Parasitoid
Guides
Cholomyia inaequipes
Cholomyia inaequipes is a tachinid bristle fly described by Bigot in 1884. The species is a parasitoid of weevils in the genus Conotrachelus, with documented associations to nine species including plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) and hickory curculio (Conotrachelus juglandis). It occurs across North, Central, and South America.
Chorebus
Chorebus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Alysiinae, tribe Dacnusini. The genus was established by Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833 and contains approximately 430 accepted species. Species in this genus are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Diptera, particularly leaf-mining flies in the family Agromyzidae.
Chromatocera
Chromatocera is a genus of tachinid flies established by Townsend in 1915. It belongs to the tribe Polideini within the subfamily Tachininae. The genus contains three described species: Chromatocera fumator, C. harrisi, and C. setigena. Tachinid flies in this genus are parasitoids, though specific host associations for Chromatocera species remain poorly documented.
Chromatocera setigena
Chromatocera setigena is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, first described by Coquillett in 1897. It is currently classified in the tribe Polideini, subfamily Tachininae. The species has undergone taxonomic revision, with some sources listing it under the synonym Lypha setigena. As a tachinid fly, it likely functions as a parasitoid, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Chrysanthrax arenosus
Chrysanthrax arenosus is a bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, known from Mexico and New Mexico. Like other bee flies, it is a pollinator as an adult and a parasitoid as a larva. The genus Chrysanthrax includes species that can be identified by distinctive wing patterns. Adults frequent flowering areas where they feed on nectar.
Chrysanthrax crocinus
Chrysanthrax crocinus is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae, found in the southwestern United States and Baja California Norte. Like other bee flies, adults are pollinators that visit flowers to feed on nectar using an elongated proboscis. The species belongs to a genus whose larvae are parasitoids of ground-nesting bees and other insects.
Chrysanthrax cypris
Chrysanthrax cypris is a species of bee fly in the family Bombyliidae. It occurs in the eastern United States from Massachusetts and Iowa south to Mexico. The species is a parasitoid of tiphiid wasps. Adults are active pollinators that visit flowers for nectar.
Chrysanthrax juncturus
Chrysanthrax juncturus is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae, distributed in the southwestern United States and Mexico. As a member of this diverse fly family, it likely shares the characteristic bee-mimicking appearance and parasitic larval lifestyle typical of many bombyliids, though specific details for this species remain poorly documented.
Chrysanthrax lepidotoides
Chrysanthrax lepidotoides is a species of bee fly (family Bombyliidae) described in 1919. It belongs to a genus of parasitic flies whose larvae develop as predators or parasitoids of other insects. The species is known from a very limited geographic range, with records restricted to New Jersey. Like other bee flies, adults likely visit flowers for nectar.
Chrysanthrax vanus
Chrysanthrax vanus is a bee fly species in the family Bombyliidae. Adults are pollinators that visit flowers for nectar, while larvae are parasitoids of ground-nesting bees. The species ranges from British Columbia through the western United States to Mexico.
Chrysidinae
cuckoo wasps
Chrysidinae is the largest and most familiar subfamily of cuckoo wasps, containing approximately 3000 species across 48 genera worldwide. These wasps are renowned for their brilliant metallic coloration, primarily in blues and greens, and their heavily sculptured exoskeletons. They are obligate brood parasites of solitary bees and wasps, with females incapable of stinging due to modification of the sting apparatus into an egg-laying tube. Their distinctive defensive behavior involves rolling into a ball to protect vulnerable appendages when threatened.
Chrysidoidea
Cuckoo Wasps and Allies
Chrysidoidea is a large, cosmopolitan superfamily of aculeate wasps comprising approximately 6,000 described species across seven extant families. The group includes three large, common families—Bethylidae, Chrysididae (cuckoo wasps), and Dryinidae—and four small, rare families—Embolemidae, Plumariidae, Sclerogibbidae, and Scolebythidae. All members are parasitoids or cleptoparasites of other insects. The superfamily is traditionally considered the basal taxon within Aculeata, with some species capable of stinging though their venom is harmless to humans. Members of Dryinidae and Embolemidae exhibit a unique life cycle where larvae begin development inside the host body and later form an external sac (thylacium) protruding from the host abdomen.
