Ichneumonidae
Guides
Cidaphus australis
Cidaphus australis is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cushman in 1924 during his taxonomic review of North American Cidaphus. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, a diverse group of parasitoid wasps. The species was distinguished from congeners C. paniscoides and C. occidentalis based on diagnostic morphological characters. As with most ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The species is known from very few records, with only two observations documented in iNaturalist.
Clistopyga
Clistopyga is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Pimplinae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus contains approximately 50 described species, with the majority distributed in the Neotropical region. Species are characterized by specialized adaptations for parasitizing spiders, including modified ovipositors used for clinging to hosts and felting spider silk to seal nest openings. Several species groups have been established within the genus based on morphological and distributional patterns.
Clistopyga atrata
Clistopyga atrata is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1921. The genus Clistopyga belongs to a diverse group of parasitoid wasps whose biology remains poorly documented. Like other ichneumonids, this species likely functions as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records are not well established. The species is distinguished by its dark coloration, as suggested by the specific epithet 'atrata' meaning black.
Clistopyga recurva
Clistopyga recurva is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1835. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are known for their distinctive curved or recurved morphological features, as suggested by the specific epithet "recurva." The species is part of the diverse North American ichneumonid fauna, though detailed biological information remains limited in published literature.
Clivinematini
Clivinematini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps within the subfamily Tryphoninae. Members of this tribe are parasitoid wasps that target sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta) as hosts. The tribe is characterized by specific morphological features of the ovipositor and associated structures that distinguish it from related tryphonine tribes. Clivinematini represents a relatively small and specialized lineage within the diverse Ichneumonidae.
Coelichneumon azotus
Coelichneumon azotus is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Cresson in 1864. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, which comprises parasitoid wasps that develop by feeding on other arthropods, usually insects or spiders. The genus Coelichneumon is part of the subfamily Ichneumoninae, a diverse group whose members are often characterized by their slender bodies and elongated ovipositors. As with most ichneumonids, the species is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host records for C. azotus remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded across multiple observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is encountered with some regularity by naturalists in North America.
Coelichneumon orpheus
Coelichneumon orpheus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. It belongs to a large family of parasitoid wasps that are ecologically important as natural enemies of other insects. The genus Coelichneumon is part of the diverse ichneumonid fauna of North America.
Coelichneumon viola
Coelichneumon viola is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Cresson in 1864. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, a group of parasitoid wasps characterized by slender bodies and long antennae. The genus Coelichneumon is part of the diverse ichneumonid radiation, with species distributed across North America. Specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Coelichneumon vitalis
Coelichneumon vitalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was described by Cresson in 1877. As a member of this large parasitoid wasp family, it is presumed to parasitize other insects, though specific host records are limited. The genus Coelichneumon contains multiple species primarily distributed in North America.
Coleocentrus flavipes
Coleocentrus flavipes is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Provancher in 1874. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps. The specific epithet "flavipes" (meaning "yellow-footed") likely refers to yellow coloration on the legs. As with other ichneumonid wasps, this species is presumed to be parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources.
Collyria
Collyria is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Collyriinae. Species within this genus are specialized parasitoids of stem sawflies (Cephidae), particularly those infesting cereal crops such as wheat. The genus includes species that have been investigated and employed as biological control agents against wheat stem sawfly pests in North America and Europe. Members exhibit phenological synchrony with their hosts, with adults typically emerging earlier than host sawflies, and demonstrate complex host discrimination behaviors including variable superparasitism rates.
Collyriinae
Collyriinae is a subfamily of ichneumonid wasps (Ichneumonidae, Hymenoptera) known primarily as parasitoids of stem-sawflies (Cephidae). The subfamily includes genera such as Collyria and Bicurta. Species within this group have been documented as parasitoids of economically important stem-boring sawflies, with potential applications in biological control. Host records indicate specialization on Cephidae, though detailed biological information remains limited for many taxa.
Compsocryptus calipterus
A small ichneumonid wasp with a scattered distribution across eastern and southwestern North America. Forewing length ranges from 5 mm in males to 5.7–7.4 mm in females. The species is recognized by reddish front legs in combination with dark-banded wings. Three subspecies have been described based on slight color and pattern differences.
Compsocryptus texensis
Compsocryptus texensis is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Townes in 1962. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, a group of parasitoid wasps characterized by their slender bodies and long antennae. The species name suggests a connection to Texas, likely reflecting its type locality or primary distribution. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources.
Conocalama brullei
Conocalama brullei is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cresson in 1877. It belongs to the genus Conocalama within the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The species is known from a small number of observations, with only six records documented on iNaturalist. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented.
Conocalama canadensis
Conocalama canadensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Provancher in 1877. The genus Conocalama is part of the large and diverse ichneumonid wasp fauna, which are primarily parasitoids of other insects. Very little specific biological information is available for this particular species.
