Parasitoid
Guides
Aphidiinae
Aphid Mummy Wasps
Aphidiinae is a subfamily of tiny parasitoid wasps within Braconidae that exclusively parasitize aphids. Adults are minute, typically under 5 mm, with reduced wing venation characteristic of microgastroid wasps. The common name 'Aphid Mummy Wasps' refers to the distinctive 'mummy' formed when parasitized aphids die, dry out, and become leathery brown or black shells containing the wasp pupa. Several species have been successfully deployed in biological control programs targeting agricultural aphid pests.
Aphidiini
Aphidiini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps within Braconidae (Hymenoptera) that specialize in attacking aphids (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Members of this tribe are koinobiont endoparasitoids, developing within living aphid hosts. Several species have been introduced globally as biological control agents for aphid pests in agricultural and forestry systems. The tribe includes genera such as *Diaeretus*, *Aphidius*, and *Lysiphlebus*.
Aphidius
Aphidius is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Aphidiinae. Adults are typically less than 3.2 mm in length. All known species are endoparasitoids of aphids, with females laying eggs directly into aphid hosts. The developing larvae consume the aphid from within, eventually killing it and forming a characteristic 'mummy'—a tan or yellow, enlarged exoskeleton from which the adult wasp emerges by chewing a round exit hole. The genus has cosmopolitan distribution and includes species widely used for biological control of aphid pests in agriculture and horticulture.
Aphidius ervi
Aphidius ervi is a parasitoid wasp in the subfamily Aphidiinae, widely distributed globally and extensively used in biological control programs against aphid pests. It parasitizes larger aphid species, particularly Macrosiphum euphorbiae (potato aphid) and Aulacorthum solani (foxglove aphid), and to a lesser extent Acyrthosiphon pisum (pea aphid). The wasp induces host castration and immunosuppression through venom proteins, allowing its larva to develop within the living aphid until emerging from a characteristic 'aphid mummy' by chewing a round exit hole.
Aphoebantus leucospilus
Aphoebantus leucospilus is a species of bee fly described by Tabet and Hall in 1987. The genus Aphoebantus belongs to the family Bombyliidae, a diverse group of flies commonly known as bee flies due to their frequent resemblance to bees. Bee flies are generally characterized by their stout, hairy bodies and long proboscises adapted for feeding on nectar. The specific epithet "leucospilus" suggests a white-spotted appearance, though this interpretation is speculative without direct examination of type material.
Aphria ocypterata
Aphria ocypterata is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It was described by Townsend in 1891. As a tachinid fly, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host records for this species are not documented. It is found in North America.
Aphycus
Aphycus is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Encyrtidae, subfamily Encyrtinae. The genus was established by Mayr in 1876 and contains species that are parasitoids of scale insects (Coccoidea). Species in this genus have been recorded from multiple continents including Europe, North America, and Asia. The UCR Encyrtidae collection holds several Aphycus species including A. apicalis, A. bifasciatus, A. hadzibejliae, A. hederaceus, A. rubescens, A. secundus, and A. shutovae.
Aplomerus
A small genus of parasitoid wasps in the subfamily Xoridinae (Ichneumonidae). The genus exhibits a disjunct distribution across North America, Japan, and southeast Asia. Eight species are currently recognized, including two described from the Oriental region (Thailand and Vietnam) and one from Japan. Aplomerus is considered a basal lineage within Xoridinae.
Apocephalus
ant-decapitating flies, scuttle flies (informal)
Apocephalus is a genus of phorid flies comprising at least 300 described species, commonly known as ant-decapitating flies. Species within this genus are primarily parasitoids of ants, with females laying eggs in hosts that subsequently develop into larvae that consume the host from within, often resulting in host decapitation. The genus has gained particular attention due to Apocephalus borealis, which parasitizes honey bees and causes aberrant nocturnal behavior leading to hive abandonment. Several species groups have been taxonomically revised, including the mucronatus group and subgenus Mesophora, with numerous new species described in recent decades.
