Parasitoid
Guides
Ogloblinisca
Ogloblinisca is a genus of chalcidoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, described by Hedqvist in 1968. It belongs to the subfamily Trigonoderinae and tribe Trigonoderini. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps, though specific host associations remain poorly documented. The genus is rarely encountered, with only a handful of observations recorded in biodiversity databases.
Olesicampe
Olesicampe is a genus of ichneumonid wasps containing at least 130 described species. Species in this genus are parasitoids of sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), with documented associations to hosts in the genera Pristiphora and Cephalcia. Several species have been introduced as classical biological control agents against larch sawfly and mountain ash sawfly pests in North America, where they have established successfully and achieved significant host population suppression. The genus is native to the Palaearctic region.
Olesicampe benefactor
Olesicampe benefactor is a European ichneumonid wasp introduced to eastern North America as a biological control agent for the larch sawfly (Pristiphora erichsonii), a forest pest. Small numbers (147–388 individuals) were released in Maine, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick in 1967. The species successfully established at multiple sites, surviving two to three winters at several locations. It disperses slowly, which may limit its effectiveness over large areas without multiple release points.
Oligositinae
Oligositinae is a subfamily of minute parasitoid wasps within the family Trichogrammatidae. Members are among the smallest known insects, with body lengths often under 0.5 mm. The subfamily was established by Viggiani in 1971, though with authorship dating to 1904. These wasps are characterized by reduced wing venation and simplified morphological features compared to other trichogrammatids. They are known primarily from preserved specimens, with limited biological data available.
Olixon
Olixon is a genus of solitary wasps in the family Rhopalosomatidae, established by Cameron in 1887. All known species are brachypterous (short-winged) ectoparasitoids of crickets, primarily in the family Gryllidae. The genus is distributed across the African, Australian, and American continents, with a notable concentration of diversity in Australia. Species are generally considered rare in collections and infrequently observed in the field.
Olixon banksii
Olixon banksii is a species of rhopalosomatid wasp described by Brues in 1922. It belongs to a small family of nocturnal wasps whose larvae are ectoparasitoids of crickets. The species occurs in the Nearctic region, with records from the United States and Mexico.
Olixon melinsula
Olixon melinsula is a species of parasitic wasp in the family Rhopalosomatidae, described in 2012 from specimens collected in the southern United States. It belongs to a genus of nocturnal wasps whose larvae are ectoparasitoids of crickets. The species is known from a small number of records in Florida, Louisiana, Paraguay, and Texas.
Omalus
cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps
Omalus is a genus of cuckoo wasps (family Chrysididae), commonly known as jewel wasps for their metallic coloration. These small parasitoids employ a distinctive reproductive strategy: females insert eggs into living aphids at the hunting sites of their host wasps, using the aphid prey as an unwitting vehicle to transport their offspring into host brood cells. This indirect nest-entry strategy avoids the need for adult wasps to physically enter host nests. The genus includes multiple species across Europe, Asia, and North America, with some introduced species established in the United States.
Omphale
Omphale is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, first described by Alexander Henry Haliday in 1833. These tiny chalcidoid wasps are part of the diverse Entedoninae subfamily, which contains numerous species that parasitize other insects. The genus has a wide geographic distribution including Europe and Asia, with recent taxonomic work documenting multiple species from China. Like other eulophids, Omphale species are likely associated with vegetation where their hosts occur, though specific host relationships remain poorly documented for most species.
Omphale obscurinotata
Omphale obscurinotata is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eulophidae, first described by Girault in 1916. The genus Omphale comprises parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented. It has been recorded in North America, including the United States and Canada.
Onychogonia
Onychogonia is a genus of tachinid flies established by Brauer & Bergenstamm in 1889. The genus belongs to the tribe Goniini within the subfamily Exoristinae. Seven species are currently recognized, distributed across northern Europe including Norway and Sweden. As with other tachinid genera, members are presumed to be parasitoids of other insects, though specific host relationships remain undocumented.
Oobius agrili
Oob
Oobius agrili is a tiny, solitary egg parasitoid wasp in the family Encyrtidae, native to Northeast Asia. It is the only egg parasitoid released for biological control of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) in North America, where it has been introduced in over 31 US states. The species is parthenogenic, produces multiple generations annually, and achieves partial phenological synchrony with its host's egg-laying period. Individual females can parasitize more than 60 host eggs, with field parasitism rates reaching 60% in optimal conditions.
