Planidium
Guides
Deretaphrus
Deretaphrus is a genus of dry bark beetles (family Bothrideridae) comprising 25 species with a highly disjunct distribution centered on Australia. The genus was established in 1842 by Edward Newman based on specimens from Port Phillip, Australia. Most species (22) occur in Australia, with single species in New Caledonia, Bolivia, and western North America. The larvae are ectoparasites of woodboring beetle grubs, while adults appear to consume plant material.
Euceros
Euceros is a cosmopolitan genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Eucerotinae, containing approximately 48 described species. The genus was historically placed in Tryphoninae but is now recognized as sister to Barronia. At least some species are hyperparasitoids, with E. frigidus documented as attacking the sawfly Neodiprion swainei in Canadian jack pine forests.
Eutrichosoma mirabile
Eutrichosoma mirabile is a parasitoid wasp in the family Eutrichosomatidae (Chalcidoidea) that attacks weevil larvae. The species possesses planidial larvae—mobile, morphologically specialized first-instar larvae with a cranial spine, tubercles, and cerci that actively seek and attach to host weevil larvae. Eggs are small and stalked, laid directly on top of host eggs within seed pods of whitethorn acacia. This species has been collected in southeastern Arizona and is documented from multiple U.S. states including District of Columbia, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, and Maryland.
Heterostylum robustum
bomber fly
Heterostylum robustum is a parasitic bee fly (Diptera: Bombyliidae) commonly known as the bomber fly. It is a significant parasitoid of ground-nesting bees, particularly the alkali bee Nomia melanderi, an important pollinator of alfalfa in western North America. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism and has a complex life cycle involving active larval host-seeking behavior and overwintering underground. Its parasitic strategy involves launching eggs into host nests rather than direct contact with hosts.
Macrosiagon limbata
Bordered Wedge-shaped Beetle
Macrosiagon limbata is a wedge-shaped beetle in the family Ripiphoridae, first described by Fabricius in 1781. Adults are active in summer and found on flowers, particularly elderberries and goldenrod. The species undergoes hypermetamorphosis, with larvae serving as internal parasitoids of Crabronidae wasps. Females deposit eggs on flowers visited by bees and other hymenopterans, where first-instar planidia attach to hosts for transport to nests.
Mantispidae
mantidflies, mantispids, mantid lacewings, mantis-flies
Mantispidae is a family of neuropteran insects comprising approximately 400 species in around 400 genera, distributed worldwide with highest diversity in tropical and subtropical regions. Adults are predators characterized by raptorial forelegs—convergent with mantises but independently evolved—used to capture small arthropod prey. The family exhibits diverse larval life histories: Mantispinae are ectoparasitoids of spider egg sacs; Symphrasinae parasitize ground-nesting hymenopterans and scarab beetle larvae; Calomantispinae are predatory on small arthropods; and Drepanicinae life history remains largely unknown. First-instar larvae (planidia) employ specialized host-location strategies including direct penetration of egg sacs or phoretic transport on female spiders.
Perilampidae
perilampid wasps
Perilampidae is a family of small chalcidoid wasps comprising approximately 270 described species across 15 genera. Most species are hyperparasitoids, parasitizing other parasitoid larvae within host insects, though some function as primary parasitoids. The family is characterized by brilliant metallic coloration, robust body form, and a unique life history involving mobile first-instar larvae called planidia. Perilampidae is closely related to Eucharitidae, with which it shares the planidial larval stage and multidigitate labrum.
Perilampus
Perilampus is a genus of minute parasitic wasps in the family Perilampidae, ranging from 1.3–5.5 mm in length. Many species exhibit brilliant metallic green or blue coloration, though some are entirely black. The genus is notable for its complex hyperparasitic life cycle, involving a mobile planidium larva that actively seeks hosts. Approximately 260–277 species are recognized worldwide, with 36 species recorded from North America north of Mexico.
Perilampus chrysopae
Perilampus chrysopae is a species of hyperparasitic wasp in the family Perilampidae, described by Crawford in 1914. The species name 'chrysopae' indicates an association with lacewings (Chrysopidae), which serve as hosts. Like other perilampids, it exhibits a complex life cycle involving broadcast egg-laying and mobile planidium larvae that actively seek hosts. The species is documented from multiple provinces across Canada.
Perilampus hyalinus
A Nearctic parasitoid wasp in the family Perilampidae, part of a species complex historically confused under this name for over 100 years. Recent integrative taxonomic revision (2024) clarified its status through neotype designation with COI sequence, establishing it as either a hyperparasitoid of dipteran parasitoids of Orthoptera or a parasitoid of dipteran kleptoparasites of Crabronidae and Sphecidae that provision nests with Orthoptera. Distinguished from eight newly described congeneric species through morphology, COI, ITS2, and host data.
Perilampus platigaster
A minute parasitic wasp in the family Perilampidae, measuring 1.3–5.5 mm in length. Many individuals display brilliant metallic green or blue coloration, though some are entirely black. The species is a hyperparasitoid, with larvae that parasitize other parasitic insects, typically tachinid flies, ichneumon wasps, or braconid wasps living inside caterpillars or other insect larvae. Females broadcast eggs on vegetation and bark; hatched planidium larvae actively seek hosts by attaching to moving objects.
Perilampus prothoracicus
Perilampus prothoracicus is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Perilampidae, measuring 1.3–5.5 mm in length. The species exhibits the family's characteristic hyperparasitic lifestyle, with larvae typically parasitizing other parasitoid insects. Females broadcast eggs on vegetation, and the resulting mobile planidium larvae actively seek hosts by attaching to moving objects.
Perilampus stygicus
Perilampus stygicus is a small parasitic wasp in the family Perilampidae, measuring 1.3–5.5 mm in length. It is a hyperparasitoid, with larvae that parasitize other parasitic insects such as tachinid flies, ichneumon wasps, or braconid wasps living inside caterpillars or other insect larvae. The species exhibits a distinctive triangular or inverted pyramid-shaped abdomen and short, strongly elbowed antennae that help distinguish it from similar-looking cuckoo wasps (Chrysididae).
Pseudometagea
Pseudometagea is a genus of parasitic wasps in the family Eucharitidae, characterized by endoparasitic first-instar larvae (planidia) that develop internally within host ant larvae. The genus is notable for having evolved endoparasitism independently within Eucharitidae, exhibiting koinobiosis where the parasitoid allows the host to continue development. The life history has been documented primarily for P. schwarzii, which parasitizes Lasius neoniger. Adults are short-lived and typically remain near host nests.
Ripiphoridae
wedge-shaped beetles
Ripiphoridae is a cosmopolitan family of approximately 450 described species of beetles commonly known as wedge-shaped beetles. The family is notable for hypermetamorphic parasitoid development, a trait shared only with Meloidae among beetles. Host associations vary by subfamily: Ripiphorinae attack bees and wasps, Ripidiinae parasitize cockroaches, and Pelecotominae attack wood-boring beetle larvae. The family exhibits extreme morphological modifications including abbreviated elytra, sexually dimorphic antennae (flabellate or pectinate in males), and in some groups, wingless larviform females.