Chrysis angolensis
Chrysis angolensis is a cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Originally described from Angola, it has established populations across much of the world through human-mediated dispersal. The species is a documented parasite of mud dauber nests, with a known association to the black and yellow mud dauber Sceliphron caementarium. It has been recorded as introduced to French Polynesia and is well-established in North America.
Chrysis cessata
Chrysis cessata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Buysson in 1891. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it is a parasitoid that exploits the nests of solitary wasps and bees. Cuckoo wasps are characterized by their brilliant metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons that allow them to resist attacks from host species.
Chrysis coerulans
Cuckoo Wasp
Chrysis coerulans is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of its family, it is a parasitoid that infiltrates the nests of solitary wasps and bees to lay its eggs. The species belongs to the Chrysis coerulans species group, a taxonomically complex assemblage that researchers are still working to fully resolve. These wasps are characterized by their metallic coloration and armored exoskeletons.
Chrysis coloradica
Chrysis coloradica is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of its genus, it is likely a parasitoid that targets the nests of solitary wasps or bees. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their brilliant metallic coloration and armored exoskeletons that protect them from host defenses. The specific epithet "coloradica" suggests a connection to Colorado or the western United States, though precise distribution details for this species are not well-documented in the provided sources.
Chrysis conica
Chrysis conica is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Brullé in 1846. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it is a parasitoid that lays its eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps or bees. The larva consumes the host's provisions and developing offspring. Adults are typically metallic in coloration, a characteristic feature of the family.
Chrysis derivata
Chrysis derivata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this genus, it is a parasitoid that targets the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of Chrysis wasps. Very few observations of this species have been recorded, with only two documented occurrences in iNaturalist, indicating it is either rare, underreported, or restricted in distribution.
Chrysis dorsalis
Chrysis dorsalis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of this genus, it exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle typical of the group. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their armored exoskeletons and ability to infiltrate the nests of solitary wasps and bees to lay their eggs. The specific biology and host associations of C. dorsalis remain poorly documented in available sources.
Chrysis inaequidens
Chrysis inaequidens is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Dahlbom in 1854. Like other members of its genus, it is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of cuckoo wasps. As with many Chrysis species, detailed biological information is limited due to their secretive lifestyle and the taxonomic challenges of distinguishing closely related species.
Chrysis lucifera
Chrysis lucifera is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae, first described by Bohart in 1982. Like other members of its genus, it is a cleptoparasite that lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees, where its larvae consume the host's provisioned food. The species exhibits the characteristic brilliant metallic coloration and armored exoskeleton typical of cuckoo wasps. Specific details about its host associations and geographic range remain limited in published literature.
Chrysis parkeri
Chrysis parkeri is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps are kleptoparasites that lay eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees, with their larvae consuming the host's food stores. Members of the genus Chrysis are known for their striking metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons.
Chrysis pellucidula
Chrysis pellucidula is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it is a parasitoid that lays eggs in the nests of solitary wasps and bees. The species exhibits the characteristic metallic coloration typical of cuckoo wasps, though specific details of its appearance and biology are not well-documented in available sources.
Chrysis provancheri
Chrysis provancheri is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps in this genus are known for their metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle, laying eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps. The species was described by Schulz in 1906. Like other members of Chrysididae, it possesses a heavily armored exoskeleton that provides protection when entering host nests.
Chrysis rivalis
Chrysis rivalis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Like other members of the genus Chrysis, it exhibits bright metallic coloration and a parasitic lifestyle, laying eggs in the nests of solitary wasps or bees. The species belongs to a taxonomically challenging group where color variation and morphological similarity have historically complicated species identification. Cuckoo wasps in this genus possess armored exoskeletons and the ability to curl into a defensive ball to protect against host attacks.
