Small-wasp
Guides
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.
Bethylinae
Bethylinae is a subfamily of small, stout-bodied parasitoid wasps within the family Bethylidae. Members are characterized by reduced wing venation and a compact, often humpbacked appearance. The subfamily contains numerous species that parasitize the larvae of beetles and moths, with females typically searching for concealed hosts in plant material or soil. Bethylinae is distinguished from other bethylid subfamilies by specific morphological features of the antennae and mesosoma.
Brachymeria ovata
Brachymeria ovata is a small parasitic wasp in the family Chalcididae, first described by Thomas Say in 1824. The genus Brachymeria contains 26 known species in North America, all characterized by heavily armored bodies and enlarged hind femora adapted for jumping. These 3-6 mm wasps are primary or secondary parasites of Lepidoptera and muscoid fly larvae, emerging from host pupae. The species has been recorded from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Canada.
Brasema allynii
Brasema allynii is a species of chalcidoid wasp in the family Eupelmidae, a group of small parasitic wasps. The species was described by French in 1882. Eupelmids are generally known as parasitoids of insect eggs and larvae, though specific host records for this species remain limited. It has been documented across several Canadian provinces and in Hawaii.
Clitemnestra
Clitemnestra is a genus of small sand wasps in the family Crabronidae, containing at least 60 described species. Members of this genus are predatory wasps that hunt various sap-feeding insects, particularly planthoppers, leafhoppers, and related Hemiptera. The genus was revised by Bohart in 2000, which included the merger of the former genus Ochleroptera into Clitemnestra. These wasps are generally inconspicuous due to their small size, with some species measuring only 5–6 millimeters in body length.
Compsocryptus calipterus
A small ichneumonid wasp with a scattered distribution across eastern and southwestern North America. Forewing length ranges from 5 mm in males to 5.7–7.4 mm in females. The species is recognized by reddish front legs in combination with dark-banded wings. Three subspecies have been described based on slight color and pattern differences.
Diapriini
Diapriini is a tribe of parasitoid wasps within the family Diapriidae. Members are small, slender wasps with reduced wing venation characteristic of the family. They are primarily known as parasitoids of Diptera larvae, particularly in soil and decaying organic matter habitats. The tribe is cosmopolitan in distribution with substantial representation in temperate regions.
Neochrysocharis epimeralis
Neochrysocharis epimeralis is a small parasitoid wasp in the family Eulophidae, described by Christer Hansson in 1995. The species belongs to a genus known for parasitizing leaf-mining insects, particularly agromyzid flies. It has been recorded from multiple states in the eastern and central United States.