Ichneumonoidea
Guides
Acrisis
Acrisis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Förster in 1862. These insects belong to the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, one of the most diverse groups of parasitoid wasps. Very little is known about the biology of this genus, with only one observation documented on iNaturalist. The genus is recorded from Norway and Sweden.
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.
Boreogalba
Boreogalba is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by Mackauer in 1962. As a member of the Ichneumonoidea superfamily, species in this genus are presumed to be koinobiont or idiobiont parasitoids of other insects, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is characterized by morphological features typical of braconid wasps, including reduced wing venation and a compact body form. Taxonomic knowledge of Boreogalba is limited, with few species descriptions and minimal biological study.
Braconidae
braconid wasps, braconids
Braconidae is a family of parasitoid wasps, the second-largest family in Hymenoptera with approximately 17,000 described species and estimates of 30,000–50,000 total species. Members are primarily internal or external parasitoids of other insects, with larvae developing in or on hosts including caterpillars, beetle larvae, aphids, and other insects. Many species possess polydnaviruses—virus-like particles derived from ancient viral integration—that suppress host immune defenses. The family is divided into about 47 subfamilies, informally grouped into cyclostomes and noncyclostomes based on mouthpart morphology. Braconids are economically significant as biological control agents against agricultural and forestry pests.
Charmontinae
Charmontinae is a small subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Braconidae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea). The subfamily contains the genus Charmon, with 10 recognized species distributed primarily in the Palearctic and Oriental regions. The first Southeast Asian record was documented from Thailand in 2023 with the description of Charmon thailandensis. Species identification relies on morphological characters and DNA barcode data.
Helcostizus tibialis
Helcostizus tibialis is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Townes in 1962. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of wasps, whose members are primarily parasitoids of other insects. The genus Helcostizus is part of the ichneumonoid wasp radiation, and species in this group typically parasitize lepidopteran or coleopteran hosts. The specific epithet 'tibialis' refers to a characteristic of the tibia, a common naming convention in Hymenoptera taxonomy.
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.
Pseudognaptodon
Pseudognaptodon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, first described by Fischer in 1965. The genus belongs to the subfamily Microgastrinae, a diverse group of koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack Lepidoptera larvae. Very little is known about the biology of this genus, and no species-level identifications are commonly reported. The name suggests a relationship to the genus Gnaptodon, though the precise morphological distinction between these taxa requires examination of type specimens.
Triraphis harrisinae
Triraphis harrisinae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Ashmead in 1889. The genus Triraphis belongs to the diverse ichneumonoid wasp superfamily, members of which are predominantly parasitoids of other insects. This species is rarely encountered in collections and field observations, with only 8 observations recorded on iNaturalist as of the data cutoff.
Yelicones delicatus
Yelicones delicatus is a species of braconid wasp described by Cresson in 1872. It belongs to the genus Yelicones, a group of parasitoid wasps within the family Braconidae. The species has been documented in 160 iNaturalist observations, indicating it is not uncommon in suitable habitats. Like other members of Braconidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain undocumented in the available sources.
Yelicones pilops
Yelicones pilops is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Quicke and Kruft in 1995. It belongs to the genus Yelicones, a group of braconid wasps characterized by distinctive morphological features. Like other members of its family, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species are not well documented. The species is known from limited collection records.
Zelomorpha
Zelomorpha is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae (superfamily Ichneumonoidea). Members of this genus are part of the hyperdiverse ichneumonoid wasp fauna, with numerous species remaining undescribed. The genus was used as a case study to demonstrate a novel rapid species description protocol combining mitochondrial DNA sequences with lateral holotype images. Species in this genus are known from the Neotropical region, particularly Costa Rica.