The Ichneumonidae, also known as the ichneumon wasps, Darwin wasps, or ichneumonids, 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 currently described. 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. 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.
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.
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.
Acaenitinae is a subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. It is distributed on all continents except Antarctica, although only one specimen 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.
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.
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.
Mesochorinae is a worldwide subfamily of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
The Labeninae is a subfamily within the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae . There are 12 extant genera, grouped within four tribes, that exhibit a predominantly Gondwanan distribution - most genera and species are found in Australia and South America. A few species of Labena and Grotea are found in North America, with hypotheses suggesting that the group radiated on Gondwanaland prior to the separation of Australia but after the separation of Africa/India/Madagascar.
Tersilochus is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. The type species is Tersilochus jocator.
Allophroides is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. The type species is Allophroides boops.
Allophrys is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Areyonga is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. It currently consists of only one species, Areyonga eremica, from Australia.
Australochus is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae. It currently consists of only one species, Australochus clypeator.
Aneuclis is a genus of the parasitic wasp family Ichneumonidae.
Anomalon is a large genus of parasitoid wasps belonging to the family Ichneumonidae. This may be the only genus in the tribe Anomalonini, although Neogreeneia Viereck, 1912 is sometimes considered a valid genus of the tribe.
Trogus is a genus of parasitoid wasp found in the Holarctic and Neotropic regions. It is placed in the subfamily Ichneumoninae. Trogus species are parasites of larvae and pupae of the swallowtail butterfly family, Papilionidae. The genus consists of twelve extant and one extinct species.
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 tribes worldwide.
Probles is a genus of ichneumonid wasp of the subfamily Tersilochinae. It has a widespread distribution.