Apocephalus borealis
Zombie Fly, ZomBee Fly
Apocephalus borealis is a parasitoid phorid fly native to North America that attacks bumblebees, paper wasps, and European honey bees. The species gained attention in 2008 when researchers at San Francisco State University discovered it parasitizing honey bees in California. Infected bees exhibit aberrant behaviors including nocturnal flight, disorientation, and attraction to light sources, earning the flies the common name 'zombie flies' and infected bees the name 'zombees.' The fly may act as a vector for honey bee pathogens including deformed wing virus and Nosema ceranae.
Apocephalus coquilletti
scuttle fly
Apocephalus coquilletti is a species of scuttle fly in the family Phoridae, first described by Malloch in 1912. The genus Apocephalus is notable for its parasitic species that attack ants, with A. coquilletti specifically documented attacking ants of the genus Camponotus. Like other phorid flies, adults are characterized by a distinctive humpbacked thorax and reduced wing venation.
Apopria coveri
Apopria coveri is a species of velvet ant (family Mutillidae), a group of solitary wasps known for their striking aposematic coloration and powerful sting. Females are wingless and resemble large, hairy ants, while males possess wings. The genus Apopria is part of the subfamily Sphaeropthalminae, which is primarily distributed in the New World. Like other mutillids, this species is likely parasitoid, with females seeking out ground-nesting hosts such as solitary bees or wasps to deposit their eggs.
Aporinellus taeniatus
Aporinellus taeniatus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, first described by Kohl in 1886. The species belongs to a genus of solitary wasps known for hunting spiders as prey for their larvae. Like other members of Pompilidae, this species exhibits the characteristic wasp-waisted body form and possesses a sting used to paralyze host spiders. The specific epithet 'taeniatus' refers to a banded or striped appearance, suggesting distinctive coloration patterns on the body.
Aporus
spider wasps
Aporus is a genus of small spider wasps in the family Pompilidae, containing approximately twelve described species. These wasps are specialized predators that hunt ground-dwelling spiders, particularly those occupying burrows. The genus is distributed across North America, Europe, and Asia. Adults are frequently observed visiting flowers for nectar.
Aporus concolor
Aporus concolor is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae. The genus Aporus is characterized by a streamlined thorax that slopes gradually toward the head, short legs relative to other spider wasps, and relatively short, thick antennae. Species-level information for A. concolor specifically is sparse in the available literature. Members of this genus are parasitoids that paralyze spiders and use the spider's own burrow as a nest, depositing a single egg on the immobilized host.
Aporus hirsutus
hirsute spider wasp
Aporus hirsutus is a species of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, described by Banks in 1917. It belongs to a genus characterized by a streamlined thorax that slopes gradually toward the head, short legs relative to body size, and short, thick antennae. Members of the genus Aporus are known to parasitize trapdoor spiders and other mygalomorph spiders, with females utilizing the host's own burrow as a nest after paralyzing the spider with a sting.
Aporus luxus
Aporus luxus is a small spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, recognized by its iridescent blue-black coloration and streamlined body form. Adults measure 8-15 mm in length and are frequently observed on flowers, particularly umbellifers such as Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota), where they feed on nectar. The species is a specialist parasitoid of trapdoor spiders in the family Euctenizidae, with at least one confirmed record of rearing from Aptostichus sp. Females sting spiders into paralysis and deposit a single egg on the host within the spider's own burrow.
Aporus luxus assimilis
Aporus luxus assimilis is a subspecies of spider wasp in the family Pompilidae, originally described by Banks in 1917. Current taxonomic databases list this name as a synonym of Aporus luxus rather than a valid subspecies. The parent species A. luxus is a small iridescent blue-black wasp, 8–15 mm in length, known from western North America. Adults are commonly found on flowers of umbellifers and other plants where they feed on nectar. Females hunt trapdoor spiders (family Euctenizidae), paralyzing them and using the spider's own burrow as a nest for their offspring.