Oodera
Oodera is the sole genus in the monotypic family Ooderidae, a group of chalcidoid wasps elevated to family rank in 2022. Species range from 3.6 to 17 mm and are distinguished by raptorial forelegs and a mantis-like habitus. Almost all species are parasitoids of xylophagous beetle larvae in families Buprestidae and Curculionidae. The genus occurs in warm regions of the Palearctic, Afrotropical, and Indomalayan realms, with one introduced species in the Nearctic.
Ooderidae
Ooderidae is a monotypic family of chalcidoid wasps containing the single genus Oodera. These wasps are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, primarily in the families Buprestidae and Curculionidae. They are rarely collected using standard entomological methods and remain poorly known biologically.
Opheltes glaucopterus barberi
Opheltes glaucopterus barberi is a subspecies of ichneumon wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It has been documented as a parasitoid of elm sawfly (Cimbex americana) larvae, serving as an internal parasite. The species was described by Cushman in 1924. Distribution records indicate presence in Belgium and Canada (Calgary), with iNaturalist documenting 548 observations.
Ophion
nocturnal ichneumon wasps
Ophion is a genus of nocturnal ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Ophioninae. Members are typically orange to yellow in coloration and are endoparasitoids of lepidopteran larvae. The genus exhibits exceptionally high morphological similarity among species, making identification difficult without molecular or detailed morphometric analysis. Most species are attracted to artificial lights at night. The genus has a worldwide distribution with greatest diversity in temperate regions.
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.
Ophioninae
Short-tailed Ichneumonid Wasps
Ophioninae is a cosmopolitan subfamily of ichneumonid wasps comprising approximately 32–33 genera with exceptional diversity in tropical regions. These wasps are primarily koinobiont endoparasitoids of larval Lepidoptera, though at least one species parasitizes Scarabaeidae (Coleoptera). They are notable among parasitic wasps for possessing ovipositors capable of stinging vertebrates in self-defense. Adults are typically large, slender, and orange with compressed, curved abdomens, very large ocelli, and long antennae. They are predominantly nocturnal and strongly attracted to artificial light sources.
Opsotheresia
Opsotheresia is a genus of tachinid flies established by Townsend in 1919. The genus contains two described species: Opsotheresia bigelowi and Opsotheresia obesa. As members of the family Tachinidae, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations for Opsotheresia remain undocumented. The genus is classified within the subfamily Dexiinae and tribe Dexiini.
Orasema
Orasema is a genus of chalcid wasps in the family Eucharitidae containing at least 50 described species. These wasps are specialized parasitoids of myrmicine ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae), with documented hosts including Pheidole, Wasmannia, and Solenopsis. The genus is widespread in the New World, ranging from northern Argentina to southern Canada. Several species groups have been established based on morphology and molecular phylogeny, with the stramineipes group being the most diverse. Some species have been associated with minor agricultural damage when ovipositing into crop plant leaves.
Orasema castilloae
Orasema castilloae is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eucharitidae, described in 2020. It belongs to the Orasema tolteca species group, one of several species groups within the widespread New World genus Orasema. Members of this genus are specialized parasitoids of myrmicine ants (Formicidae: Myrmicinae). The species is known from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Orasema occidentalis
Orasema occidentalis is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eucharitidae, first described by William Harris Ashmead in 1892. The species is a known parasite of Pheidole desertorum, a species of ant. Like other members of its family, it likely exhibits the specialized life history typical of Eucharitidae, in which larvae develop as parasitoids within ant colonies.
Oreoneta
A genus of dwarf spiders (family Linyphiidae) established in 1894, comprising approximately 30 species distributed across cold-temperate and Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most species inhabit high-latitude or high-altitude environments. The genus was revised extensively by Saaristo & Marusik in 2004, resulting in numerous new species descriptions.
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Oresbius is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Marshall in 1867. Species are distributed across Europe and North America. The genus is poorly studied, with limited published information on species biology and ecology.
Orgichneumon
Orgichneumon is a genus of ichneumon wasps established by Heinrich in 1961. Members belong to the family Ichneumonidae, one of the largest families of parasitoid wasps. The genus is poorly documented in published literature, with limited species-level descriptions and biological data available. Records indicate presence in northern North America.
Orgichneumon calcatorius
Orgichneumon calcatorius is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Thunberg in 1822. The species belongs to a genus of medium to large-sized ichneumonids characterized by robust body construction and distinctive leg morphology. As with other members of Ichneumonidae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid of other insects, though specific host records for this species remain poorly documented.
Orgilus
Orgilus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae with nearly cosmopolitan distribution. Species within this genus are internal parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented hosts including pyralid and gelechiid moth pests. Several species have been studied as biological control agents for agricultural pests.
