Parasitoid
Guides
Allochares
Allochares is a monotypic genus of spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, containing only the species Allochares azureus. The genus is endemic to the southern United States and Mexico. Its sole species is a specialist parasitoid of the southern house spider (Kukulcania hibernalis), exhibiting distinctive hunting and oviposition behaviors adapted to this host.
Allophroides
Allophroides is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, established by Horstmann in 1971. The genus contains approximately 12 described species, with Allophroides boops designated as the type species. Most species have been described relatively recently, with several added by Horstmann in 2013. Members of this genus are koinobiont parasitoids, though specific host associations remain poorly documented.
Allophrys
Allophrys is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Tersilochinae. Species have been described from multiple regions including Asia, Africa, and Australia. The genus was established by Förster in 1869 and currently contains approximately 25 described species.
Allophrys divaricata
Allophrys divaricata is a species of ichneumon wasp described by Horstmann in 2010. It belongs to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The species has been recorded from the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, including the United States, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago, and Argentina. Like other ichneumonids, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific biological details remain limited.
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.
Alysia
Alysia is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae. Members of this genus are known to develop as parasitoids within the puparia of dipteran hosts, with at least one species, Alysia manducator, documented to parasitize the blow fly Lucilia sericata. The genus exhibits sex ratio plasticity in response to host size, with larger host puparia producing female-biased offspring ratios. Alysia species function as biological control agents of fly populations.
Alysiinae
Alysiinae are a subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps containing over 1000 described species worldwide. They are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Cyclorrhapha Diptera, with females ovipositing into host eggs or larvae and killing the host at the puparium stage. Several species have been utilized in biocontrol programs. They are closely related to the Opiinae.
Alysiini
Alysiini is a tribe of koinobiont endoparasitoid wasps within the subfamily Alysiinae (Braconidae). Members are characterized by a distinctive exodont mandible condition—the only group of Braconidae with mandibles that open outward rather than downward. The tribe includes approximately 16 genera in the Dapsilarthra genus group and numerous other genera globally, with substantial faunas in Europe (over 400 species in related Dacnusini) and Australia (14 genera). Host associations are primarily with cyclorrhaphan Diptera, including leaf-mining Agromyzidae, fungus-inhabiting flies, and gall-forming Chloropidae.
Ambloplisus
Ambloplisus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, described by Heinrich in 1930. The genus belongs to the diverse parasitoid wasp family, whose members are primarily known for laying eggs in or on other insects. Records for this genus are sparse, with limited published information on its species diversity and biology. The genus has been documented through a small number of observations on iNaturalist, suggesting it is rarely encountered or underreported.
Amblycorypha carinata
Carinate Katydid
Amblycorypha carinata is a katydid species in the family Tettigoniidae, described by Rehn and Hebard in 1914. It occurs in the southeastern and eastern United States, with records from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. The species belongs to a genus known for producing loud, distinctive calls. It has been documented as prey for the Great Golden Digger wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus).
Amisega
Amisega is a genus of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae, subfamily Amiseginae. These small, metallic wasps are known primarily from the Neotropical region and the southwestern United States. The genus was established by Cameron in 1888 and remains relatively poorly studied compared to other chrysidid genera. Members of Amiseginae are distinguished by their reduced wing venation and association with stick insect eggs as hosts.
Amisega kahlii
Amisega kahlii is a species of cuckoo wasp in the subfamily Amiseginae. Members of this genus are kleptoparasitic, laying eggs in the nests of other insects. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the eastern and central United States.
Amiseginae
Amiseginae is a subfamily of cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae) containing over 30 genera and approximately 150 described species. These wasps are obligate parasitoids of stick insect eggs (Phasmatodea), a highly specialized ecological relationship that has persisted since at least the mid-Cretaceous. Females of some genera are flightless and exhibit ant-like morphology. The subfamily has a global distribution.
Amitus
Amitus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Platygastridae, containing at least 16 described species. Species in this genus are primarily known as biological control agents of whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), with several species introduced internationally for pest management. Notable species include A. hesperidum, an effective parasitoid of citrus blackfly introduced to multiple countries; A. fuscipennis, used against greenhouse whitefly; and A. bennetti, a parasitoid of silverleaf whitefly.
Ammosphex angularis
Ammosphex angularis is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The genus Ammosphex was established to accommodate certain species previously placed in Pompilus. This species was originally described by Banks in 1910 as Pompilus angularis angularis. Spider wasps in this family are solitary predators that paralyze spiders to provision nests for their larvae. The specific epithet 'angularis' likely refers to some angular feature of the body, though the original description would be needed to confirm this.
