Ichneumonidae
Guides
Hypsicera
Hypsicera is a genus of ichneumonid wasps established by Latreille in 1829. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution and comprises approximately 14 described species. As parasitoid wasps, members of this genus likely attack the larval or pupal stages of other insects, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented for most species.
Ichneumon
Ichneumon wasps
Ichneumon is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest and most diverse groups of parasitoid insects. Members of this genus exhibit typical ichneumonid morphology with elongated bodies, long antennae, and often prominent ovipositors. The genus name derives from Greek "ichneumon" meaning "tracker," reflecting their host-finding behavior. Like other ichneumonids, they are parasitoids of other insects, with larvae developing on or within host organisms.
Ichneumon chasmodops
Ichneumon chasmodops is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1961. The species belongs to the large genus Ichneumon, one of the most diverse genera within this wasp family. Very little is known about its biology, host associations, or ecological role. Records indicate it has been documented in Canada, specifically from Manitoba locations including Aweme and Dauphin Lake.
Ichneumon clasma
Ichneumon clasma is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Carlson in 1979. The genus Ichneumon is one of the largest genera within the family, containing numerous species that parasitize other insects. Like other ichneumon wasps, this species likely has a life history involving parasitism of host insects, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The species is recognized in taxonomic databases but appears to be rarely encountered or reported in field observations.
Ichneumon feriens
Ichneumon lacrymans
Ichneumon lacrymans is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Provancher in 1875. It belongs to the highly diverse genus Ichneumon, one of the largest genera within this wasp family. The species is known from very few observations, with only two records documented on iNaturalist. Like other ichneumon wasps, it is presumed to be parasitoid, though specific host relationships and biological details remain undocumented in available sources.
Ichneumon laetus
Ichneumon laetus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Brullé in 1846. The species has been recorded from several locations in Canada including Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Like other members of the genus Ichneumon, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific host relationships remain undocumented. The genus Ichneumon is one of the largest genera within Ichneumonidae, containing numerous species with varied ecological associations.
Ichneumonini
Ichneumonini is a large and diverse tribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, containing more than 350 genera and thousands of described species. Members are parasitoid wasps, with genera such as *Anisobas* documented across the Holarctic and Indo-Malaysian regions. The tribe is particularly well-represented in the Nearctic region, with multiple species known from western North America.
Ichneumonoidea
Ichneumonid and Braconid Wasps
Ichneumonoidea is a superfamily of Hymenoptera containing two extant families: Ichneumonidae and Braconidae, the two largest families within the order. The group encompasses an estimated 100,000 species, the vast majority undescribed. Members are solitary parasitoid wasps whose larvae develop on or inside host insects, eventually killing them. The superfamily is defined morphologically by fusion of the costal and radial veins of the fore wing and typically more than 11 antennal segments.
Idiogramma
Idiogramma is a genus of ichneumonid wasps and the sole extant genus in the tribe Idiogrammatini. The genus contains three described species: I. comstockii, I. elbakyanae, and I. euryops. It belongs to the subfamily Tryphoninae within the large parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Idiolispa
Idiolispa is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Förster in 1869. The genus belongs to the hyperdiverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families within Hymenoptera. Species in this genus are poorly documented in published literature, with limited biological and morphological data available. Records indicate presence in northern Europe.
Ischnus
Ischnus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus has an almost cosmopolitan distribution, with records from Europe including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Species-level biology is poorly documented; most available literature refers to the amphipod Echinogammarus ischnus, a taxonomically unrelated organism with a similar name. The genus contains at least three described species: Ischnus agitator, I. alpinicola, and I. coxalis.
Isdromas lycaenae
Isdromas lycaenae is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It was described by Howard in 1889. The species belongs to the genus Isdromas, which is characterized by distinctive morphological features including reduced wing venation. Like other members of its family, it is likely a parasitoid, though specific host records for this species are not well documented in available literature.
Iseropus
Iseropus is a genus of ichneumon wasps comprising approximately nine described species. Members are ectoparasitoids of lepidopteran hosts, with documented associations including pupal parasitism of noctuid moths and larval parasitism of pyralid moths. The genus exhibits a broad distribution across multiple continents, with species described from the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Some species have been studied for their venom-mediated manipulation of host lipid metabolism.