Cratichneumon duplicatus
Cratichneumon duplicatus is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Thomas Say in 1835. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, which comprises parasitoid wasps that typically attack other insects. The species is known from limited observational records, with only two documented observations on iNaturalist. As with most ichneumonids, specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in accessible literature.
Cratichneumon elongatus
Cratichneumon elongatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus Cratichneumon is part of a diverse group of parasitoid wasps. Very limited information is available for this specific species, with only two observations recorded on iNaturalist. Members of this genus are typically parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae.
Cratichneumon fossorius
Cratichneumon fossorius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented. The species has been recorded from very few observations, suggesting it is either genuinely rare or undercollected. Like other ichneumonids, females likely possess an ovipositor for laying eggs in or on host organisms.
Cratichneumon tyloidifer
Cratichneumon tyloidifer is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Heinrich in 1961. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The species is known from very few records, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. As a member of the genus Cratichneumon, it likely exhibits the characteristic features of this group, including the presence of tyloids on the antennae—a trait referenced in the species epithet.
Cratichneumon vinnulus
Cratichneumon vinnulus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1864. It belongs to a large genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are primarily known for attacking Lepidoptera larvae. Like other members of Cratichneumon, this species likely functions as a koinobiont parasitoid, allowing its host to continue developing after oviposition. The species has been documented in North America, though specific ecological details remain poorly recorded.
Cratichneumon w-album
Cratichneumon w-album is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1864. The species name refers to the distinctive white 'W'-shaped marking on the forewings. It is a moderately-sized parasitoid wasp with documented observations across eastern North America.
Cremastinae
Cremastinae is a worldwide subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae. Members are koinobiont endoparasitoids, primarily attacking concealed larvae of Lepidoptera. Several genera, including Pristomerus, have been used in biological control programs. The subfamily exhibits high diversity in tropical regions, with numerous undescribed species.
Cremastus
Cremastus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Cremastinae. The genus was established by Gravenhorst in 1829 and contains multiple described species. Members are parasitoid wasps, with females possessing an ovipositor for host parasitization. Several species have been described from western North America by Dasch, including C. amoenus, C. aridus, C. atratus, C. planus, C. prolatus, and C. stenotus.
Cryptanura
Cryptanura is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Cryptinae, containing at least 38 species in North America. These wasps are parasitoids of other insects, with documented hosts including longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae). The genus includes species that serve as models for Batesian mimicry by phytophagous bugs. At least 30 species occur in Mexico, with the genus distributed from North America through Central America to South America.
Cryptanura septentrionalis
Cryptanura septentrionalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cushman in 1945. The genus Cryptanura belongs to the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which contains thousands of parasitoid wasp species. As with most ichneumonids, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources. The species epithet "septentrionalis" (Latin for "northern") may indicate a northern distribution relative to congeners, though this has not been verified.
Cryptopimpla amblipennis
Cryptopimpla amblipennis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Cryptinae. Members of the genus Cryptopimpla are parasitoid wasps, and this species is presumed to share this biology, though specific host associations for C. amblipennis remain undocumented. The species was described in the early 20th century based on morphological characteristics. It represents one of many poorly studied species within a large and taxonomically complex family.
Cryptopimpla quadrilineata
Cryptopimpla quadrilineata is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus Cryptopimpla belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of organisms with over 25,000 described species. Like other ichneumonids, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The species has been recorded from multiple locations in Canada.
Cryptopimpla quadrilineata jocosa
A subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Cryptopimpla, originally described by Cresson in 1870. As a member of the Ichneumonidae, it is a parasitoid wasp. The subspecies name "jocosa" suggests a Latin origin meaning "playful" or "merry," though the etymological basis for this naming is not documented in available sources.
Ctenichneumon columbianus
Ctenichneumon columbianus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1961. The genus Ctenichneumon belongs to the subfamily Ichneumoninae, a diverse group of parasitoid wasps. Species in this genus are characterized by distinctive comb-like structures on the hind tibiae. Like other ichneumonids, C. columbianus is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented.
Ctenichneumon minor
Ctenichneumon minor is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1961. The genus Ctenichneumon belongs to the large and diverse group of parasitoid wasps commonly known as ichneumon wasps. Very few specific details are documented for this particular species.
Cyclolabus gracilicornis
Cyclolabus gracilicornis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Provancher in 1886. The genus Cyclolabus belongs to the large and diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the most species-rich families of Hymenoptera. Like other ichneumonids, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species appear to be undocumented in available sources.
Delomeristini
Delomeristini is a tribe of ichneumonid wasps within the subfamily Pimplinae. The tribe comprises approximately ten species in Europe, including genera such as Atractogaster, Delomerista, and Perithous. These wasps are parasitoids, with females using their elongated ovipositors to access hosts concealed in wood or other substrates.
