Immune-evasion
Guides
Drino
Drino is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) comprising parasitoid species that attack lepidopteran and other arthropod hosts. Species are primarily endoparasitoids, with larvae developing within host haemocoels. Several species exhibit distinctive biological traits including ovolarviparity (larviparity), gregarious development, and sophisticated immune evasion mechanisms. The genus has been recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America, with individual species showing varying degrees of host specificity from generalist to specialist parasitoids.
Venturia canescens
Venturia canescens is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The species exhibits both sexual and asexual (parthenogenetic) populations, with the asexual strain being highly synovigenic—continuing egg maturation throughout adult life. Females inject virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from an integrated nudivirus into host larvae during oviposition; these VLPs suppress the host immune system and prevent encapsulation of the parasitoid egg. The species is a significant biological control agent of stored-product pests, particularly pyralid moth larvae.