Hemiptera-parasitoid
Guides
Aphelinidae
Aphelinidae is a family of minute parasitic wasps containing approximately 1,100-1,160 described species across 34-35 genera. These tiny insects are among the most important biological control agents used in agriculture, particularly for managing scale insects, whiteflies, and other Hemiptera. The family was formerly paraphyletic, leading to the recent elevation of Azotidae, Calesidae, and Eriaporidae to family rank. Specimens deteriorate rapidly after death unless preserved in ethanol, making museum identification challenging.
Cosmocomoidea ashmeadi
Cosmocomoidea ashmeadi is a species of fairyfly in the family Mymaridae, described by Girault in 1915. The genus Cosmocomoidea was established to accommodate species previously placed in other mymarid genera. Members of this genus are egg parasitoids, typically attacking eggs of Hemiptera. The species is part of a group of minute wasps that are important biological control agents in various agricultural systems.
Deinodryinus atriventris
Deinodryinus atriventris is a species of dryinid wasp first described by Cresson in 1872. Members of the genus Deinodryinus are ectoparasitoids of Hemiptera, particularly leafhoppers and planthoppers (Cicadellidae and Fulgoroidea). The species is part of the family Dryinidae, a group characterized by females that possess raptorial forelegs adapted for capturing host insects. Observations of this species are sparse, with limited published biological data available.
Dryinus
pincer wasps
Dryinus is a cosmopolitan genus of dryinid parasitic wasps comprising over 340 fossil and extant species, making it the most diverse genus in the subfamily Dryininae. Species are distributed worldwide, with 103 species reported from the Neotropics alone. These wasps are ectoparasitoids of Hemiptera, particularly planthoppers and related groups. Females exhibit sexual dimorphism with a distinctive chelate (pincer-like) protarsus used in host capture.
Encyrtidae
Encyrtidae is a large family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea, comprising approximately 3,710 described species in about 455 genera. The family is distinguished by distinctive wing venation patterns, forward-migrated cerci on the metasoma with accompanying tergite distortion, and an enlarged mesopleuron with anteriorly positioned mesocoxae. Most species are primary parasitoids of Hemiptera, particularly scale insects, mealybugs, and psyllids, though host associations span multiple insect orders and even include ticks. Encyrtidae are globally distributed across virtually all terrestrial habitats and are among the most important biological control agents used in agriculture.
Gymnoclytia immaculata
Gymnoclytia immaculata is a North American tachinid fly species in the family Tachinidae. As a parasitoid, its larvae develop within host insects rather than feeding independently. The species has been recorded from hosts in both Lepidoptera and Hemiptera, specifically the armyworm moth Pseudaletia unipuncta and the stink bug Euschistus variolarius. It occurs across a broad geographic range from British Columbia to Quebec in Canada, throughout the United States, and south into Mexico.
Gymnosoma
ladybird flies, bug-killer flies
Gymnosoma is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) commonly known as ladybird flies or bug-killer flies. Species are small parasitoids, typically 5–6 mm, with distinctive rounded abdomens often colored red or orange with dark markings, resembling lady beetles. Larvae develop as internal parasitoids of true bugs (Hemiptera), particularly shieldbugs (Pentatomidae). The genus has been taxonomically challenging; genomic analysis suggests many Palearctic species may represent a single highly variable species rather than distinct taxa. Adults visit flowers for nectar.
Halictophagus
Leafhopper Twistwing Parasites
Halictophagus is a genus of twisted-wing parasites (Strepsiptera) in the family Halictophagidae. These insects are endoparasitoids of leafhoppers and related Hemiptera, primarily in the families Cicadellidae and Cercopidae. The genus exhibits extreme sexual dimorphism: free-living males with reduced wings and branched antennae, and neotenic females that remain within the host. Multiple species have been described worldwide, with documented hosts including mango leafhoppers (Idioscopus spp., Bakera nigrobilineata) and other planthoppers.
Mymaridae
Fairy Wasps, Fairyflies
Mymaridae, commonly known as fairy wasps or fairyflies, is a family of microscopic chalcidoid wasps containing approximately 100 genera and 1,400 described species distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical regions. Members are among the smallest known insects, with body lengths ranging from 0.2 to 1.5 mm; the smallest species, Dicopomorpha echmepterygis, measures only 0.139 mm and is the smallest known insect. All known species are solitary, idiobiont endoparasitoids of insect eggs, with hosts primarily in Hemiptera (especially leafhoppers, planthoppers, and true bugs), Coleoptera, and Psocodea. The family is economically significant as biological control agents for agricultural pests, particularly for leafhoppers that vector plant diseases.
Phasia
Phasia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) containing approximately 100 described species worldwide. Species are parasitoids of adult true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera), particularly members of families Miridae and Pentatomidae. The genus was comprehensively revised in 2002, with six species-groups defined and 31 new species described from the Palearctic, Oriental, Afrotropical, and Australasian regions. Several genera previously treated as distinct have been synonymized with Phasia.
Polynema
fairyflies, fairy wasps
Polynema is a genus of fairyflies in the family Mymaridae, comprising approximately 270 described species. These are among the smallest known insects, with adults typically measuring less than 1 mm. The genus is taxonomically challenging, currently treated as a conglomerate of poorly defined related groups classified into subgenera including P. (Polynema), P. (Doriclytus), and P. (Dorypolynema). Members are idiobiont endoparasitoids of insect eggs, attacking hosts across multiple orders including Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Orthoptera, Psocoptera, and Odonata. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution with significant diversity in the Neotropical, Palaearctic, and Oriental regions.
Rileyinae
Rileyinae is a subfamily of small wasps within Eurytomidae (Chalcidoidea), comprising parasitoids primarily associated with insect eggs and gall-formers. Members include the genus Neorileya, known as endoparasitoids of eggs from diverse Hemipteran families (Coreidae, Pentatomidae, Reduviidae) and even Tettigoniidae. The subfamily also includes Gatesina, a genus that parasitizes Eurytominae gall-formers in fruits of Myrtaceae. Rileyinae species are typically minute (2-3 mm), solitary, and part of the 'micro-Hymenoptera' fauna.