Diacritus
Diacritus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus was established by Förster in 1869 and contains species distributed across northern Europe. As with other ichneumonid genera, members are parasitoids, though specific host associations for most species remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and has received limited taxonomic study.
Diadegma
Diadegma is a genus of ichneumonid wasps established by Förster in 1869. Species in this genus are koinobiont parasitoids, primarily attacking lepidopteran larvae. Several species, notably D. insulare and D. semiclausum, have been extensively studied and deployed as biological control agents against agricultural pests, particularly the diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). The genus contains over 200 described species with cosmopolitan distribution.
Diadromus
pupal parasitoid wasps
Diadromus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps comprising over two dozen species distributed across Europe and North America. Species in this genus are endoparasitoids, primarily attacking lepidopteran hosts at the pupal stage. Several species, notably D. pulchellus and D. collaris, have been extensively studied for their biological control potential against agricultural pests including leek moth and diamondback moth. The genus exhibits complex host-finding behaviors mediated by volatile chemical cues and shows variable relationships with symbiotic viruses.
Diaglyptidea
Diaglyptidea is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Viereck in 1913. The genus is known from a small number of observations and specimens, with records primarily from northern Europe. As a member of Ichneumonidae, species in this genus are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is not well-studied, and its species-level taxonomy and biology require further investigation.
Dicaelotus
Dicaelotus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Wesmael in 1845. Species within this genus are distributed across Europe, Africa, and North America. The genus is part of the diverse ichneumonid wasp radiation, which are predominantly parasitoids of other insects.
Dicaelotus gelechiae
Dicaelotus gelechiae is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Ashmead in 1890. The specific epithet "gelechiae" suggests a historical association with gelechiid moths (family Gelechiidae), a common host group for ichneumonid parasitoids. The genus Dicaelotus is part of the diverse Ichneumonidae family, one of the largest families of wasps with predominantly parasitoid lifestyles. This species is represented by minimal occurrence data in public repositories.
Dichrogaster crassa
Dichrogaster crassa is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Provancher in 1882. The species belongs to the genus Dichrogaster, a group of parasitoid wasps within the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea. Available records indicate occurrence in parts of Canada and Denmark, though detailed biological information remains limited in published sources.
Diphyus apiculatus
Diphyus apiculatus is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Walkley in 1958. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The species has been recorded from multiple localities in Alberta, Canada. As a member of Diphyus, it likely functions as a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species remain limited.
Diplazon deletus
Diplazon deletus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Thomson in 1890. It is placed in the genus Diplazon, a group of hoverfly parasitoids within the subfamily Diplazontinae. The species is known from limited records in Canada and northern Europe.
Diplazon pectoratorius
Diplazon pectoratorius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It belongs to the genus Diplazon, a group of parasitoid wasps that target hoverfly (Syrphidae) larvae. The species has been recorded in northern Europe and northeastern North America. As with other Diplazon species, it likely functions as a specialist parasitoid of aphidophagous hoverfly larvae.
Dirophanes
Dirophanes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus was established by Förster in 1869. Two species are recognized: Dirophanes anoukae and Dirophanes benjamini, both described by Hower in 2006. The genus has been recorded in Europe and North America.
Dolichomitus
ichneumon wasps
Dolichomitus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps containing at least 70 described species. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'long thread,' referring to the elongated ovipositor characteristic of these parasitoids. Species in this genus are parasitoids of wood-boring insect larvae, using their long ovipositors to reach hosts deep within tree trunks and branches. Some species exhibit striking aposematic coloration, including metallic blue and yellow patterns that may deter avian predators.
Dolichomitus pygmaeus
A small parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The species is known from limited records in California. As a member of the genus Dolichomitus, it likely possesses an elongated ovipositor adapted for reaching wood-boring insect larvae deep within tree trunks, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Dusona
Dusona is a large genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Campopleginae, with 442 described species. It is the most species-rich genus in its subfamily and has a cosmopolitan distribution. Members are morphologically distinctive within Campopleginae and primarily parasitize Lepidopteran larvae.
Ectopimorpha
Ectopimorpha is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Viereck in 1912. As members of Ichneumonidae, these wasps are presumed to be koinobiont or idiobiont parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered in collections and has received limited taxonomic study.
Ectopimorpha wilsoni
Ectopimorpha wilsoni is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was described by Cresson in 1864. The species is part of a genus of parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in published literature.
Endaseina
Endaseina is a subtribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. Members of this group are part of the diverse and species-rich ichneumonid lineage, which comprises one of the largest families of Hymenoptera. The subtribe is classified within the tribe Endaseini. Specific morphological and biological characteristics distinguishing this subtribe from related groups remain poorly documented in accessible literature.