Ichneumonidae
Guides
Neotypus nobilitator
Neotypus nobilitator is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose members are primarily associated with spider hosts. The species has been recorded across northern Europe and North America. Like other ichneumonids, it likely develops as a koinobiont endoparasitoid, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Neoxorides pilusus
Neoxorides pilusus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Poemeniinae. Species in this genus were historically classified under Xorides and Neoxorides before taxonomic revision. Members of Poemeniinae are ectoparasitoids of wood-boring beetle larvae. The genus Neoxorides contains species that target beetle hosts in forested habitats.
Nothocremastus
Nothocremastus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Dasch in 1979. The genus is represented by the species Nothocremastus intermedius, described from California. Like other ichneumonids, members are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain undocumented in available sources.
Notopygus virginiensis
Notopygus virginiensis is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cushman in 1915. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The genus Notopygus is part of the diverse ichneumonoid complex, with species typically characterized by specialized parasitoid life histories targeting other insects. Very little specific biological information has been published for this particular species.
Olesicampe benefactor
Olesicampe benefactor is a European ichneumonid wasp introduced to eastern North America as a biological control agent for the larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii), a forest pest. Small numbers (147–388 individuals) were released in Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in 1967. The species successfully established at multiple sites, surviving two to three winters at several locations. It disperses slowly, which may limit its effectiveness over large areas without multiple release points.
Ophion
nocturnal ichneumon wasps
Ophion is a genus of nocturnal ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Ophioninae. Members are typically orange to yellow in coloration and are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. The genus exhibits exceptionally high morphological similarity among species, making identification difficult without molecular or detailed morphometric analysis. Most species are attracted to artificial lights at night. The genus has a worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in temperate regions.
Ophionellus texanus
Ophionellus texanus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1872. It belongs to a genus of parasitoid wasps whose biology remains poorly documented. The species epithet "texanus" indicates a type locality or association with Texas. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host relationships have not been established for this species.
Oresbius
Oresbius is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Marshall in 1867. Species are distributed across Europe and North America. The genus is poorly studied, with limited published information on species biology and ecology.
Oresbius fulvibasis
Oresbius fulvibasis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Townes in 1962. It belongs to the genus Oresbius, a group of parasitoid wasps whose biology remains poorly documented. The species epithet 'fulvibasis' refers to a tawny or yellowish coloration at the base of some body part, likely the abdomen or legs. Like other members of Ichneumonidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not established.
Orgichneumon
Orgichneumon is a genus of ichneumon wasps established by Heinrich in 1961. Members belong to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The genus is poorly documented in published literature, with limited species-level descriptions and biological data available. Records indicate presence in northern North America.
Orthizema
Orthizema is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. First described by Förster in 1869, it belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp lineage within Hymenoptera. The genus is documented from limited records in northern Europe.
Orthocentrinae
Orthocentrinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae. The group is among the least-studied ichneumonid subfamilies despite representing a major component of tropical faunas. At least 29 genera are recognized, with substantial undescribed diversity in the Neotropics. Recent surveys in Brazil and Mexico have revealed species richness far exceeding previous estimates.
Oxyrrhexis carbonator texana
Oxyrrhexis carbonator texana is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Oxyrrhexis. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The subspecies was described by Cresson in 1870. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host associations for this subspecies have not been documented in the provided sources. The nominate subspecies Oxyrrhexis carbonator carbonator occurs in Europe, while O. c. texana is the North American form.
Pachysomoides stupidus
Pachysomoides stupidus is a gregarious ichneumon wasp that parasitizes paper wasps (Polistes spp.). Females lay multiple eggs on pre-pupal Polistes grubs, and larvae feed gregariously as external parasites on the pupa. The species exhibits larval competition among siblings for host resources, with males showing more altruistic behavior than females in resource allocation. Brood sex ratios are biased toward females, with investment ratios equalized by egg-layers.
Parania
Parania is a genus of ichneumonid wasps described by Morley in 1913. Species in this genus function as parasitoids of moth larvae. Parania geniculata has been documented as a parasitoid of Homadaula anisocentra, a plutellid moth that defoliates Albizia trees. The genus has limited observation records and appears to be rarely collected.
Patrocloides montanus
Patrocloides montanus is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cresson in 1864. The genus Patrocloides belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps. Records indicate this species occurs in Canada, with documented localities in Alberta including Edmonton, Red Deer, and Waterton, as well as additional sites in southern and central regions of the country.
Perithous scurra pleuralis
Perithous scurra pleuralis is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. As a member of the genus Perithous, it is a parasitoid wasp known to target the nests of solitary wasps, particularly those of aphid-hunting Pemphredon wasps. The species was described by Cresson in 1868.
Phaeogenini
Phaeogenini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps within the subfamily Ichneumoninae, family Ichneumonidae. The tribe comprises at least 34 genera distributed across the Nearctic, Neotropical, and Palearctic regions. Taxonomic revisions have been published for multiple genera including Saltagenes, Heterischnus, Jethsura, and Lusius, indicating substantial undescribed diversity remains, particularly in Central and South America.