Aprostocetus
Aprostocetus is a large genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, established by Westwood in 1833. With approximately 800 described species, it has a global distribution across all major zoogeographic regions. Species are primarily ectoparasitoids or endoparasitoids of insects inhabiting plant galls, including gall midges (Cecidomyiidae), gall wasps (Cynipoidea), and other hosts spanning Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Blattodea, Orthoptera, and Neuroptera. Some species are phytophagous, inducing galls directly on plants. The genus is economically significant as a source of biological control agents for invasive pests.
Aprostocetus fidius
Aprostocetus fidius is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eulophidae, subfamily Tetrastichinae, described by Girault in 1917. It belongs to a large genus of parasitoid wasps that are frequently associated with gall-forming insects and other arthropods. The species is recorded from several U.S. states including Florida, Illinois, Mississippi, and New Mexico. Like other members of Tetrastichinae, it is presumed to be a parasitoid, though specific host associations for this species remain poorly documented.
Apsilops
Apsilops is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Cryptinae, containing approximately nine described species. Members are parasitoids of lepidopteran larvae, with documented associations including aquatic crambid moths and rice pests. The genus includes both aquatic and terrestrial species, reflecting diverse habitat specializations among its members.
Apterodryinus torvus
Apterodryinus torvus is a species of dryinid wasp in the family Dryinidae. Dryinid wasps are parasitoids, primarily known for attacking leafhoppers and planthoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha). Species in the genus Apterodryinus are characterized by reduced or absent wings in females, an adaptation associated with their parasitoid lifestyle. The specific biology of A. torvus remains poorly documented in published literature.
Aptesini
Aptesini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps within the family Ichneumonidae, comprising 24 described genera. These are parasitoid wasps, though specific biological details for the tribe as a whole remain poorly documented in published literature. The tribe is part of the diverse and speciose subfamily Ichneumoninae.
Aptesis
Aptesis is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Arnold Förster in 1850. The genus contains approximately 74 described species with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Species within this genus are primarily ectoparasitoids of sawfly prepupae and cocoons, with some species serving as important biological control agents. Well-studied species include Aptesis nigrocincta, a bivoltine ectoparasitoid of apple sawfly cocoons, and Aptesis basizona, a parasitoid of pine sawflies used in classical biological control programs.
Aptesis nigrocincta
Aptesis nigrocincta is a bivoltine solitary ectoparasitoid wasp that attacks cocoons of the apple sawfly (Hoplocampa testudinea). Females are nearly wingless and significantly smaller than males, an adaptation for searching soil at 10–25 cm depth. The species is considered the most important mortality factor for apple sawfly cocoons in the studied orchard, achieving parasitism rates of 12.1–39.7% per generation.
Arachnophaga
Arachnophaga is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Eupelmidae. The genus has been documented infesting egg sacs of bolas spiders (genus Mastophora). As a member of Eupelmidae, it belongs to a family known for diverse parasitoid lifestyles targeting arthropod hosts.
Arachnophaga ferruginea
Arachnophaga ferruginea is a species of chalcid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, described by Gahan in 1943. The genus Arachnophaga comprises parasitoid wasps, with species known to attack spider eggs. The specific epithet 'ferruginea' refers to a rusty or iron-colored appearance. Distribution records indicate occurrence in Florida and Virginia, United States.
Archytas apicifer
Hornworm Tachinid Fly
Archytas apicifer is a medium to large tachinid fly (10-15 mm) native to the Nearctic region. Adults feed on flower nectar and serve as pollinators. The larvae are internal parasitoids of caterpillars, including economically significant pest species. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1849 and is one of approximately 10,000 species in the family Tachinidae.
Archytas aterrimus
Archytas aterrimus is a species of tachinid fly in the family Tachinidae. The species was originally described as Jurinia aterrima by Robineau-Desvoidy in 1830 before being transferred to the genus Archytas. Tachinid flies in this genus are generally parasitoids of other insects. The species has been documented in field observations on flowers of Ericameria nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush) in the southwestern United States, where it has been noted as a large, black, bristly fly occurring alongside other tachinid species.
Archytas lateralis
Archytas lateralis is a species of bristle fly in the family Tachinidae. It is distributed across North America, including Canada, the United States, and Mexico. As a member of the Tachinidae family, it is a parasitoid fly, though specific details about its host relationships and biology remain limited in available sources.
