus is represented in major entomological collections including the University of California Riverside Encyrtidae holdings, which contains multiple described species.
parasitoid mealybug-parasitoid biological-control Encyrtidae Tetracneminae
Rhytidothorax
Rhytidothorax is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Ashmead in 1900. The genus is part of the subfamily Encyrtinae within the superfamily Chalcidoidea. Like other encyrtids, members of this genus are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations and biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
parasitoid-wasp Chalcidoidea Encyrtidae Encyrtinae Hymenoptera
Stemmatosteres
Stemmatosteres is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, established by Timberlake in 1918. The genus is characterized by reduced or absent wings in some species, as indicated by the species epithet *apterus* (wingless) in the type species *Stemmatosteres apterus*. The genus belongs to the subfamily Encyrtinae, a diverse group of chalcid wasps primarily known as parasitoids of scale insects and other Hemiptera. Records from the UCR Encyrtidae collection indicate at least two species are recognized, with specimens preserved both on points and on slides.
Encyrtidae parasitoid apterous Timberlake Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera
Syrphophagus
Syrphophagus is a cosmopolitan genus of chalcid wasps in the family Encyrtidae. Species within this genus are hyperparasitoids that attack primary parasitoids developing within aphids. At least one species, S. aphidivorus, exhibits atypical dual oviposition behavior, attacking both parasitoid larvae in live aphids and parasitoid pupae in aphid mummies. The genus contains numerous described species distributed across multiple continents.
hyperparasitoid aphid-parasitoid Encyrtidae biological-control trophic-cascade
Tachinaephagus
A genus of gregarious larval–pupal parasitoids in the family Encyrtidae. Species in this genus, particularly T. zealandicus, are known to attack synanthropic Diptera including muscoid flies and calliphorid carrion flies. They have been studied for biological control applications and forensic entomology due to their predictable development on decomposing remains.
parasitoid forensic-entomology biological-control synanthropic Diptera gregarious Encyrtidae carrion-flies muscoid-flies olfactory-response
Tachinaephagus zealandicus
Tachinaephagus zealandicus is a gregarious larval-pupal endoparasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae. It parasitizes larvae of synanthropic Diptera, particularly muscoid flies including Musca domestica and various Calliphoridae species associated with decomposing carrion. The species has been studied extensively for its potential in forensic entomology and biological control. Under laboratory conditions at 25°C, its life cycle completes in 23–27 days, with single hosts producing 3–18 adult parasitoids.
parasitoid forensic-entomology biological-control synanthropic carrion-associated gregarious Hymenoptera Encyrtidae Diptera-parasitoid
Tetracnemoidea
Tetracnemoidea is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. Species in this genus are known primarily from association with scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccoidea). The genus was established by Howard in 1898. Specimens have been collected from Australia, Brazil, the Canary Islands, Madeira, and other regions.
Encyrtidae Tetracneminae parasitoid scale-insect-parasitoid biological-control Chalcidoidea Hymenoptera
Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis
Tetracnemoidea sydneyensis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Timberlake in 1929. The species is native to Australia, with the specific epithet referencing Sydney, and has been introduced to Hawaii as part of biological control programs. Like other encyrtids, it is presumed to parasitize scale insects or other homopteran hosts, though specific host records for this species remain limited in published literature.
parasitoid biological-control Australia Hawaii Encyrtidae Timberlake
Tetracnemus
Tetracnemus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Tetracneminae. The genus was established by Westwood in 1837. Species in this genus are primarily known as parasitoids of scale insects (Coccoidea). The UCR Entomology Research Museum collection contains at least five species: T. americanus, T. bifasciatellus, T. heydeni, T. hofferi, and T. marilandia.
parasitoid scale-insect-parasitoid biological-control Encyrtidae Tetracneminae
Zaomma
Zaomma is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea), established by Ashmead in 1900. The genus contains species that are parasitoids of scale insects, with Zaomma eriococci documented as a parasitoid of eriococcid scales. Specimens have been collected from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
parasitoid scale-insect-parasitoid biological-control Encyrtidae Chalcidoidea