Moth-parasite
Guides
Chelonus
Chelonus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Cheloninae. These wasps are internal parasites of moth larvae, particularly those in superfamilies Tortricoidea and Pyraloidea. The genus contains approximately 139 species in North America north of Mexico. Chelonus wasps exhibit a distinctive abdominal structure where the first three dorsal segments are fused into a single plate, making them relatively easy to identify among braconids.
Cryptina
Cryptina is a subtribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae. Members are parasitoid wasps that attack the larvae of various moth families. The subtribe includes genera such as Mesostenus, which are characterized by bold color patterns and elongated ovipositors in females.
Therion circumflexum
Therion circumflexum is a relatively large ichneumonid wasp, 14–25 mm in length, with distinctive black, orange, and yellow coloration. It is a widespread Palearctic and Nearctic species that parasitizes moth caterpillars, including geometrids, sphingids, notodontids, and noctuids. Adults are active from mid-June through September. The species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758 and has been subject to recent taxonomic revision in Japan.