Itoplectis viduata
Itoplectis viduata is a parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Pimplinae. The species has been documented as a pseudohyperparasitoid, utilizing cocoons of the spider wasp Homonotus sanguinolentus (Pompilidae) as hosts. Rearing records from the National Museums of Scotland indicate a broader host range beyond this single association. The species occurs across parts of Europe and has been recorded in western Canada.
Labeninae
Labeninae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae, comprising 12 extant genera organized into four tribes: Labenini, Groteini, Poecilocryptini, and Xenothyrini. The group has a predominantly Southern Hemisphere distribution, with phylogenomic and biogeographic analyses supporting a Gondwanan origin approximately 146 million years ago. Members exhibit diverse host associations: Labenini parasitize wood-boring beetles (Buprestidae, Cerambycidae, Curculionidae), Groteini specialize on solitary bees, and Poecilocryptini may include phytophagous species based on larval morphology. The subfamily represents an ancient lineage with complex biogeographic history involving vicariance and range expansion events.
Lathrolestes
Lathrolestes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, tribe Perilissini, subfamily Ctenopelmatinae. The genus is best known from the species L. ensator, a biological control agent of the apple sawfly Hoplocampa testudinea in orchards.
Limerodops belangeri
Limerodops belangeri is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1877. The genus Limerodops belongs to the large and diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, which contains thousands of species that primarily parasitize other insects. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species.
Linycus
Linycus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cameron in 1903. These wasps are known to parasitize hosts in the moth family Geometridae. The genus contains at least four described species distributed across Europe, North America, and Japan.
Lissonota rubrica
Lissonota rubrica is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1870. The genus Lissonota belongs to the large and diverse family of parasitoid wasps, which are primarily known for their role in controlling populations of other insects through parasitism. The species name "rubrica" derives from Latin, referring to red or reddish coloration. Like other members of its genus, this species likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific host associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented.
Lissonota scutellaris
Lissonota scutellaris is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1870. The species is known from scattered records across western Canada, including Alberta and Manitoba. As with other members of the genus Lissonota, this species is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Listrognathus
Listrognathus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) first described by Tschek in 1871. The genus contains parasitoid species that attack other hymenopterans. Listrognathus mactator has been documented as a parasitoid of sawflies in the family Cimbicidae.
Loxodocus opacus
Loxodocus opacus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Townes in 1978. The genus Loxodocus is a small, poorly known group within the ichneumonid wasps. Very little biological or ecological information has been published for this species. Available records are sparse, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist. The species name "opacus" (Latin for "shaded" or "dark") likely refers to coloration characteristics.
Lycorina
Lycorina is the sole genus of the monotypic subfamily Lycorininae, a group of ichneumon wasps containing approximately 30 species. These wasps are koinobiont parasitoids of larval Lepidoptera that inhabit leaf rolls. The genus has a worldwide distribution with documented species in the Afrotropical, Palearctic, and Nearctic regions. Historically, Lycorininae was treated as part of the subfamily Banchinae in older taxonomic literature.
Lycorina glaucomata
Lycorina glaucomata is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cushman in 1920. It belongs to the genus Lycorina, a group of ichneumonid wasps characterized by their slender bodies and distinctive wing venation. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited biological and ecological data available.
Lymeon
Lymeon is a large genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Gelinae (tribe Cryptini), containing at least 80 described species with a predominantly Neotropical distribution. The genus is characterized by females that parasitize small cocoons of various insect groups and spider egg-sacs. A taxonomic review recognized 33 North American species, with 28 species recorded from Mexico alone. One documented host association involves a Lymeon species attacking egg-sacs of the orb-weaver spider Araneus vincibilis in Northeastern Brazil, where larvae consumed approximately 80% of spider eggs despite maternal guarding.
Lymeon cinctiventris
Lymeon cinctiventris is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cushman in 1929. The genus Lymeon comprises parasitoid wasps, and species in this genus are known to attack lepidopteran hosts. Like other ichneumonids, L. cinctiventris likely possesses a slender body with elongated antennae and an ovipositor for host parasitization. The species is recognized as valid and accepted in major taxonomic databases.
