Ichneumonidae
Guides
Acroricnus stylator aequatus
Acroricnus stylator aequatus is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus Acroricnus is documented as a parasite of mud dauber wasp nests, specifically attacking the Black and Yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium). This subspecies was originally described by Thomas Say in 1835. Very little species-specific information is available in the provided sources, with most biological knowledge inferred from genus-level documentation.
Acroricnus stylator niger
Acroricnus stylator niger is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Acroricnus. It is known from Belgium and Denmark, with records from both the Flemish and Walloon regions of Belgium. The species belongs to a genus whose members are parasitoids of mud dauber nests, including those of the Black and Yellow Mud Dauber (Sceliphron caementarium).
Acrotaphus
Acrotaphus is a genus of spider-attacking parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae, tribe Ephialtini. The genus contains 27 described species distributed across the New World, with particularly high diversity in the Neotropics including the Brazilian Amazon. These wasps are ectoparasitoids of orb-weaver spiders in the families Araneidae and Tetragnathidae. A defining characteristic of the genus is the ability to induce behavioral modification in host spiders, causing them to construct specialized "cocoon webs" that support and protect the wasp pupae.
Acrotaphus fuscipennis
Acrotaphus fuscipennis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1865. The genus Acrotaphus comprises parasitoid wasps that attack spiders. A. fuscipennis is one of approximately 8 species in the genus recorded from North America. Like other members of Acrotaphus, this species is presumed to be an ectoparasitoid of orb-weaving spiders (Araneidae), though specific host records for A. fuscipennis itself appear to be lacking in published literature.
Acrotaphus wiltii
Acrotaphus wiltii is an ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is a specialist parasite of spiders, particularly the orb-weaver Neoscona arabesca. The female wasp locates a host spider, briefly paralyzes it with a sting, and lays a single egg on the spider's body. The larva develops as an external parasite, feeding on the living spider.
Acrotomus
Acrotomus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Holmgren in 1857. The genus is recorded from Scandinavia, with confirmed presence in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As ichneumonids, members of this genus are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Agonocryptus
Agonocryptus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Cryptinae, established by Cushman in 1929. The genus occurs exclusively in the Neotropical region. A 2022 taxonomic revision significantly expanded known distributions, adding 115 new records across 16 species and increasing documented localities by nearly 70%. The genus exhibits notable morphological variation among species, with elevation preferences varying across taxa.
Agrothereutes
Agrothereutes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, containing over 40 described species. Members are solitary ectoparasitoids that attack concealed lepidopteran hosts, primarily targeting prepupal and pupal stages. Several species have been studied for their host relationships and reproductive biology, including A. lanceolatus and A. minousubae. The genus exhibits facultative diapause and variable voltinism, with some populations producing one or two generations annually.
Agrothereutes abbreviatus
Agrothereutes abbreviatus is a parasitic wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, characterized by sexual dimorphism in wing development. Females are brachypterous with wings reduced to the postscutellum or first abdominal tergite, while males have fully developed wings. The species is active in spring and searches for hosts on the ground and in leaf litter.
Agrypon
Agrypon is a genus of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps described by Arnold Förster in 1860. Species within this genus are solitary larval-pupal endoparasitoids that develop within caterpillars of various lepidopteran hosts. At least one species, A. flaveolatum, has been introduced as a biological control agent for pest management.
Agrypon flaveolatum
Agrypon flaveolatum is a parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1807. Native to Europe and Asia, it was introduced to eastern and western Canada in the mid-20th century as a biological control agent against the invasive winter moth (Operophtera brumata). The species has established populations in Nova Scotia and British Columbia, where it parasitizes winter moth larvae on apple and oak trees. It has been distinguished from closely related native North American species through morphological characters and morphometric analysis of antennal flagellomere annuli.
Allophroides
Allophroides is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Horstmann in 1971. The genus contains approximately 12 described species, with Allophroides boops designated as the type species. Most species have been described relatively recently, with several added by Horstmann in 2013. Members of this genus are koinobiont parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Ambloplisus ornatus
Ambloplisus ornatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1868. It is a parasitoid wasp belonging to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the most species-rich groups of parasitic wasps. The genus Ambloplisus is part of the diverse ichneumonid fauna of North America.
Anomalon ejuncidum
Anomalon ejuncidum is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Anomalon. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1835 and is currently recognized as valid. Members of the genus Anomalon are generally parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations for A. ejuncidum remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded from Brazil.
Anomalon reticulatum
Anomalon reticulatum is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1865. It belongs to the genus Anomalon, a group of parasitoid wasps. The species is documented through limited observations, with occurrence records indicating a sparse but established presence. As with other members of Ichneumonidae, it is presumed to function as a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented in available sources.
Anomalonini
Anomalonini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Anomaloninae. The tribe is dominated by the large genus *Anomalon*, with *Neogreeneia* sometimes recognized as a second genus. Members are koinobiont endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. The tribe contains approximately 5,600+ documented observations, indicating moderate research attention.