Ormia
Ormia is a genus of nocturnal tachinid flies renowned for their exceptional sound localization abilities. Females are phonotactic parasitoids that locate hosts by detecting calling songs, then deposit larvae on or near crickets and katydids. The genus has become a model system in auditory neuroscience and bioinspired engineering due to its mechanically coupled ears that achieve directional precision rivaling human hearing despite minute interaural distances. Research has focused primarily on Ormia ochracea, though multiple species have been studied for biological control applications.
Ormia brevicornis
Ormia brevicornis is a species of tachinid fly in the tribe Ormiini. It is a known parasitoid of katydids in the genus Neoconocephalus. The species was described by Townsend in 1919 and occurs in the United States. Two subspecies are recognized: O. b. brevicornis and O. b. nuttingi.
Ormia lineifrons
Ormia lineifrons is a multivoltine koinobiont endoparasitoid fly in the family Tachinidae. It is native to the Americas and has been studied extensively in Kentucky, USA, where it parasitizes four species of Neoconocephalus katydids in a sequential pattern across its three annual generations. The fly locates hosts by eavesdropping on male katydid mating calls, depositing first-instar larvae that develop internally and kill the host upon emergence. Its multi-species host use creates complex evolutionary dynamics with each host species exerting different selective pressures.
Ormia ochracea
Ormia ochracea is a small yellow nocturnal tachinid fly renowned for its exceptional directional hearing and acoustic parasitism of field crickets. Females locate singing male crickets through phonotaxis, then deposit planidial larvae that develop internally and kill the host within approximately 7 days. The fly's auditory system employs mechanically coupled tympanal membranes that amplify nanosecond-scale interaural time differences, enabling sound localization precision comparable to humans despite an interear distance of less than 1 mm. This unique physiology has made O. ochracea a prominent model organism for auditory neuroscience and bioinspired microphone design.
Ormia punctata
Ormia punctata is a tachinid fly in the tribe Ormiini, first described by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830. The species belongs to a genus notable for its specialized parasitoid lifestyle targeting crickets and katydids. Ormiine flies possess a distinctive hearing organ adapted for locating their singing hosts. The species has been recorded from North America, though detailed biological information remains limited.
Ormia reinhardi
Ormia reinhardi is a species of tachinid fly (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the tribe Ormiini. The genus Ormia is notable for its parasitoid lifestyle, with females depositing larvae on or near singing crickets and katydids. Ormia reinhardi has been recorded from the United States and Canada. The species was described by Curtis Sabrosky in 1953.
Ormiini
Ormiini is a tribe of tachinid flies distinguished by their specialized acoustic hunting behavior. Females possess a prothoracic tympanal hearing organ that enables phonotaxis toward the calling songs of host orthopterans. They are parasitoids of crickets and bush-crickets, depositing planidial larvae on or near hosts. The tribe includes approximately seven genera distributed across multiple continents.
Ormocerinae
Ormocerinae is a subfamily of chalcidoid wasps within the family Pteromalidae, established by Walker in 1833. The group contains approximately 40 described genera, including the type genus Ormocerus and the well-known genus Trichilogaster. Members are small parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details remain poorly documented for most taxa.
Ormocerus
Ormocerus is a genus of minute parasitoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae, subfamily Ormocerinae. The genus was established by Francis Walker in 1834. Species in this genus are known or suspected to be parasitoids of gall-forming insects, particularly cynipid gall wasps on oaks. At least one species, Ormocerus dirigoius, has been documented from Maine, United States.
Ormyridae
Ormyridae is a small family of parasitic wasps in the superfamily Chalcidoidea. Members are parasitoids or hyperparasitoids of gall-forming insects, primarily cynipid wasps and tephritid flies. The family comprises approximately 153 species across three subfamilies (Asparagobiinae, Hemadinae, Ormyrinae) and several genera, with the majority in the genus Ormyrus. Ormyridae has a cosmopolitan distribution but is almost entirely absent from South America. Adults of many species exhibit iridescent coloration and distinctive metasomal sculpturing.
Ormyrus
Ormyrus is a genus of small chalcid wasps in the family Ormyridae, containing approximately 145 described species. These wasps are parasitoids primarily associated with gall-forming insects, including cynipid gall wasps, chalcid wasps, gall midges, and tephritid fruit flies. The genus exhibits significant cryptic diversity, as demonstrated by the case of Ormyrus labotus, long considered a single generalist species attacking over 65 host species, but now recognized as a complex of at least 16–18 genetically distinct, morphologically identical specialist species. Ormyrus species are found across the Old World and North America.