Chrysis scitula
Chrysis scitula is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Cuckoo wasps are obligate parasites of other solitary wasps and bees, with females laying eggs in host nests. Members of the genus Chrysis are known for their striking metallic coloration and heavily armored exoskeletons that provide protection during nest invasions. The specific biology and host associations of C. scitula remain poorly documented.
Chrysis tenuicornis
Chrysis tenuicornis is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Members of this genus are known for their striking metallic coloration and parasitic lifestyle, laying eggs in the nests of other solitary wasps and bees. The specific epithet "tenuicornis" refers to slender antennae, a characteristic that may aid in species identification within this diverse genus.
Chrysocharis
Chrysocharis is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae. Species are primarily larval parasitoids of leafmining flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae) and casebearing moths (Lepidoptera: Coleophoridae). The genus has been studied for biological control applications, particularly against agricultural pests such as Liriomyza leafminers and the larch casebearer. At least 18 species occur in North America north of Mexico, with additional diversity in Europe and the Oriental region.
Chrysocharis assis
Chrysocharis assis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Walker in 1839. It belongs to a genus of minute wasps known for their role as biological control agents of leaf-mining insects. The species has been documented in multiple Canadian provinces, suggesting a distribution across northern North America. Like other members of its genus, it likely parasitizes larvae of agromyzid leaf-mining flies, though specific host associations for this species require further documentation.
Chrysocharis beckeri
Chrysocharis beckeri is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, described by Carl M. Yoshimoto in 1973. It was one of six new species described in a revision of the subgenus Chrysocharis s. str. for North America north of Mexico. The revision included species keys, morphological descriptions, and host records for 18 species total.
Chrysocharis giraulti
Chrysocharis giraulti is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, one of 18 species in the subgenus Chrysocharis s. str. occurring in North America north of Mexico. The species was described by Yoshimoto in 1973 to replace the preoccupied name petiolata Girault. It belongs to a group of small chalcidoid wasps whose members are primarily parasitoids of leaf-mining insects.
Chrysocharis laomedon
Chrysocharis laomedon is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae. It develops as an endoparasitoid within the larvae of leaf-mining moths, specifically Phyllonorycter issikii. The species has been documented in multiple Canadian provinces. Its immature stages—egg, larval instars, and pupa—have been described morphologically.
Chrysocharis minuta
Chrysocharis minuta is a minute parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Christer Hansson in 1986. Like other members of the genus, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of leaf-mining insects, though specific host records for this species remain limited. The species has been documented in western North America, with records from British Columbia, Canada, and the United States.
Chrysocharis nephereus
Chrysocharis nephereus is a minute parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Walker in 1839. It has been studied in Northern England, where its biology was examined alongside allied species. The species is recorded across multiple Canadian provinces, suggesting a Holarctic distribution. As a member of Chrysocharis, it likely functions as a parasitoid of leaf-mining insects, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Chrysocharis oscinidis
Chrysocharis oscinidis is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae. It has been documented as a biological control agent of the leaf-mining fly Liriomyza trifolii on bean plants. The species occurs across western North America from Alaska to California.
Chrysocharis prodice
Chrysocharis prodice is a minute parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Francis Walker in 1839. The genus Chrysocharis comprises species known as parasitoids of leaf-mining insects, particularly flies (Diptera: Agromyzidae). This species is recorded from multiple Canadian provinces, indicating a northern distribution pattern. Like other eulophids, it likely plays a role in regulating populations of herbivorous insects in forest and agricultural ecosystems.
Chrysocharis viridis
Chrysocharis viridis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Nees in 1834. It belongs to a genus known for biological control of leaf-mining insects. The species has been recorded from England and western Canada (Alberta, British Columbia). As with many Chrysocharis species, it likely parasitizes agromyzid leaf-mining flies, though specific host records for this species require verification.
Chrysoplatycerus
Chrysoplatycerus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Ashmead in 1889. The genus belongs to the subfamily Tetracneminae and contains species that are parasitoids, primarily associated with scale insects (Coccoidea). Based on museum records, the genus includes at least three described species: C. ferrisi, C. flavicollis, and C. splendens. These wasps are minute, typically under 2 mm in body length, with reduced wing venation characteristic of the family. The genus has been recorded from Hawaii, Cuba, and Panama, suggesting a distribution concentrated in tropical and subtropical regions.