Phobocampe
Phobocampe is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Campopleginae. Species are solitary endoparasitic koinobiont parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. P. confusa is a specialist on Nymphalini butterflies in Europe, particularly Aglais species, and represents a significant mortality factor for these host populations. P. tempestiva parasitizes the winter moth Operophtera brumata in northern Scotland.
Phobocampe geometrae
Phobocampe geometrae is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The species was described by Ashmead in 1898. Like other members of the genus Phobocampe, it is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented. The specific epithet "geometrae" suggests a possible association with geometrid moths, a pattern seen in related species, but this has not been confirmed.
Phygadeuon
Phygadeuon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Species in this genus are primarily parasitoids of dipteran hosts, with documented associations including root maggot flies (Anthomyiidae) in agricultural systems. The genus has been recorded from Europe and North America, with some species occasionally utilized in biological control contexts.
Phygadeuontinae
Darwin wasps
Phygadeuontinae is a subfamily of Darwin wasps within Ichneumonidae, comprising numerous genera including Atractodes, Chirotica, Gelis, Lochetica, and others. The subfamily exhibits cosmopolitan distribution with substantial diversity in the Neotropics, Europe, and Asia Minor. Members are primarily parasitoids with varied host associations including Lepidoptera (Psychidae), Coleoptera (Chrysomelidae), and other insects. The genus Gelis includes at least one documented endoparasitoid of insect eggs, representing an unusual life history strategy for ichneumonids.
Phytodietus solicitanae
Phytodietus solicitanae is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Loan in 1981. It belongs to the genus Phytodietus, a group of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. The species is known from a single locality in Manitoba, Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of lepidopteran larvae, though specific host records for this species have not been published.
Pimpla
black slip wasps
Pimpla is a large, cosmopolitan genus of ichneumonid wasps comprising approximately 200 species. Members are idiobiont endoparasitoids that develop within the pupae or prepupae of holometabolous insects, primarily Lepidoptera. The genus is characterized by sturdy black bodies with orange or reddish markings, and females possess a short, stout ovipositor used to deposit eggs into host pupae. Several species have documented importance in biological control and biomedical research.
Pimpla marginella
Pimpla marginella is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Brulle in 1846. As a member of the genus Pimpla, it is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented in available sources. The species has been recorded in observation databases, indicating it is encountered in the field, but published literature focusing specifically on P. marginella is scarce.
Pimpla maura
Pimpla maura is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cresson in 1870. It belongs to the genus Pimpla, a group of parasitoid wasps known for attacking caterpillars. Like other members of its genus, this species likely functions as a generalist parasitoid of lepidopteran larvae. The species has been documented in iNaturalist with 28 observations, though detailed biological studies appear limited in the accessible literature.
Pimpla pedalis
Pimpla pedalis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is a pupal parasitoid that targets the geometer moth Iridopsis ephyraria. The species has been recorded primarily from the Canadian prairies region, with observations concentrated in Alberta.
Pimpla sanguinipes
Pimpla sanguinipes is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is a parasitoid wasp, though specific host relationships and detailed biology remain poorly documented. The species was described by Cresson in 1872.
Pimpla sodalis longigenalis
Pimpla sodalis longigenalis is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Cushman in 1920. It belongs to the genus Pimpla, a group of parasitoid wasps known for attacking moth caterpillars. The subspecific epithet "longigenalis" suggests a distinguishing feature related to antennal or genal length. The taxon is currently accepted in the Catalogue of Life and GBIF databases, with distribution records from Norway and Sweden.
Pimplinae
Pimplinae is a worldwide subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae. Members are primarily parasitoids of Holometabola, especially Lepidoptera pupae, with some species attacking spider egg sacs and adults. The subfamily includes 72 genera organized into four tribes: Delomeristini, Ephialtini, Pimplini, and Theroniini. Species are generally sturdy black wasps with orange markings and possess a diagnostic box-like first tergite with the spiracle positioned anterior to the middle.
Plagiotrypes
Plagiotrypes is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Ashmead in 1900. The genus belongs to the subfamily Terebrantes within the superfamily Ichneumonoidea. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting either rarity, cryptic habits, or undercollection. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Plagiotrypes concinnus
Plagiotrypes concinnus is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Thomas Say in 1829. It belongs to a genus within the diverse family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps. The species has been recorded from the northeastern United States, specifically Vermont. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host relationships and detailed biology remain poorly documented.
Platylabops
Platylabops is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1950. The genus is poorly documented in published literature, with minimal biological information available. It is known from Scandinavia and Denmark. As a member of Ichneumonidae, species in this genus are presumed to be parasitoids, though specific host associations remain unrecorded.
Platylabops faciens
Platylabops faciens is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Ichneumoninae. The species was described by Townes in 1971. It belongs to a genus characterized by distinctive labial morphology. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain undocumented.
