Kairomones
Guides
Billaea
Billaea is a genus of tachinid flies comprising approximately 80 described species. Most larvae are parasitoids of beetle larvae, particularly cerambycids and lucanids, with some species attacking lepidopteran hosts in the family Pyralidae. Several species have been investigated as biological control agents for agricultural and forestry pests, including palm weevils and sugarcane borers.
Tachinidaeparasitoidbiological-controlCerambycidaeDryophthoridaeCrambidaeviviparousplanidiaforest-pestagricultural-pestoil-palmsugarcanepalm-weevilwood-borersoutheast-AsiaSouth-AmericaEuropeBulgariaBrazilTurkeyMexicoPeruintegrated-pest-managementnatural-enemyhost-searchingkairomonessuperparasitismmass-rearingGalleria-mellonellalaboratory-hostfrassgallerytunnelpupal-parasitoidlarval-parasitoidectoparasitoidendoparasitoidColeopteraLepidopteraDipteraBrachyceraDexiinaeDexiiniRobineau-Desvoidy-183080-speciesglobal-distributionforestryagricultureornamental-palmsdate-palmcoconutRhynchophorusDiatraeaPrionusXylotrechusclimate-matchingestablishment-potentialMediterraneanMiddle-EastCaliforniainvasive-speciesred-palm-weevilAmerican-palm-weevilred-ring-diseasevector-controlnatural-mortalitypest-managementsustainable-agriculturehost-specificitytrophic-associationnew-host-recordparasitism-ratefield-parasitismlaboratory-rearingadult-longevityfecunditysex-ratiopupal-viabilitypupal-durationplanidia-lengthfood-resourcespollenhoneysucroseflowering-plantsspontaneous-floracompanion-plantshabitat-managementconservation-biological-controlaugmentative-biological-controlclassical-biological-controlquarantinehost-rangecircumstantial-evidencetaxonomic-confusionB.-rhynchophoraeB.-menezesiB.-adelphaB.-claripalpisB.-rutilansB.-cerambycivoraB.-steiniB.-fortisB.-irrorataB.-pectinataB.-setosaB.-trianguliferaB.-lataB.-intermediaB.-biserialisB.-giganteaB.-rubensB.-maritimaB.-marmorataB.-aurifronsB.-verticalisB.-flavaB.-chinensisB.-brevicaudaB.-kurahashiiB.-micronychiaB.-papeiB.-setigeraB.-yintiaolingB.-rufescensB.-triquetrusB.-rubidaB.-rufiventrisB.-brasiliensisB.-friburgensisB.-giacomeliB.-kosteraeB.-plaumanniB.-shannoniB.-africanaB.-argentaureaB.-atkinsoniB.-capensisB.-communisB.-decisaB.-edwardsiB.-erectaB.-ficorumB.-grandisB.-impigraB.-interruptaB.-kolomyetziB.-luteolaB.-malayanaB.-minorB.-monohammiB.-montanaB.-morosaB.-nipigonensisB.-orbitalisB.-ovataB.-quadrinotaB.-rhingiaeformisB.-robustaB.-satisfactaB.-sibleyiB.-sjostedtiB.-solivagaB.-trivittataB.-trochanterataB.-vanemdeniB.-velutinaB.-versicolorB.-villeneuveiB.-vitripennisB.-ziminiB.-lateralisB.-lativentrisDiadromus
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.
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.
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.