Archytas marmoratus
marbled bristle fly
Archytas marmoratus is a tachinid bristle fly and member of the marmoratus species group. It is a larval-pupal parasitoid of noctuid moth caterpillars, particularly the corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). In 1986, it was successfully employed in biological control programs against the fall armyworm. The species has been used in inundative release programs, achieving parasitism rates exceeding 90% in isolated corn fields.
Archytas metallicus
Archytas metallicus is a species of tachinid fly (family Tachinidae) distributed across North America. As a member of the Tachininae subfamily, it belongs to a group of parasitoid flies whose larvae develop inside other insects. The species has been documented visiting flowers of Ericameria nauseosa (rubber rabbitbrush), where it occurs alongside other pollinators and flower-visiting insects. It is one of numerous Archytas species in the Nearctic region, many of which remain poorly studied in terms of their specific host relationships and ecological details.
Argochrysis inornata
Argochrysis inornata is a species of cuckoo wasp in the family Chrysididae. Members of the genus Argochrysis are kleptoparasites that target ground-nesting bees, particularly in the family Anthophoridae. The specific name "inornata" (Latin for "unadorned" or "plain") suggests relatively simple coloration compared to the metallic brilliance typical of many chrysidids.
Aridelus
Aridelus is a genus of braconid wasps in the subfamily Euphorinae, comprising approximately 40 described species with cosmopolitan distribution but greatest diversity in tropical regions. These wasps are solitary koinobiont endoparasitoids of heteropteran bugs, primarily targeting nymphs and adults of stink bugs (Pentatomidae) and related families. Several species have been investigated for biological control potential against agricultural pests, particularly Nezara viridula.
Arotes
Arotes is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. Species are distributed across Europe and the Americas. At least one species, Arotes decorus, has been documented as a parasitoid of the longhorn beetle Yakuhananomia bidentata. The genus comprises five described species.
Arotes decorus
Arotes decorus is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. It is known to be a parasitoid of two cerambycid beetle species: Xylotrechus colonus and Yakuhananomia bidentata. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1835 and is part of the diverse and species-rich Ichneumonidae family, which contains thousands of parasitoid wasp species.
Arthrolytus
A genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Pteromalidae. European species have been reared from cynipid galls on oak, indicating a parasitoid relationship with gall wasps. The genus includes at least two newly described European species, A. nanus and A. incisus, alongside A. ocellus.
Asobara
Asobara is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae containing approximately forty species. The genus is best known as parasitoids of Drosophila larvae, with Asobara tabida serving as a major model organism for studying parasitoid-host interactions and the hologenome concept. Members of this genus lack polydnaviruses, instead employing venom-based strategies to suppress host immune defenses. Several species, including A. tabida and A. japonica, exhibit obligate or facultative associations with Wolbachia endosymbionts that influence reproduction and host-finding behavior.
Asphondylia antennariae
Asphondylia antennariae is a gall midge in the family Cecidomyiidae. The larvae induce galls on the buds of Antennaria plantaginifolia, a plantain-leaved pussytoes. First described by William Morton Wheeler in 1889, this species has been documented in Wisconsin and Maine, though its host plant ranges widely across eastern North America.
Asphondylia borrichiae
Asphondylia borrichiae is a gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) that induces galls at the apical meristems of its host plant Borrichia frutescens. The larvae develop and pupate entirely within these galls. During development, immature stages are attacked by a guild of parasitic wasps, with Galeopsomyia haemon and Torymus umbilicatus being the most common parasitoids. Research has demonstrated that abiotic factors affecting host plant characteristics, particularly gall diameter, significantly influence the composition of the parasitoid community attacking this midge.
Aspicerinae
Aspicerinae is a subfamily of parasitic cynipoid wasps within the family Figitidae (Hymenoptera: Cynipoidea). The subfamily contains multiple genera including Aspicera, Prosaspicera, Callaspidia, Omalaspis, and Paraspicera. Members are primarily Holarctic in distribution, though some genera extend into the Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Oriental regions. The group has undergone extensive recent taxonomic revision, revealing substantially greater species diversity than previously recognized.