Platylabops pecki
Platylabops pecki is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Heinrich in 1961. The genus Platylabops belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. Very few records of this species exist in public databases. A single observation has been documented from White Fox, California.
Platylabus opaculus americanus
Platylabus opaculus americanus is a subspecies of ichneumonid wasp described by Heinrich in 1962. It belongs to the genus Platylabus within the family Ichneumonidae, a large group of parasitoid wasps. The subspecies epithet 'americanus' suggests a North American distribution, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, but its host relationships and ecology have not been specifically studied.
Podoschistus vittifrons
Podoschistus vittifrons is the sole North American representative of its genus, a member of the ichneumonid subfamily Poemeniinae. It is an ectoparasitoid wasp that targets wood-boring beetle larvae, using its elongated ovipositor to deposit eggs through solid wood. The species has undergone repeated taxonomic revision, previously assigned to the genera Xorides and Neoxorides. Despite its large size and distinctive appearance, it is rarely encountered in the field.
Poemenia
Poemenia is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Poemeniinae. The genus comprises ectoparasitoids that attack small xylophilous bees (Apoidea) nesting in tunnels or cavities. Larval morphology indicates an ectoparasitoid lifestyle, with the mature larva of Poemenia albipes being the first described for the genus.
Polyaulon
Polyaulon is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Förster in 1869. These parasitoid wasps belong to the diverse superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which contains some of the most species-rich groups of parasitoid insects. The genus has been documented from Scandinavian countries, with records from Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.
Polyaulon grandis
A species of ichneumonid wasp in the genus Polyaulon, first described by Cushman in 1921. As a member of the family Ichneumonidae, it is a parasitoid wasp, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature. The genus Polyaulon is classified within the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the most diverse groups of parasitoid wasps.
Polyblastus stenocentrus
Polyblastus stenocentrus is a small ichneumon wasp in the tribe Tryphonini. It is a koinobiont ectoparasitoid of sawfly larvae, with females carrying unusually large egg loads compared to related idiobiont wasps. The species has been documented in Colorado and Alberta, Canada. Observations suggest females may carry egg clusters externally on the abdomen, a behavior whose function remains incompletely understood.
Polyblastus tibialis
A species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae. Documented from western Canada with records from Alberta. Belongs to a genus of koinobiont ectoparasitoids that attack sawfly larvae. The specific epithet 'tibialis' likely refers to a characteristic of the tibia.
Polycyrtus neglectus
Polycyrtus neglectus is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Cushman in 1926. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, a group of parasitoid wasps characterized by their slender bodies and often long ovipositors. The genus Polycyrtus contains multiple species of small to medium-sized ichneumonids. Specific biological details for P. neglectus remain poorly documented in published literature.
Polytribax
Polytribax is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Cryptinae containing approximately 15 described species. Members are parasitoids of Lepidoptera pupae, with females adapted for ground-level foraging in leaf litter and soil. The genus exhibits strong sexual dimorphism, particularly pronounced in Polytribax perspicillator. Species are distributed across the Western Palaearctic with records extending to the Oriental and Nearctic realms.
Polytribax contiguus
Polytribax contiguus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The species was described by Cresson in 1864 and is currently accepted as valid. Like other members of the genus Polytribax, it is presumed to be a parasitoid wasp, though specific biological details remain poorly documented. The genus Polytribax is classified within the subfamily Ichneumoninae, one of the largest and most diverse subfamilies of ichneumonid wasps.
Pristomerus
Pristomerus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Cremastinae, distributed worldwide with greatest diversity in tropical regions. Members are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack concealed larvae of small Lepidoptera. Several species have been employed in biological control programs. The genus exhibits high regional endemism, with 49 species recognized from the Afrotropical region, 22 from Australia (19 newly described in 2016), and 15 from Madagascar (12 endemic).
Pristomerus baumhoferi
Pristomerus baumhoferi is a species of ichneumonid wasp described by Cushman in 1930. It belongs to the genus Pristomerus, a group of parasitoid wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. The species is known from limited collection records in California.
Pseudoplatylabus
Pseudoplatylabus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Smits van Burgst in 1920. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with minimal published information on its constituent species, biology, or ecology. It belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of insects. The genus has been recorded from northern Europe (Norway, Sweden) based on limited occurrence data.
Pseudoplatylabus townesi
Pseudoplatylabus townesi is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Heinrich in 1962. It belongs to the large family Ichneumonidae, a group of parasitoid wasps. The species is extremely poorly known, with only two documented observations on iNaturalist and minimal published biological information. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records are unavailable.
Pseudorhyssa
Pseudorhyssa is a genus of ichneumonid wasps containing cleptoparasitic species that exploit the drill shafts of primary parasitoids to access hosts. The best-studied species, Pseudorhyssa sternata, parasitizes Siricid woodwasps by locating and utilizing oviposition holes made by the primary parasitoid Rhyssa persuasoria. Females detect host-infested trees through stimuli in larval frass, likely associated with symbiotic fungus, and locate specific drill shafts using secretions from the vaginal gland of the primary parasitoid.