Amphibolips acuminata
Fusiform Oak Apple Gall Wasp
Amphibolips acuminata is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, commonly known as the Fusiform Oak Apple Gall Wasp. The species induces distinctive galls on oak trees, specifically forming fusiform (spindle-shaped) oak apple galls. As with other members of the genus Amphibolips, this species has an alternation of generations with distinct sexual and asexual forms that produce different gall types. The species is associated with oaks in the genus Quercus and has been documented across a broad geographic range in North America.
Amphibolips globulus
Amphibolips globulus is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, described by Beutenmüller in 1909. The species is associated with oak galls, a characteristic trait of the genus Amphibolips. It is part of a diverse radiation of cynipid wasps that induce plant tissue modifications to serve as larval habitat and food source.
Amphibolips quercusfuliginosa
Amphibolips quercusfuliginosa is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. It induces galls on oak species (Quercus), with the specific epithet referencing the sooty or dark appearance of the gall structures. The species belongs to a genus known for producing complex, often spherical galls on oaks. It is part of the diverse North American cynipid fauna associated with white oaks.
Amphibolips quercusinanis
larger empty oak apple wasp
Amphibolips quercusinanis is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces large, apple-sized galls on leaves of red oak species in central and eastern North America. The species is notable for producing conspicuous, hollow galls that become brittle and empty after the adult wasp emerges. It has been widely documented through citizen science observations.
Amphibolips quercusrugosa
Amphibolips quercusrugosa is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. It is known for inducing galls on oak trees (Quercus species), specifically associated with the wrinkled oak or related species. The species was described by William Beutenmüller in 1909. As with other Amphibolips species, it has a complex life cycle involving both sexual and asexual generations that alternate between different gall types on oaks.
Amphibolips quercusspongifica
Summer Sponge Apple Gall Wasp
Amphibolips quercusspongifica is a gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces distinctive sponge-like galls on oak trees. The species is known for producing 'spongy apple galls' on various Quercus species, with the common name referencing both the texture and seasonal timing of gall development. Like other Cynipidae, it has a complex life cycle likely involving alternate generations, though specific details remain incompletely documented. The species is relatively poorly known, with limited observational records.
Amphicosmus
Amphicosmus is a genus of bee flies (family Bombyliidae) containing five described species. The genus was established by Coquillett in 1891 and is classified within the subfamily Tomomyzinae. Members of this genus share the general characteristics of bee flies, including a parasitoid life history strategy. The genus is poorly documented in scientific literature, with limited species-level descriptions and biological data available.
Ampulex
cockroach wasps, jewel wasps
Ampulex is a large cosmopolitan genus of cockroach-hunting wasps in the family Ampulicidae, comprising over 130 species concentrated in tropical regions of the Old World. Fewer than 15 species occur in the New World, and fewer than 5 are native to Europe or the United States. The genus is notable for its specialized parasitoid biology: females sting cockroaches with venom that induces a state of hypokinesia—suppressed escape response and reduced locomotion without paralysis—then lead the subdued host to a shelter, lay eggs on its legs, and seal it inside where the larva consumes the living host. The emerald jewel wasp Ampulex compressa is the best-studied species and has spread globally alongside its host cockroaches.
Ampulex canaliculata
cockroach wasp
Ampulex canaliculata is a small cockroach wasp in the family Ampulicidae, native to eastern North America. Females hunt wood cockroaches in the genus Parcoblatta, using a specialized sting to induce a state of weak paralysis that eliminates the prey's escape reflex. The wasp then leads the subdued cockroach to a pre-existing cavity, lays an egg on it, and entombs it to serve as living food for the developing larva.
Anacharis
Anacharis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Figitidae, established by Dalman in 1823. The genus occurs in the Palaearctic and Indomalayan regions, with species documented from Europe, Norway, and Thailand. A 2018 taxonomic revision redescribed four previously known Palaearctic species and described three new species, including the first Indomalayan record for the genus. The genus was also subject to nomenclatural changes, including the synonymization of A. gracilipes with A. eucharoides and the transfer of A. flavidicornis to the genus Aegilips.
Anacharitinae
Anacharitinae is a subfamily of small parasitoid wasps within Figitidae. Members are known to attack aphid predators, specifically larvae of Syrphidae (hoverflies) and Chrysopidae (lacewings). This subfamily comprises approximately 100 species across four genera: Anacharis, Aegilips, Callaspidia, and Xyalaspis. The group has a worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in temperate regions.
