Sawfly-parasite
Guides
Adelognathinae
Adelognathinae is a subfamily of ichneumonid wasps comprising ectoparasitoid species that attack sawfly larvae. Members exhibit koinobiont or idiobiont strategies, with some species displaying unusual reproductive biology including egg deposition directly from the genital opening rather than through the ovipositor. The subfamily is best documented from Britain, where detailed studies have revealed rapid larval development and complex host-feeding behaviors.
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.
Boettcheria bisetosa
Boettcheria bisetosa is a species of flesh fly in the family Sarcophagidae, first described by Parker in 1914. The genus Boettcheria comprises parasitoid flies whose larvae develop within other insects. B. bisetosa has been documented as a parasitoid of sawfly pupae, specifically reared from pupal cocoons of the Elm Sawfly (Cimbex americana). Like other sarcophagids, adults likely do not feed at the larval host but instead consume nectar or other liquid foods.
Boettcheria cimbicis
Boettcheria cimbicis is a species of flesh fly in the family Sarcophagidae. The species has been documented as a parasitoid of the Elm Sawfly (Cimbex americana), specifically reared from its pupal cocoons. It represents a specialized ecological relationship within the Sarcophagidae, a family better known for generalist carrion-feeding habits.
Boettcheria latisterna
Boettcheria latisterna is a species of flesh fly in the family Sarcophagidae, described by Parker in 1914. The genus Boettcheria comprises sarcophagid flies associated with parasitic life histories. This species has been documented as a parasitoid of the Elm Sawfly (Cimbex americana), specifically reared from pupal cocoons of that host.
Cleptes
cuckoo wasps, jewel wasps
Cleptes is a genus of cuckoo wasps comprising approximately 100 recognized species, making it the largest genus in the subfamily Cleptinae. Members are parasitoids of sawfly prepupae, exhibiting the characteristic brood parasitism of their family. The genus has been relatively well studied in Europe and North America, though Asian faunas remain poorly documented. A 2013 revision from China recognized seventeen species, nine of which were newly described.
Cleptinae
Cleptinae is a small subfamily of cuckoo wasps in the family Chrysididae, containing three genera and approximately 100 described species. They are obligate parasitoids of prepupal larvae of tenthredinid sawflies. Members are generally medium-sized, measuring 4–6 mm in length. They may be locally abundant during outbreaks of their host populations, though generally considered rare.
Exenterus
Exenterus is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Tryphoninae, first described by Hartig in 1837. The genus contains species that are specialized parasitoids of sawflies in the family Diprionidae, with documented hosts including Neodiprion sertifer, N. swainei, N. autumnalis, Diprion sertifer, and Zadiprion falsus. Several species have been introduced across continents for biological control of pine sawfly pests. The genus exhibits notable morphological diversity in egg structure, with European species showing an evolutionary gradient from simple to highly specialized stalked eggs that correlates with climatic tolerance and biological control success.
Exenterus amictorius
Exenterus amictorius is an ichneumonid parasitoid wasp introduced to North America that attacks sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae), particularly during the pre-spinning eonymph stage. The species exhibits adaptive host discrimination behavior that changes during the host's spinning period, lacks discrimination initially but rapidly acquires and maintains this ability. It shows strong positive density-dependent responses to host abundance and has established successfully on multiple diprionid hosts across North America. In multiparasitism situations with the native E. diprionis, E. amictorius consistently survives due to faster larval development.
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Darwin wasps
Mesoleiini is a tribe of approximately 600 described species within the subfamily Ctenopelmatinae (Ichneumonidae). Members are koinobiont endoparasitoids of larval sawflies (Symphyta), primarily associated with hosts in Tenthredinoidea. The tribe is predominantly distributed in Holarctic regions, with fewer species in Neotropical and Oriental regions.
Mesoleius
Mesoleius is a genus of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps containing at least 160 described species. The genus is best known from detailed studies of Mesoleius tenthredinis, a biological control agent introduced to North America to manage larch sawfly populations. Species in this genus are endoparasitoids of sawfly larvae, with females depositing eggs directly into host cocoons or larvae. The genus has been documented from Europe and North America.
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.
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.
Phorocera
Phorocera is a genus of tachinid flies comprising approximately 13 described species. Species in this genus are parasitoids of various insect hosts, particularly sawflies and lepidopteran larvae. Several species have been investigated for biological control of forest pests, including conifer-feeding sawflies and the spruce budworm. The genus is characterized by specific adult and immature morphological features used in identification.
Polyblastus
Polyblastus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the subfamily Tryphoninae. Females are koinobiont ectoparasitoids of sawfly larvae, carrying multiple small eggs externally on the ovipositor or abdomen. The genus has been documented in Europe and North America, with field observations in northern Germany and Colorado, USA. Some species have been observed with egg clusters attached to foliage, though the function of this behavior remains unclear.
Polyblastus fulvilinealis
Polyblastus fulvilinealis is a small ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae. It is a koinobiont ectoparasitoid of sawfly larvae, meaning the host continues development until the wasp larva completes its growth. Females have been observed carrying multiple eggs externally beneath the abdomen, a behavior whose precise function remains unclear. The species occurs in North America and has been documented in Colorado.
Polyblastus stenocentrus
Polyblastus stenocentrus is a small ichneumon wasp in the tribe Tryphonini. It is a koinobiont ectoparasitoid of sawfly larvae, with females carrying unusually large egg loads compared to related idiobiont wasps. The species has been documented in Colorado and Alberta, Canada. Observations suggest females may carry egg clusters externally on the abdomen, a behavior whose function remains incompletely understood.
Polyblastus tibialis
A species of ichneumon wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae. Documented from western Canada with records from Alberta. Belongs to a genus of koinobiont ectoparasitoids that attack sawfly larvae. The specific epithet 'tibialis' likely refers to a characteristic of the tibia.
Spathius elegans
Spathius elegans is a doryctine braconid wasp described by Matthews in 1970. It is widespread in the eastern United States. The species is an ectoparasite of larvae in the sawfly genus Xiphydria.
Tryphon
Tryphon is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, subfamily Tryphoninae. Members of this genus are parasitoid wasps that develop as external parasites on sawfly larvae. Females possess a long, slender ovipositor used to deposit eggs on or near host larvae. The genus is part of the tribe Tryphonini, which is characterized by koinobiont development where the host continues to grow after parasitization.
Tryphonini
Tryphonini is a tribe of koinobiont ichneumonid wasps within the subfamily Tryphoninae. Members are ectoparasitoids of sawfly larvae (Hymenoptera: Symphyta), with females possessing relatively large egg loads compared to idiobiont relatives. The genus Polyblastus is a well-documented member of this tribe. Females have been observed carrying egg clusters externally, possibly due to egg retention after unsuccessful oviposition attempts.