Aoplus
Aoplus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Tischbein in 1874. The genus contains species distributed across Europe and North America, with confirmed records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. As ichneumonids, members of this genus are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain largely undocumented in the provided sources.
Aoplus thujarum
Aoplus thujarum is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Heinrich in 1961. It belongs to the large parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae. The species name "thujarum" suggests an association with Thuja (arborvitae or cedar) trees, likely indicating host plant or habitat specificity. Very few observations of this species have been documented, with only one record in iNaturalist.
Apechthis ontario
Apechthis ontario is a species of ichneumonid wasp first described by Cresson in 1870. The species belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps. Distribution records indicate presence in western Canada, with specimens documented from Alberta and Manitoba. Like other members of its family, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships remain undocumented in the available literature.
Aphanistes
Aphanistes is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Förster in 1869. These parasitoid wasps are poorly documented in public literature, with most records coming from taxonomic databases rather than ecological studies. The genus is currently accepted but lacks comprehensive species-level documentation.
Aphanistes rheumapterae
Aphanistes rheumapterae is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Dasch in 1984. The specific epithet "rheumapterae" indicates a parasitoid association with moths in the genus Rheumaptera (Geometridae). Like other members of the genus Aphanistes, it is presumed to be a koinobiont endoparasitoid, though direct biological studies are limited. The species is rarely recorded, with minimal observational data available.
Aplomerus
A small genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Xoridinae (Ichneumonidae). The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution across North America, Japan, and southeast Asia. Eight species are currently recognized, including two described from the Oriental region (Thailand and Vietnam) and one from Japan. Aplomerus is considered a basal lineage within Xoridinae.
Apsilops
Apsilops is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Cryptinae, containing approximately nine described species. Members are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented associations including aquatic crambid moths and rice pests. The genus includes both aquatic and terrestrial species, reflecting diverse habitat specializations among its members.
Aptesini
Aptesini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, comprising 24 described genera. These are parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details for the tribe as a whole remain poorly documented in published literature. The tribe is part of the diverse and speciose subfamily Ichneumoninae.
Aptesis
Aptesis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Arnold Förster in 1850. The genus contains approximately 74 described species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species within this genus are primarily ectoparasitoids of sawfly prepupae and cocoons, with some species serving as important biological control agents. Well-studied species include Aptesis nigrocincta, a bivoltine ectoparasitoid of apple sawfly cocoons, and Aptesis basizona, a parasitoid of pine sawflies used in classical biological control programs.
Arotes
Arotes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. Species are distributed across Europe and the Americas. At least one species, Arotes decorus, has been documented as a parasitoid of the longhorn beetle Yakuhananomia bidentata. The genus comprises five described species.
Arotes decorus
Arotes decorus is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is known to be a parasitoid of two cerambycid beetle species: Xylotrechus colonus and Yakuhananomia bidentata. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1835 and is part of the diverse and species-rich Ichneumonidae family, which contains thousands of parasitoid wasp species.
Asthenolabus
Asthenolabus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Heinrich in 1951. The genus belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp family, whose members are characterized by their role as parasitoids of other insects. Records indicate presence in Scandinavia, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Asthenolabus canadensis
Asthenolabus canadensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1877. The genus Asthenolabus is poorly documented in the literature, with minimal published information on its biology, host associations, or distribution. The species epithet 'canadensis' suggests a North American distribution. Available records are sparse, with limited observational data from Canada.
Atractodes
Atractodes is a cosmopolitan genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus has been historically classified in different subfamilies, with some species groups placed in Phygadeuontinae and others in Cryptinae. Multiple species groups have been defined to accommodate morphologically similar species, particularly in the Neotropical region where recent taxonomic revisions have described numerous new species. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in the Americas, with records from North America, Central America, and South America, as well as Europe.
Banchinae
Banchinae is a large subfamily of Ichneumonidae containing approximately 1,500–1,800 described species distributed worldwide. The subfamily comprises three tribes: Banchini, Glyptini, and Atrophini. All banchines are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae. Glyptini primarily parasitize Tortricidae, while Atrophini attack a broader range of small moth families. The genus Lissonota is notable for possessing exceptionally long ovipositors capable of reaching deep wood-boring Lepidoptera such as Cossidae. Banchinae and Campopleginae are the only Ichneumonidae subfamilies known to harbor polydnaviruses, which play a role in host immune suppression.
Banchus
Banchus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Fabricius in 1798. Species occur in Europe, North America, and Asia. The genus comprises at least eight described species, with Banchus flavescens being the most abundant hymenopteran parasitoid of the bertha armyworm in western Canada. Members are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, particularly Noctuidae.
Banchus pallescens
Banchus pallescens is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Provancher in 1874. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps, whose members are primarily parasitoids of other insects. The species has been recorded from locations in Canada including Edmonton and Wallwort.
