Ophioninae
Guides
Enicospilus guatemalensis
Enicospilus guatemalensis is a species of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, originally described from Guatemala. The genus Enicospilus belongs to the subfamily Ophioninae, characterized by large, gangly wasps that are often uniformly orange in color with long antennae, large ocelli arranged in a triangle on the head, and very short or nearly absent ovipositors. Species in this genus are nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights.
Enicospilus peigleri
Enicospilus peigleri is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Gauld in 1988. It belongs to a genus of nocturnal parasitoid wasps characterized by large ocelli, long antennae, and typically uniform orange coloration. Like other Enicospilus species, it is attracted to artificial light sources at night. The species is part of a diverse genus with wide geographic distribution, though specific details about E. peigleri remain limited in published literature.
Enicospilus purgatus
Ophionine ichneumon wasp
Enicospilus purgatus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae. It is a large, gangly wasp typically orange in coloration with long antennae and large ocelli arranged in a triangle on the head. Unlike the related genus Netelia, E. purgatus has a very short ovipositor that is often not readily visible. The species is nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights. It is a solitary parasitoid wasp with females capable of stinging when handled.
Ophion idoneus
Ophion idoneus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, first described by Viereck in 1905. Like other members of the genus Ophion, it belongs to a morphologically challenging group of parasitoid wasps that have historically been difficult to distinguish from related species. The species is known from western Canada, with records from Alberta and British Columbia. Ophion wasps are nocturnal and frequently attracted to artificial lights.
Ophion nigrovarius
Ophion nigrovarius is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Provancher in 1874. Like other members of the genus Ophion, this species is nocturnal and frequently attracted to lights. The Ophion genus has long presented taxonomic challenges due to morphological uniformity among species, with O. nigrovarius being one of many species that remained difficult to distinguish until the application of molecular and morphometric methods. It is part of a diverse North American fauna that has seen significant revision through modern systematic approaches.
Ophion slossonae
Ophion slossonae is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Davis in 1893. It belongs to a genus notorious for taxonomic difficulty, with museum collections containing numerous unidentified specimens. The species was one of only eleven Ophion species known from North America for over a century until modern molecular and morphometric techniques enabled the description of additional species. Like other Ophioninae, it is likely nocturnal and attracted to artificial lights.
Rhynchophion
Rhynchophion is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the subfamily Ophioninae. The genus contains only three known species, with Rhynchophion flammipennis being the most documented. These wasps exhibit striking coloration—black or metallic blue bodies with bright orange or red wings—resembling tarantula hawks (Pepsis spp.), which may represent Müllerian mimicry given that Ophioninae can sting in self-defense using their short, sharp ovipositors. Unlike most nocturnal Ophioninae, Rhynchophion species are diurnal and visit flowers for nectar.
Rhynchophion flammipennis
Rhynchophion flammipennis is a large ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, notable for its striking coloration resembling tarantula hawks—black or metallic blue body with bright orange or red wings. Unlike most nocturnal Ophioninae, this species is diurnal and visits flowers for nectar. It is a koinobiont endoparasitoid of sphinx moth caterpillars, with the Tobacco Hornworm (Manduca sexta) documented as a host. The wasp possesses a short, sharp ovipositor capable of delivering a sting used in self-defense.
Rhynchophion woodi
Rhynchophion woodi is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Gauld in 2004. The genus Rhynchophion contains only three known species, most of which are tropical. Members of this genus are diurnal and have been observed visiting flowers for nectar. Like other Ophioninae, this species possesses a short, sharp ovipositor capable of delivering a sting in self-defense.
Thyreodon
Thyreodon is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Brullé in 1846. Members of this genus are koinobiont endoparasitoids that attack caterpillars, particularly those of sphinx moths (Sphingidae). The genus is part of the Thyreodon genus-group, with species distributed across the Americas from the southwestern United States through Central America. Costa Rican species have been subject to dedicated systematic study.
Thyreodon apricus
Thyreodon apricus is a species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Porter in 1984. The genus Thyreodon belongs to the tribe Enicospilini, a group of primarily tropical wasps. Members of Ophioninae are known for their ability to sting using their short, sharp ovipositors for defense. This species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Very little is known about its specific biology, and it has been subject to taxonomic confusion with similar large, colorful ichneumon wasps.
Thyreodon atricolor
Thyreodon atricolor is a large ichneumonid wasp in the subfamily Ophioninae, described by Olivier in 1811. Members of this genus are among the largest Ophioninae in North America. The species is known from the southwestern United States and has been subject to taxonomic confusion with related species. Like other Ophioninae, it possesses a short, sharp ovipositor capable of delivering a sting, distinguishing it from many other ichneumonid subfamilies.
Thyreodon umbrifer
Thyreodon umbrifer is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Porter in 1989. The genus Thyreodon belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. Very little published information exists about this specific species. A specimen initially identified as possibly belonging to this genus was observed in Arizona, where experts noted difficulty distinguishing Thyreodon from related genera in the southwestern United States. The genus is poorly known taxonomically, and species-level identification requires specialist examination.