Lymeon orbus
Lymeon orbus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Thomas Say in 1835. It is known from the Eastern United States. As a member of the large and diverse ichneumonid family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific host associations and detailed biology remain poorly documented. The genus Lymeon contains multiple species, with L. orbus being among the earlier described members.
Lymeonina
Lymeonina is a subtribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Campopleginae. Members of this subtribe are characterized by their role as parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain incompletely documented. The subtribe was established based on morphological features of the ovipositor and wing venation. Lymeonina includes the genus Lymeon, which contains numerous described species distributed across multiple continents.
Lysibia
Lysibia is a genus of hyperparasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The best-studied species, Lysibia nana, is a solitary secondary idiobiont hyperparasitoid that attacks pre-pupae and pupae of gregarious braconid parasitoids in the genus Cotesia, particularly C. glomerata. These wasps are winged, synovigenic (emerging without mature eggs), and do not host-feed as adults. They locate hosts using chemical cues including kairomones from the primary parasitoid and herbivore-induced plant volatiles. The genus is part of the overwintering Apanteles-Tetrastichus-Lysibia complex associated with pierid butterfly hosts.
Mastrus
Mastrus is a genus of ichneumonid wasps (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) containing parasitoid species that attack lepidopteran hosts, particularly tortricid moths. The genus includes species of significant agricultural importance as biological control agents, notably M. ridens and M. ridibundus, which parasitize the codling moth (Cydia pomonella). Species in this genus are gregarious ectoparasitoids that attack host larvae during the cocooning/prepupal stage. Research has focused on their olfactory host-finding mechanisms, thermal biology, and integration into conservation biological control programs.
Medophron
Medophron is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Förster in 1869. It belongs to the subfamily Campopleginae, a diverse group of koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack concealed lepidopteran larvae. The genus is poorly studied, with limited species-level documentation and few verified records. Most available information derives from taxonomic catalogs rather than biological studies.
Megaplectes
Megaplectes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Förster in 1869. The genus is represented by at least one described species, Megaplectes monticola, and is known from Europe and North America. Members of this genus are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is relatively obscure with limited published biological information.
Megaplectes monticola
Megaplectes monticola is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. Originally described by Gravenhorst in 1829 as Ichneumon monticola, it was later transferred to the genus Megaplectes. The species epithet "monticola" refers to a mountain-dwelling habit. Like other ichneumon wasps, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded from Canada and parts of Europe including Denmark and Norway.
Megarhyssa
Giant Ichneumonid Wasps, Giant Ichneumons, Stump Stabbers
Megarhyssa is a genus of large ichneumonid wasps comprising 37 species distributed worldwide. Females possess extraordinarily elongated ovipositors—up to 14 cm in some species—that enable parasitism of wood-boring horntail larvae deep within tree trunks. The genus exhibits remarkable ecological specialization, with sympatric species partitioning host resources by ovipositor length, allowing coexistence through vertical stratification of host exploitation. These wasps are idiobiont ectoparasitoids, meaning they paralyze and consume their hosts without allowing further development.
Megarhyssa atrata
Black Giant Ichneumonid Wasp
Megarhyssa atrata is the largest known hymenopteran parasitoid, with females possessing an ovipositor that can exceed 130 mm—longer than any other arthropod genital apparatus. The species is primarily black with a yellow head and legs, and lacks the reddish-orange markings found in congeners. It parasitizes the larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within decaying hardwood, using remarkable wood-penetrating adaptations. Males aggregate at emergence sites and exhibit distinctive "tergal stroking" behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark.
Megarhyssa macrurus icterosticta
Megarhyssa macrurus icterosticta is a subspecies of giant ichneumon wasp, among the largest ichneumonids in North America. Males of this subspecies are smaller than those of the sympatric species M. atrata, with more brown than black body coloration and wings that are clear with a well-developed spot on the costal margin. Females possess extremely long ovipositors used to parasitize woodboring larvae of Tremex columba (pigeon horntail) in decaying hardwoods, particularly at shallower depths than those reached by larger congeners.
Megarhyssa macrurus macrurus
giant ichneumon wasp
Megarhyssa macrurus macrurus is a North American giant ichneumon wasp and among the largest members of family Ichneumonidae. Females possess extremely long, slender ovipositors used to parasitize woodboring larvae of the pigeon horntail (Tremex columba) deep within tree trunks. Males aggregate on host trees and exhibit distinctive tergal stroking behavior, rubbing their abdomen tips against bark. This subspecies co-occurs with the larger M. atrata, with which it shares host resources through spatial partitioning based on ovipositor length differences.