Ormyrus rosae
Ormyrus rosae is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ormyridae, first described by Ashmead in 1885. The species is known from gall-associated habitats in North America, with records from Colorado, Florida, Kansas, New Jersey, and Ontario. As a member of the genus Ormyrus, it likely parasitizes gall-forming insects, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented. The species epithet 'rosae' suggests a historical association with rose-feeding hosts, possibly the gall wasp Diplolepis rosae.
Ormyrus venustus
Ormyrus venustus is a species of parasitoid wasp in the family Ormyridae, described by Hanson in 1992. Like other members of the genus Ormyrus, it is a parasitoid of gall-forming insects. The genus Ormyrus has been the subject of recent research revealing extensive cryptic species diversity, with morphologically identical populations often representing multiple genetically distinct species. O. venustus is known from scattered records across the United States including Arizona, California, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts.
Orthocentrinae
Orthocentrinae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps within Ichneumonidae. The group is among the least-studied ichneumonid subfamilies despite representing a major component of tropical faunas. At least 29 genera are recognized, with substantial undescribed diversity in the Neotropics. Recent surveys in Brazil and Mexico have revealed species richness far exceeding previous estimates.
Orthogonalys pulchella
Orthogonalys pulchella is a species of hyperparasitoid wasp in the family Trigonalidae. This species is part of a unique guild of parasitoids that target the larvae of other parasitoid wasps rather than primary hosts. The species was described by Cresson and has been documented in parts of North America.
Orthopelma
Orthopelma is a Holarctic genus of parasitoid wasps, the sole genus in the subfamily Orthopelmatinae (Ichneumonidae). Species are idiobiont endoparasitoids that develop within cynipid galls on Rosaceae, primarily attacking gall wasps in the genus Diplolepis on Rosa species. The genus contains 13 extant species distributed across the Nearctic and Palearctic regions.
Orthopelmatinae
Orthopelmatinae is a monogeneric subfamily of Ichneumonidae containing only the genus Orthopelma. Members are Holarctic idiobiont endoparasitoids specialized on cynipid gall wasps, primarily Diplolepis species on roses. The subfamily exhibits the rare egg-larval parasitoid strategy, with females ovipositing directly into host eggs.
Orus armiger
Orus armiger is a species of parasitic woodwasp in the family Orussidae, a group notable for their unique evolutionary position and specialized host-finding behavior. The family Orussidae contains only about 75 species worldwide, making it one of the smallest and least understood families of Hymenoptera. Orussid wasps are the only parasitoid wasps that attack wood-boring beetle larvae, using vibrational sounding to locate hosts within solid wood. Adults are rarely encountered in the field and are frequently mistaken for ants due to their appearance and behavior.
Orussidae
parasitic wood wasps, parasitoid wood wasps
Orussidae is a small family of approximately 93 extant species of parasitoid sawflies. They occupy a pivotal phylogenetic position as the sister taxon to the megadiverse Apocrita, indicating that parasitism evolved in the common ancestor of Orussidae + Apocrita. Adults are rarely encountered, typically found on sun-exposed dead wood where females use vibrational sounding to locate concealed hosts. Larvae are the only carnivorous sawfly larvae known, acting as parasitoids of wood-boring beetles and other Hymenoptera.
Orussus
Orussus is a genus of parasitic wood wasps in the family Orussidae, comprising approximately 11 described species. These wasps are unique among woodwasps for their parasitoid lifestyle, attacking the immature stages of wood-boring beetles and other wasps. Adults are rarely encountered and have historically been poorly collected, though citizen science platforms have recently helped expand knowledge of their distribution. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, now placed in its own superfamily Orussoidea within the suborder Apocrita.
Orussus minutus
Orussus minutus is a rarely collected parasitic woodwasp in the family Orussidae, native to the eastern United States. The species is notable for its significant western range expansion documented through citizen science platforms and museum collections. Previously known from only about 50 specimens mainly in the Northeast, new records from Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, and Manitoba extend its range hundreds of miles westward. The species is extremely uncommon in collections despite intensive trapping efforts.
Orussus occidentalis
Western Orussid Wasp
Orussus occidentalis is a parasitic woodwasp in the family Orussidae, one of the most evolutionarily basal lineages of parasitic Hymenoptera. Adults are rarely encountered and frequently mistaken for carpenter ants due to their dark coloration and wing-folding posture. The species employs a unique host-location strategy using vibrational sounding: females tap their clubbed antennae against wood surfaces and detect returning echoes through specialized subgenual organs in their front legs to locate concealed wood-boring beetle larvae.