Anagyrus
Anagyrus is a large genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, containing at least 247 described species distributed worldwide. These wasps are specialized parasitoids primarily targeting mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with several species commercially important for biological control of agricultural pests. The genus includes notable species such as A. pseudococci, A. lopezi, and A. vladimiri, which have been extensively studied and deployed for managing mealybug infestations in crops including cassava, citrus, and grapes. A subgenus, Nesoanagyrus, was established by Beardsley in 1969.
Anagyrus aper
Anagyrus aper is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Noyes & Menezes in 2000. It belongs to the genus Anagyrus, a group of wasps known primarily as parasitoids of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The species has been recorded from New Hampshire, Ontario, and Texas, suggesting a Nearctic distribution. Like other members of its genus, it likely functions as a biological control agent of pest mealybugs, though specific host associations and biological details remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Anagyrus californicus
Anagyrus californicus is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, originally described by Compere in 1947 as Apoanagyrus californicus. It is a specialized parasitoid of mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), with documented records from California, Arizona, Florida, and Hawaii. The species has been utilized in biological control programs targeting mealybug pests in agricultural systems.
Anagyrus paralia
Anagyrus paralia is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, described by Noyes and Menezes in 2000. It belongs to the genus Anagyrus, which contains numerous species used in biological control of mealybugs and other scale insects. The specific epithet "paralia" suggests a coastal or shore-associated habitat, though detailed ecological data remain limited. Like other Anagyrus species, it is presumed to be a primary parasitoid of mealybugs (Pseudococcidae), but host records specific to this species have not been documented in the available literature.
Anagyrus pulchricornis
Anagyrus pulchricornis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Howard in 1894. It belongs to a genus widely used in biological control programs targeting mealybugs (Pseudococcidae). The species is known from the Caribbean region, with records from Jamaica, the Grenadines, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Like other members of Anagyrus, it likely parasitizes mealybug hosts, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented in the available literature.
Anagyrus shahidi
Anagyrus shahidi is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, first described by Hayat in 1979. It belongs to a genus widely used in biological control programs targeting mealybugs (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). The species has been recorded from India (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Rajasthan), Florida (USA), and Sulawesi Tengah (Indonesia). Like other Anagyrus species, it likely functions as a primary parasitoid of mealybugs, though specific host associations for A. shahidi remain incompletely documented.
Anagyrus trinidadensis
Anagyrus trinidadensis is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, originally described from Trinidad. The species belongs to a genus of significant economic importance for biological control of mealybugs and other scale insects. Like congeners, it likely functions as a primary parasitoid of Pseudococcidae, though specific host records for this species remain limited in the available literature.
Anastatus mirabilis
Anastatus mirabilis is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, first described by Walsh & Riley in 1869. Like other members of the genus Anastatus, it is likely an egg parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented. The genus is characterized by remarkable jumping ability in females and distinct wing banding patterns. A. mirabilis is one of approximately 18 Anastatus species recorded from North America north of Mexico.
Andrenosoma corallium
Andrenosoma corallium is a robber fly species in the family Asilidae, subfamily Laphriinae, described by Martin in 1966. Like other members of the subfamily Laphriinae, its larvae are presumed to prey on wood-boring beetle larvae, particularly those in families Buprestidae and Cerambycidae. The genus Andrenosoma reaches its greatest diversity in the Neotropics, with most North American species restricted to Texas and the western United States.
Andricus balanella
Andricus balanella is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, a group renowned for inducing distinctive plant galls on oak species. Like other members of the genus Andricus, this species forms intimate associations with oaks (Quercus spp.), with females laying eggs in plant tissues to initiate gall development. The resulting galls serve as both shelter and food source for the developing larva. The specific gall morphology and host oak species for A. balanella are not well documented in available sources, though the genus is characterized by highly species-specific gall forms.
Andricus burnetti
Andricus burnetti is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, a group renowned for inducing diverse and structurally complex galls on oak trees. As a member of the genus Andricus, this species participates in the intricate life cycle characteristic of cynipid wasps, where females lay eggs in oak tissues and the developing larvae secrete substances that redirect plant growth to form specialized galls. The species was described by Burnett, for whom it is named. Like many Andricus species, it likely exhibits host specificity to particular oak species, though detailed biological accounts remain limited in published literature.
Andricus chinquapin
Small Oak Spindle Gall Wasp
Andricus chinquapin is a cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive spindle-shaped galls on oaks, particularly species in the white oak group including Quercus muhlenbergii (chinquapin oak). The species was described by Fitch in 1859. Like other Andricus species, it exhibits high host specificity, with galls forming on leaf tissues where larvae develop inside the protective structure. The adult wasps are tiny, typically measuring only a few millimeters in length.
