Field Guide    Biocontrols  Parasitic Wasps

Parasitic Wasps

Parasitic wasps are highly effective biological control agents in agriculture. These insects control pest populations by laying their eggs inside or on pests, eventually killing them. This method reduces dependence on chemical pesticides, lowering costs and environmental harm.

Female wasps inject eggs into many different pests found in agriculture. The hatching larvae feed on the host, leading to its death. Some wasps also inject venom to limit the host’s immune response. Species like Trichogramma, Aphidius colemani, Encarsia formosa, and Cotesia glomerata attack specific pests, making them very effective.

The advantages of parasitic wasps include environmental safety, specific targeting of pests, limited pesticide resistance, long-term pest control, and cost-effectiveness.

Parasitic wasps work best within an Integrated Pest Management approach, combining biological, cultural and chemical controls. They contribute to sustainable agriculture by reducing pesticide use and maintaining eco-friendly pest management.

When the targeted hosts become scarce, parasitic wasp populations decline, and they either die off, move to new areas, or go into dormancy to survive poor conditions. Some species like Trichogramma spp., turn to alternative hosts, and others like Aphidius colemani, migrate looking for pests. Many wasps sustain themselves on nectar and honeydew, joining the ecosystem and continuing long-term pest control.