Barichneumon
Barichneumon is a genus of ichneumonid wasps established by Thomson in 1893. At least one species, Barichneumon bilunulatus, has been documented as a parasitoid of the pine beauty moth (Panolis flammea), a pest of pine forests. The genus is recorded from Scandinavia and Denmark.
Barichneumon sorex
Barichneumon sorex is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Heinrich in 1961. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps, whose members are predominantly parasitoids of other insects. The genus Barichneumon is part of this diverse group of parasitic wasps. Very little specific information has been published about this particular species.
Baryceratina
Baryceratina is a subtribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. Members belong to the tribe Ichneumonini and subfamily Ichneumoninae. The group comprises genera characterized by specific morphological features in the antennae and areole of the forewing. These wasps are koinobiont endoparasitoids, developing within living hosts.
Baryceros audax
Baryceros audax is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1878. It belongs to a diverse group of parasitoid wasps characterized by their slender bodies and long antennae. As with most ichneumonids, this species is likely parasitoid, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus Baryceros contains relatively obscure species with limited published biological information.
Baryceros fortis
Baryceros fortis is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1878. It belongs to the genus Baryceros, a group of parasitoid wasps. The species is part of the diverse Ichneumonoidea superfamily, which contains some of the most species-rich lineages within Hymenoptera. As with most ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species remain poorly documented.
Baryceros texanus
Baryceros texanus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Ashmead in 1890. As a member of the parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, this species likely functions as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships have not been documented in the provided sources. The species is known from Texas and surrounding regions, with 244 observations recorded on iNaturalist.
Bathyplectes
Bathyplectes is a genus of ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Campopleginae) comprising larval parasitoids of weevil pests, particularly the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica). The genus includes multiple Palaearctic species, with B. curculionis and B. anura being the most studied for biological control of alfalfa weevil in agricultural systems. These parasitoids have been introduced to North America as part of classical biological control programs. A distinctive behavioral trait occurs in B. anura, whose cocooned larvae jump up to 5 cm to locate favorable microhabitats.
Bathyplectes curculionis
Bathyplectes curculionis is a parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae that attacks larvae of the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica), a major pest of alfalfa crops. It has been introduced and established in various regions as a biological control agent. Field studies indicate that its populations are influenced by sugar availability, including aphid honeydew and floral nectar. In some regions, it has been displaced by the congener Bathyplectes anurus, which exhibits superior reproductive capacity, more rapid host handling, and avoidance of host encapsulation.
Bathyplectes infernalis
Bathyplectes infernalis is a parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is a biological control agent of the alfalfa weevil (Hypera postica), a major agricultural pest in western North America. The species has been introduced and released in the United States as part of classical biological control programs. It is one of several Bathyplectes species used to manage weevil populations in alfalfa fields.
Bathytrichina
Bathytrichina is a subtribe of ichneumon wasps within the tribe Tryphonini. It comprises small to medium-sized parasitoid wasps that attack sawfly larvae. The group is relatively small and poorly studied, with limited published information on its biology and species composition.
Boethus
Boethus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. Species in this genus are known to attack sawfly hosts, with Boethus thoracicus documented as a parasitoid of Arge rosae (rose sawfly). The genus belongs to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the largest groups of parasitoid wasps.
Calliephialtes ferrugineus
Calliephialtes ferrugineus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1940. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are known to attack concealed hosts, particularly moth larvae. The specific epithet 'ferrugineus' refers to a rusty or reddish-brown coloration. Very few documented observations of this species exist, with only two records in iNaturalist as of the knowledge cutoff.
Calliephialtes notandus
Calliephialtes notandus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Very little is documented about this species. It belongs to a genus whose members are primarily parasitoids of concealed lepidopteran larvae, though some species have been recorded from other hosts. The species is known from only two iNaturalist observations, indicating it is either rare, poorly collected, or understudied.
Casinaria
Casinaria is a genus of koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Holmgren in 1859. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution with over 150 described species. Members are primarily parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with some species documented attacking specific host moths including geometrids and noctuids. Several species have been reared from forest pest species, suggesting potential value in biological control programs.
Catadelphops
Catadelphops is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Heinrich in 1962. It belongs to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the largest groups of parasitoid wasps. The genus is poorly documented in published literature, with minimal available information on its biology and species diversity. Records indicate it has been rarely observed, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.
Ceratogastra
Ceratogastra is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The best-known species, Ceratogastra ornata, is a small wasp measuring 10–12 millimeters in body length, recognized by its ornate yellow and reddish-brown or black color pattern. Four subspecies of C. ornata are recognized, showing geographic variation in coloration from darker northern forms to paler western and southern populations. Members of this genus are flower visitors and parasitoids of moth larvae.
Chorinaeus aequalis
Chorinaeus aequalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Townes & Townes in 1959. It belongs to the genus Chorinaeus, which is part of the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. The species is known from at least one occurrence record in Edmonton, Canada, as documented in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Like other ichneumonid wasps, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships have not been documented.