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 play an important role as regulators of insect populations, both in natural and semi-natural systems, making them promising agents for biological control.
The Braconidae are a family of parasitoid wasps. After the closely related Ichneumonidae, braconids make up the second-largest family in the order Hymenoptera, with about 17,000 recognized species and many thousands more undescribed. One analysis estimated a total between 30,000 and 50,000, and another provided a narrower estimate between 42,000 and 43,000 species.
Megarhyssa, also known as giant ichneumonid wasps, giant ichneumons, or stump stabbers, is a genus of large ichneumon wasps, with some species known for having the longest ovipositors of any insects. They are idiobiont endoparasitoids of the larvae of wood-boring horntail wasps. The ovipositor can be mistaken for a large stinger. This is a genus of holometabolous insects within subfamily Rhyssinae that includes 37 species and belongs to Ichneumonidae, the family of wasps with the highest biodiversity in the world.
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.
Xoridinae are a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
The Metopiinae are a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. Metopiinae are koinobiont endoparasitoids of Lepidoptera. There are 26 extant genera. A bulging shield-like face is diagnostic for members of this subfamily, but many members lack this character.
Acaenitinae is a subfamily of the parasitoid wasp family Ichneumonidae. Female Acaenitinae have a large triangular projecting genital plate.
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.
Cimbex quadrimaculatus is a species of sawflies in the family Cimbicidae.
Aptesini is a tribe of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are 24 described genera.
Synergini is a tribe of gall wasps in the subfamily Cynipinae.
Netelia is a genus of ichneumonid wasps in the subfamily Tryphoninae. There are over 330 described species in Netelia grouped into 12 subgenera.
Acrotaphus is a genus of ichneumon wasps in the family Ichneumonidae. There are about 26 described species in Acrotaphus. They are parasitoids of Araneidae and Tetragnathidae spider families.
Aphidius is a genus of insects of the family Braconidae.
Habronyx is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, Australia, and North and South America.
Rhembobius is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae. They are parasitoids of pupal stage Syrphidae.
Heterischnus is a genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae.
Netelia producta is a species of ichneumonid wasp in the subfamily Tryphoninae found in Australia.
Habronyx fulvipes is a species of parasitic ichneumon wasp. It was renamed by Townes, Momoi and Townes in 1965 ; prior to that the species had been named Habronyx chinensis, chinensis meaning "China", in 1955 by Japanese entomologist Toichi Uchida. The holotype and allotype were collected by R. Mell. The species was first named Exochilum Chinense by Morley in 1913.
