Superparasitism-avoidance
Guides
Venturia canescens
Venturia canescens is a solitary koinobiont endoparasitoid wasp in the family Ichneumonidae. The species exhibits both sexual and asexual (parthenogenetic) populations, with the asexual strain being highly synovigenic—continuing egg maturation throughout adult life. Females inject virus-like particles (VLPs) derived from an integrated nudivirus into host larvae during oviposition; these VLPs suppress the host immune system and prevent encapsulation of the parasitoid egg. The species is a significant biological control agent of stored-product pests, particularly pyralid moth larvae.