Andricus cooki
Andricus cooki is a species of cynipid gall wasp described in 2021. As a member of the genus Andricus, it is an oak-associated gall wasp that induces characteristic galls on Quercus species. The genus Andricus is one of the most diverse genera of gall wasps, with each species typically producing distinct gall morphologies on specific oak hosts. Like other Andricus species, this wasp likely has a complex life cycle involving both sexual and asexual generations, though specific details for this recently described species remain to be documented.
Andricus coquilletti
Andricus coquilletti is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, a group renowned for inducing characteristic plant galls on oaks. Like other members of its genus, this species has an intimate ecological relationship with oak trees (Quercus spp.), where females deposit eggs into developing leaf tissue using their ovipositor, triggering the formation of protective galls that house developing larvae. The species is part of one of the most diverse radiations of gall-forming insects, with each cynipid species typically producing a distinct gall morphology on specific host tissues.
Andricus murtfeldtae
Andricus murtfeldtae is a species of cynipid gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of the genus Andricus, this species induces characteristic galls on oak trees (Quercus spp.). The wasp exhibits the typical life cycle of gall wasps, with females laying eggs in oak tissue and larvae developing within the protective gall structure. Specific details regarding its host associations and gall morphology are not well documented in available sources.
Andricus nigricens
Andricus nigricens is a species of cynipid gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of the genus Andricus, this species induces characteristic galls on oak (Quercus) host plants. The species is part of a highly diverse radiation of gall-forming wasps that have evolved intimate relationships with oaks, with each species typically producing a distinct gall morphology on specific plant tissues.
Andricus quercuspetiolicola
Oak Petiole Gall Wasp
Andricus quercuspetiolicola is a species of cynipid gall wasp that induces distinctive galls on white oaks (Quercus alba). The species name reflects its biology: 'quercus' for oak and 'petiolicola' indicating its habit of forming galls on leaf petioles and midribs. Adult wasps are small and inconspicuous, while the galls they produce are the most visible sign of their presence. Like other Andricus species, this wasp has a complex life cycle typically involving alternation between sexual and asexual generations on different oak tissues, though specific details for this species remain incompletely documented.
Andricus reticulatus
Andricus reticulatus is a species of cynipid gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of the genus Andricus, this species induces characteristic galls on oak (Quercus) host plants. Cynipid gall wasps are highly specialized insects with intimate evolutionary relationships with their host plants, typically forming species-specific gall structures that serve as both shelter and food source for developing larvae. The genus Andricus is one of the most diverse within the Cynipidae, with numerous species associated with various oak species.
Andricus stropus
leafy-wreath gall
Andricus stropus is a species of cynipid gall wasp in the family Cynipidae that induces distinctive galls on oak trees. The species is part of the highly diverse Andricus genus, which contains numerous oak-associated gall wasps, each producing characteristic gall structures. Like other cynipids, A. stropus has a complex life cycle involving manipulation of plant tissue through chemical secretions that redirect host oak growth patterns. The species is known from observations primarily in North America.
Andricus texanus
Andricus texanus is a species of gall wasp in the family Cynipidae, a diverse group of insects that induce characteristic growths on oak trees. Like other members of its genus, this species manipulates plant tissue to form specialized structures that provide shelter and food for developing larvae. The specific gall morphology and host associations distinguish it from related Andricus species.
Andricus tubularius
A cynipid gall wasp in the genus Andricus that induces distinctive galls on oak hosts. Like other members of this large and diverse genus, this species exhibits high host specificity and complex life cycles typical of oak gall wasps. The specific gall morphology and exact host associations for this species require further documentation.
Andricus weldi
Andricus weldi is a species of cynipid gall wasp in the family Cynipidae. Like other members of this diverse family, it induces the formation of specialized plant galls on oak hosts. The species was named in honor of Lewis H. Weld, a prominent American cynipidologist who authored foundational works on gall wasps of the eastern United States. Specific details regarding its gall morphology, host associations, and biology remain limited in the available literature.
Anisepyris williamsi
Anisepyris williamsi is a species of wasp in the family Bethylidae, described by Evans in 1959. The genus Anisepyris comprises small, typically non-stinging parasitoid wasps that attack the larvae or pupae of various insects. This species has been recorded from multiple countries in the Americas, including the United States (California), Mexico, and several South American nations. Like other bethylids, it likely plays a role in natural biological control of pest insects, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Anisobas
Anisobas is a moderately diverse genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The genus is distributed across the Holarctic and Indo-Malaysian regions, with seven species currently known from the Nearctic region. Members of this genus are parasitoids, with at least one species (Anisobas coloradensis) having documented host associations with Lycaenidae butterflies.