Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How do parasitic Hymenoptera help control insect pests?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Hymenoptera
An endangered rusty patched bumblebee (Bombus affinis) browsing on a wild bergamot flower.
Parasitic Hymenoptera, which include groups such as ichneumon wasps and braconid wasps, serve as vital natural regulators of insect populations by acting as parasitoids.12
These insects control pests through the following mechanisms:
- Larval Development: Adult females typically lay their eggs in or on the larvae or pupae of host insects. Once hatched, the wasp larvae feed on the host's body fluids and tissues, eventually killing the host.12
- Population Regulation: By consuming their hosts, these wasps keep the abundance of various insect pests in check within both natural and agricultural ecosystems.13
- Biological Control: Humans have harnessed this natural behavior by importing, breeding, and releasing specific parasitic Hymenoptera to manage agricultural pests. For example, certain species have been introduced to control invasive wood wasps, stem-boring caterpillars, and various orchard pests.34152
While they are highly effective, they are most successful when integrated into broader pest management strategies, as their own populations depend on the presence of sufficient host numbers.4