Chrysopophthorus
Chrysopophthorus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, with approximately eight described species distributed across four continents. The genus exhibits a notably wide geographic range, with species described from North America, South and Central America, Europe, and Asia. At least one species, C. americanus, is known to parasitize adult green lacewings (Chrysopidae), representing a specialized host association.
Chrysopophthorus americanus
Chrysopophthorus americanus is a minute parasitoid wasp in the family Braconidae, described by Mason in 1964 from the United States. It belongs to a genus distributed across four continents, with species specialized as parasitoids of chrysopid larvae (green lacewings). The wasp has been observed at blacklight traps, where it likely seeks its lacewing hosts that are also attracted to ultraviolet light. Adults exhibit distinctive pale, almost ghostly coloration with striking emerald eyes.
Chrysotachina
Chrysotachina is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1889. The genus comprises approximately 22 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Species within this genus are parasitoids, with larvae developing inside other insects. The genus is placed in the tribe Polideini within the subfamily Tachininae.
Chrysura kyrae
Chrysura kyrae is a parasitoid wasp in the family Chrysididae. It has been documented as a parasitoid of Osmia lignaria subsp. lignaria, a mason bee in the family Megachilidae. The species belongs to a genus of cuckoo wasps known for their metallic coloration and kleptoparasitic or parasitoid lifestyles targeting solitary bees and wasps.
Chyphotes petiolatus
Chyphotes petiolatus is a species of wingless wasp in the family Chyphotidae, a small family of solitary parasitoid wasps allied to Bradynobaenidae. The genus Chyphotes comprises flightless, ant-like species found in arid regions of western North America. Chyphotes petiolatus is known from extremely limited material, with only a single observation recorded in iNaturalist. Members of this genus are poorly studied, with most information derived from scattered museum specimens rather than field biology.
Cirrhencyrtus
Cirrhencyrtus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Encyrtidae, described by Timberlake in 1918. Species in this genus are known to parasitize mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with documented associations with Ferrisia virgata and Dysmicoccus brevipes in southern Chiapas, Mexico. The genus is represented in major entomological collections, including the UCR Encyrtidae collection, which holds specimens of C. ehrhorni and C. diversicolor.
Cirrospilini
Cirrospilini is a tribe within the subfamily Eulophinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) comprising approximately 17 genera and nearly 300 species. Members are ectoparasitoids that attack immature stages of Diptera, Lepidoptera, and Coleoptera in semi-concealed habitats. Some species function as obligate or facultative hyperparasitoids, and a few are gall-formers. Phylogenetically, the tribe is considered monophyletic and the sister-group to Eulophini plus Elasmini.
Cirrospilus
Cirrospilus is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea). Species within this genus are primarily ectoparasitoids of leaf-mining insects, particularly gracillariid moths such as the citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella). Several species have been investigated and employed as biological control agents against agricultural pests, with notable examples including C. ingenuus, C. diallus, C. pictus, and C. coachellae. The genus exhibits variation in host specificity, fecundity, and developmental rates influenced by temperature and host stage.
Clairvillia
Clairvillia is a genus of tachinid flies established by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. The genus belongs to the subfamily Phasiinae and tribe Leucostomatini. Seven species are currently recognized, distributed primarily in the Nearctic region. Like other tachinids, members of this genus are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Clairvillia timberlakei
Clairvillia timberlakei is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, originally described by Walton in 1914 under the basionym Dionaea timberlakei. It belongs to the subfamily Phasiinae and tribe Leucostomatini. The species is documented from North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a tachinid fly, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations remain unverified.
Clausicella
Clausicella is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) established by Rondani in 1856. The genus contains at least 18 described species distributed across the Americas, with records from North America through South America. As members of the tribe Leskiini within subfamily Tachininae, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented for most species.
Clausicella floridensis
Clausicella floridensis is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae, a group of parasitoid flies. The species was described by Townsend in 1892. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the United States. As a tachinid, it likely parasitizes other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented.