Microgastrinae
Guides
Alphomelon
Alphomelon is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Microgastrinae. The genus comprises 49 described species, with 30 described in a 2023 revision. Species delimitation requires integration of morphology, DNA barcoding, host data, and distribution information; neither morphology nor DNA barcoding alone is sufficient to distinguish all species.
Apanteles
Apanteles is a large genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, containing over 600 described species worldwide. A 2014 study from Costa Rica's Area de Conservación Guanacaste alone documented 186 new species, suggesting the genus is far more diverse than previously recognized. These small wasps (1–5 mm) are koinobiont endoparasitoids of caterpillars, with most species showing high host specificity.
Apanteles diacrisiae
Apanteles diacrisiae is a species of braconid wasp described by Risbec in 1951. According to GBIF and Catalogue of Life records, this name is currently treated as a synonym of Apanteles bambeytriplus. The genus Apanteles belongs to the subfamily Microgastrinae, a diverse group of small parasitoid wasps (typically 1-5 mm) that are among the most common parasitoids recovered from caterpillars. Species in this genus are known to parasitize lepidopteran larvae, with many showing high host specificity.
Apanteles megathymi
Apanteles megathymi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, first described by Riley in 1881. It belongs to the genus Apanteles, a large and diverse group of microgastrine braconids that are important biological control agents. The species name 'megathymi' suggests a historical association with the genus Megathymus (giant skippers), though current host records require verification. Like other Apanteles species, it is likely a larval parasitoid of Lepidoptera.
Epsilogaster
Epsilogaster is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, established by Whitfield and Mason in 1994. As a member of the subfamily Microgastrinae (implied by its taxonomic placement within Braconidae), it likely comprises small koinobiont endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. The genus is poorly documented in public literature, with minimal species-level information available. A single observation exists on iNaturalist, indicating it is rarely encountered or reported.
Glyptapanteles
Glyptapanteles is a genus of koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, distributed across all continents except Antarctica. Species in this genus are distinguished by their ability to manipulate host behavior: after larval emergence from caterpillar hosts, the paralyzed host remains near the pupal cocoons and defends them against predators through violent thrashing movements. This behavioral manipulation is mediated by one or two larvae that remain within the host and sacrifice their own development to protect their siblings. Several species have been evaluated for biological control of lepidopteran pests, particularly Lymantria dispar.
Hypomicrogaster
Hypomicrogaster is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, containing over 40 described species. The genus was taxonomically revised in 2015, with 40 new species described and four previously named species redescribed. Species in this genus are parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with documented associations to 11 lepidopteran families and 52 confirmed host species feeding on 34 plant families. The genus is distributed across North, Central, and South America.
Hypomicrogaster zonaria
A species of braconid wasp in the subfamily Microgastrinae, redescribed and redelimited in a 2015 taxonomic review of the genus Hypomicrogaster. Originally described by Say in 1836, it is one of the four previously named species in the genus. Like other members of Hypomicrogaster, it is a parasitoid wasp, though specific host records for this species remain unconfirmed in available literature.
Microgaster
Microgaster is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae containing more than 100 described species with worldwide distribution. Species within this genus are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera larvae, with some exhibiting highly specialized behaviors. The genus includes the first documented microgastrine to dive underwater to parasitize hosts (Microgaster godzilla) and species with distinctive morphological adaptations such as modified tarsal claws. Host associations vary widely, with records from multiple lepidopteran families including Crambidae, Noctuidae, Depressariidae, and Hesperiidae.
Microplitis
Microplitis is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, comprising over 190 described species distributed worldwide. These small parasitoid wasps are larval endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera, primarily attacking caterpillars of Noctuidae and related families. Several species are important in biological control programs against agricultural pests, including M. croceipes and M. demolitor which parasitize Heliothis/Helicoverpa species. The genus was revised in 2015 for the Neotropics and in 2019 for India, with new species continuing to be described.
Perilitini
Perilitini is a small tribe of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae. Members are koinobiont endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, primarily associated with hosts in the family Noctuidae (owlet moths). The tribe is characterized by reduced wing venation and a compact body form. Taxonomic boundaries within Perilitini have been historically unstable, with some genera transferred to or from related tribes based on molecular phylogenetic studies.
Promicrogaster
Promicrogaster is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, comprising over 40 described species with a cosmopolitan distribution. Members are small wasps that develop as endoparasitoids of caterpillars (Lepidoptera larvae). The genus was established by Brues and Richardson in 1913.
Protapanteles
Protapanteles is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Microgastrinae, containing more than 20 described species distributed mainly in the Holarctic region. Species are koinobiont endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented hosts including geometrid moths and nymphalid butterflies. Some species, particularly P. immunis, have been investigated for biological control of agricultural pests. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revision, with phylogenetic studies indicating paraphyly and close relationships with Cotesia.
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.