Species

Parasitic wasps belong to the order Hymenoptera, which contains more parasites than any other insect order.
Many insects in the order Hymenoptera, such as wasps, sawflies, ants and bees, are not parasitic.

Identification

• Cornell University has an excellent guide on parasitic wasps with detailed information on appearance, prey, and life cycle of several species. Visit their site here.

Life Cycle

Parasitic wasps are parasitoids, meaning they spend a significant portion of their life cycle within their host (their prey), feeding on it, often from the inside out, until the host dies. Typically the adult wasp lays its eggs within a host insect, such as an aphid. Then the wasp eggs develop into larvae and feed on the host for nutrients as they grow. Larvae pupate after the death of the host either inside or outside of the now dead carcass. Adults feed on nectar or are predators.

Prey

Moths
Caterpillars
Leafhoppers
Aphids
Scales
Mealybugs

Function

Info on Function

Commercial Availability

Commercially available species include:

• Anaphes spp., parasite of lygus bug and eucalyptus snout beetle
• Aphidius spp., parasite of many aphid species including Green peach aphid, melon aphid, pea aphid
• Aphytis spp., parasite of scales including the California red scale and San Jose scale.
• Leptomastix dactylopii, parasitizes the citrus mealybug
• Encarsia formosa, parasite of several whitefly species including the greenhouse whitefly, sweetpotato whitefly and silverleaf whitefly
• Hyposoter exiguae, parasite of caterpillars, including armyworms, cabbage looper, tomato fruitworm, and tussock moth, and many others
• Lysiphlebus testaceipes, parasite of cotton aphid, melon aphid, many other aphid species.
• Trichogramma spp., parasite of eggs of hundreds of species of insects, especially moths, butterflies, and sawflies

Consult a distributor of beneficial insects to determine which species of parasitic wasp best suits your needs. When purchasing parasitic wasps for biological control, follow all directions included.

Handling and Use

Different species of parasitic wasps may have different release and handling instructions. Again, follow the directions provided by your distributor.

Cultivation Techniques

Nectar producing flowers increase food supplies for parasitic wasps and lacewings, another beneficial generalist predator. Plants in the daisy, mint and carrot families are particularly attractive to these beneficial insects.

References

Brewer, Michael and Jane Struttman. "Parasitic Wasps." 1995. University of Wyoming.
13 Nov 2008. < http://ces.uwyo.edu/PUBS/B1013.21.PDF>.

Flint, Mary Louise. Pests of the Garden and Small Farm: A Grower's Guide to Using Less Pesticide. University of California, 1999.

Flint, Mary Louise, and Steve H. Dreistadt. Natural Enemies Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control. Berkeley: UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the University of California Press, 1998.

"Parasitic wasp." 1996. Virginia Tech. 12 Nov 2008.
<http://www.ext.vt.edu/departments/entomology/factsheets/parasiti.html>.

"Parasitic wasps." 1999. Texas A&M University. 13 Nov 2008. <http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/cimg329.html>.