The Ichneumonidae, also known as ichneumon wasps, ichneumonid wasps, ichneumonids, or Darwin wasps, are a family of parasitoid wasps of the insect order Hymenoptera. They are one of the most diverse groups within the Hymenoptera with roughly 25,000 species described as of 2016. However, this likely represents less than a quarter of their true richness as reliable estimates are lacking, along with much of the most basic knowledge about their ecology, distribution, and evolution. It is estimated that there are more species in this family than there are species of birds and mammals combined. Ichneumonid wasps, with very few exceptions, attack the immature stages of holometabolous insects and spiders, eventually killing their hosts. They thus fulfill an important role as regulators of insect populations, both in natural and semi-natural systems, making them promising agents for biological control.
Cryptinae is a subfamily of wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. The family has also been called Gelinae, Hemitelinae, and Phygadeuontinae by various authorities, though the Phygadeuontinae have since been elevated to a separate subfamily.
Acaenitinae is a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. It is distributed on all continents except Antarctica, although only one specimen (from the genus Arotes has ever been discovered in South America. Little is known of the Acaenitinae. The only reared species was a koinobiont endoparasitoid of a weevil. There are 24 genera. Hosts are believed to be Coleoptera larvae in wood. Female Acaenitinae have a large triangular projecting genital plate.
Campopleginae is a large subfamily of the parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae with a world-wide distribution. Species in this subfamily have been used in the biological control of the alfalfa weevil, clover weevil, various species of Heliothis, oriental army worm, European corn borer, larch sawfly, and others.
Tersilochinae is a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Lusius is a genus of parasitoid wasps in the tribe Phaeogenini Förster, 1869 or Alomyini Förster, 1869, first described by Pierre Jules Tosquinet in 1903, published after his death. The genus is similar in appearance to species in the genus Heterischnus. Lusius occurs in the Oriental, Afrotropical, Neotropical and Australasian biogeographical regions.
Orthocentrinae is a subfamily of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are about six genera in Orthocentrinae.
Alexeter is a genus of insect belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Itoplectis is a genus of insect belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Apechthis is a genus of insects belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Aperileptus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Barycnemis is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae. Host species include the genera Byrrhus, Bledius, and Pissodes.
Campoletis is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Dolophron is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Sinophorus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Proclitus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Barylypa is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Protarchus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Allomacrus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Callidora is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae and the subfamily Campopleginae. It is relatively species poor, with only five recognized species.
