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.
Banchinae is a subfamily of ichneumonid parasitoid wasps containing about 1,500 species; the genera Glypta and Lissonota are very large. The three tribes are all distributed worldwide.
Pimplinae are a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Anomaloninae is a subfamily of parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. Several species provide beneficial services to humans by attacking forest or orchard pests.
The Tryphoninae comprise a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Tersilochinae is a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
The Labeninae is a subfamily within the parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae. The family is divided into 12 extant genera grouped within four tribes.
The Rogadinae are a large subfamily of braconid parasitoid wasps. Several Rogadinae species parasitize pest caterpillars and are important for naturally occurring biological control.
Phygadeuontini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. It is the only tribe in the subfamily Phygadeuontinae. There are about 123 genera in 12 subtribes worldwide.
Dolichomitus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are at least 70 described species in Dolichomitus. The name is derived from the Greek dolicho, meaning long or narrow, and the Greek mitus, meaning a thread.
Probles is a genus of ichneumonid wasp of the subfamily Tersilochinae. It has a widespread distribution.
Gravenhorstiini is a large tribe of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae It contains all the genera of the subfamily Anomaloninae, excepting Anomalon.
Hyposoter is a large cosmopolitan genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Dusona is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae. It is the most species rich genus of the subfamily Campopleginae with 442 known species.
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.