Aspilota
Aspilota is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Braconidae, subfamily Alysiinae. The genus was established by Förster in 1863 and includes species distributed across the Holarctic and Neotropical regions. Recent taxonomic work has described new species from Denmark and Argentina, expanding the known geographic range of the genus. Aspilota is classified within the Alysiinae, a subfamily characterized by koinobiont endoparasitoid biology, though species-specific biological details for Aspilota remain poorly documented.
Astichus
Astichus is a genus of small parasitoid wasps in the family Eulophidae, subfamily Entiinae. Species are associated with bracket fungi and woody polypores, where they develop as endoparasitoids of Ciidae beetles (minute tree-fungus beetles). The genus was first described by Förster in 1856 and has been recorded from the Nearctic, Palearctic, and Afrotropical regions. South African species exhibit distinctive coloration and patterning that separates them from congeners in other regions.
Atacta
Atacta is a genus of tachinid flies established by Schiner in 1868. The genus contains four described species distributed in the Neotropical region. Like other members of the tribe Goniini, these flies are parasitoids, though specific host associations for Atacta species remain poorly documented.
Atanycolus
Atanycolus is a genus of braconid wasps comprising over 70 described species distributed worldwide. Species in this genus are parasitoids of wood-boring beetles, primarily targeting larvae in families Buprestidae (jewel beetles) and Curculionidae (weevils). Several species have been documented as natural enemies of invasive pests, including the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The genus has been recovered from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Atanycolus cappaerti
Atanycolus cappaerti is a North American braconid wasp that parasitizes larvae of the invasive emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). The species was described in 2009 and has been studied for its potential as a native biological control agent against this destructive forest pest. It is one of several native parasitoids that may be adapting to exploit the emerald ash borer as a host in invaded areas.
Athrycia
Athrycia is a genus of tachinid flies (Diptera: Tachinidae) in the tribe Voriini. The genus contains at least five described species, with Athrycia cinerea being the most thoroughly studied. Species in this genus are larval parasitoids of Lepidoptera, with documented host associations primarily involving noctuid moths. The genus has been recorded from the Palearctic region (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) and Nearctic region (Canada).
Athrycia cinerea
Athrycia cinerea is a univoltine tachinid fly parasitoid native to North America, primarily associated with the bertha armyworm (Mamestra configurata) in Canadian rapeseed fields. Females oviposit on third through sixth instar host larvae, with parasite larvae typically developing gregariously and maturing on fifth and sixth instars. The species exhibits temperature-dependent pupal diapause, which is usually prevented at 25°C but occurs at 20°C.
Atractodes
Atractodes is a cosmopolitan genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, first described by Gravenhorst in 1829. The genus has been historically classified in different subfamilies, with some species groups placed in Phygadeuontinae and others in Cryptinae. Multiple species groups have been defined to accommodate morphologically similar species, particularly in the Neotropical region where recent taxonomic revisions have described numerous new species. The genus exhibits considerable diversity in the Americas, with records from North America, Central America, and South America, as well as Europe.
Atrusca
Atrusca is a genus of gall wasps in the family Cynipidae, tribe Cynipini, comprising approximately 42 species distributed across North and Central America. These tiny wasps are specialized herbivores that induce characteristic galls on oak (Quercus) host plants. The genus forms a phylogenetically distinct clade most closely related to Cynips, Philonix, and Xanthoteras, and morphologically resembles Cynips and Antron. Species exhibit high host specificity, with each typically restricted to one or a few closely related oak species.
gall-waspCynipidaeoak-gallQuercusherbivoreparasitoidNorth-AmericaMexicoCentral-AmericaCynipiniinduced-gallplant-insect-interactionhost-specificityalternation-of-generationsasexual-reproductionsexual-reproductionecosystem-engineerinquilinehyperparasitoidbella-species-complexphylogeneticstaxonomyKinsey-1930