Melanichneumon disparilis
Melanichneumon disparilis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1867. The genus Melanichneumon is part of a large group of parasitoid wasps characterized by their role in controlling other insect populations. This species belongs to the subfamily Ichneumoninae, a diverse group within the family. Available records indicate limited observational data, with 15 observations documented on iNaturalist.
Meniscomorpha michiganensis
Meniscomorpha michiganensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Davis in 1894. The species is known from a limited number of observations and appears to be rarely collected. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented. The specific epithet refers to Michigan, suggesting the type locality or primary known range.
Meringopus relativus
Meringopus relativus is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Cresson in 1879. The species belongs to the genus Meringopus, a group of parasitoid wasps within the large family Ichneumonidae. Records indicate occurrence in southern Alberta, Canada.
Mesochorus
Mesochorus is a large genus of ichneumonid wasps containing approximately 690-900 described species worldwide. Members are obligate hyperparasitoids that attack the larvae of primary parasitoids, typically ichneumonid or braconid wasps, and occasionally tachinid flies. These primary parasitoids are themselves endoparasitoids of larval Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, placing Mesochorus at the fourth trophic level in complex food webs. The genus has been extensively studied in agricultural contexts due to its interactions with biological control agents.
Mesochorus discitergus
Mesochorus discitergus is a hyperparasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It parasitizes primary parasitoids—particularly braconid wasps such as Cotesia marginiventris—that are themselves developing inside lepidopteran caterpillars. This species has been studied for its behavioral interactions with host caterpillars, including the tactics it employs to overcome defensive behaviors and the evasive responses of different noctuid species. It has been recorded from both North and South America.
Mesochorus giberius
Mesochorus giberius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus Mesochorus comprises hyperparasitoids, meaning they parasitize other parasitoids rather than attacking host insects directly. Records indicate this species has been reared from caterpillars of the California Oak Moth (Phryganidia californica), suggesting it may function as a tertiary parasitoid in oak moth food webs. The species was described by Thunberg in 1822 and occurs in western North America.
Mesoleptidea
Mesoleptidea is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Viereck in 1912. The genus is poorly studied, with minimal published information on its biology and species composition. Records indicate presence in northern Europe, particularly Scandinavia and Denmark. As with other ichneumonid genera, members are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Messatoporus compressicornis
Messatoporus compressicornis is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cushman in 1929. It belongs to the genus Messatoporus, a group within the large family Ichneumonidae. The species name compressicornis refers to the compressed or flattened antennae characteristic of this taxon. As with most ichneumonid wasps, this species is presumed to be parasitoid, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The species has been recorded in entomological collections and has 35 observations on iNaturalist, indicating it is encountered with some regularity by field entomologists.
Messatoporus rufiventris
Messatoporus rufiventris Cushman, 1929 is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Cryptinae. It was originally described as a valid species but has been synonymized under Messatoporus discoidalis (Cresson) based on a 2013 revision of the genus. The genus Messatoporus is a large New World group containing 89 recognized species, characterized by distinctive morphological features including a long tapered mandible with reduced ventral tooth and a specialized ovipositor structure. No specific biological or ecological data has been documented for M. rufiventris itself.
Metopius
Metopius is a cosmopolitan genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Metopiinae (Ichneumonidae). Adults are large, conspicuous insects with bold black and yellow longitudinal striping, reaching over 2 cm in length. The genus is divided into subgenera including Metopius s.str. and Peltastes. Species are known to parasitize caterpillars of Lepidoptera, particularly those found in leaf rolls.
Mnioes lunatus
Mnioes lunatus is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Kennedy in 1966. It belongs to the large and diverse family Ichneumonidae, which comprises parasitoid wasps that attack other insects. Very little published information exists on the specific biology or host relationships of this species.
Neotheronia bicincta
Neotheronia bicincta is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Cresson in 1865. The genus Neotheronia belongs to the large and diverse ichneumonid wasp family, whose members are predominantly parasitoids of other insects. As with most ichneumonids, this species is likely a parasitoid, though specific host records and biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.