Aquatic Hymenoptera (Wasps) of Michigan

A number of parasitic wasps have come adapted for aquatic existence by attacking various life stages (principally eggs, larvae and/or pupae) of aquatic insect groups, especially those of Heteroptera and holometabolous orders (e.g., Lepidoptera, Coleoptera, etc.).

Information regarding the occurrence of aquatic Hymenoptera in Michigan is currently in preparation. Please email the author if you have records or information regarding this group in Michigan. Below is a list of genera parasitize aquatic insects found in Michigan. It is adapted from Bennett (2007, second printing), and with surveying of deposited collection material.

Braconidae (Ichneumonoidea)

Ademon - parasitizes ephydrids (Hydrellia) larvae-pupae
Asobara - parasitizes ephydrids (Parydra) larvae-pupae
Bracon lutus (=Microbracon) - parasitizes noctuids (Archanara) larvae
Chaenusa bergi - parasitizes ephydrids (Hydrellia) eggs-pupae
Chorebus aquaticus - parasitizes ephydrids (Hydrellia) pupae
Dacnusa - parasitizes ephydrids (Hydrellia) pupae
Opius caesus - parasitizes ephydrids (Hydrellia) larvae-pupae
Phaenocarpa antichaetae - parasitizes sciomyzids (Antichaeta) pupae

Diapriidae (Proctotrupoidea)

Trichopria - parasitizes ephydrid (Hydrellia), sciomyzid (Atrichomelina, Dictya, Elgiva, Sepedon ), and psephenid (Psephenus) pupae (prepupae for Psephenus)

Eulophidae (Chalcidoidea)

Aprostocetus - hyperparasite in lestid (Lestes) eggs
Mestocharis - parasitizes dytiscid (Dytiscus) eggs
Tetrastichus - hyperparasite in, and parasite of, lestid (Lestes) eggs

Tetrastichus coerulescens Ashmead

Fatigidae (Cynipoidea)

Hexacola - parasitizes ephydrid (Parydra, Scatella) larvae-pupae
Kleidotoma - parasitizes ephydrid (Parydra) larvae-pupae

Kleidotoma parydrae

Ichneumonidae (Ichneumonoidea)

Apsilops (=Neostricklandia, =Trichocryptus, =Trichestema) - parasitizes pyralids (Occidentalia, Chilo, Schoenobius, Nymphula) larvae

Apsilops bicolor (Cushman)
Apsilops hirtifrons (Ashmead)
Apsilops sericata (Viereck)

Bathythrix (=Hemiteles) - parasitizes gyrinids (Gyrinus) larvae in pupal cases

Bathythrix triangularis (Cresson)

Cremastus - parasitizes pyralids (Occidentalia, Chilo, Nymphula) larvae and pupae

Cremastus bilineatus Cushman
Cremastus incompletus (Provancher)
Cremastus orbus Dreisbach - IN

Medophron - parasitizes dytiscids (Agabus, Dytiscus) pupae
Mesoleptus - parasitizes sciomyzids (Antichaeta) pupae

Mesoleptus declivus (Provancher)
Mesoleptus incompletus Provancher

Oecotelma (=Hemiteles) - parasitizes gyrinids (Gyrinus) larvae in pupal cases
Phygadeuon - parasitizes sciomyzids (Antichaeta) pupae

Phygadeuon aciculatus Provancher

Pleurogyrus (=Hemiteles) - parasitizes gyrinids (Gyrinus) larvae in pupal cases
Sulcarius - parasitizes limnephilids (Limnephilus) in larvae in cases
Therascopus (=Eriplanus) - parasitizes gyrinids (Gyrinus) larvae in pupal cases

Mymaridae (Chalcidoidea)

Caraphractus - parasitizes notonectid (Notonecta), gerrid (Gerris), and dytiscid (Dytiscus, Agabus ) eggs

Pompilidae (Vespoidea)

Anoplius - parasitizes Dolomedes (Araenea: Pisauridae) adult spiders

Pteromalidae (Chalcidoidea)

Dineuticida - parasitizes gyrinids (Gyrinus, Dineutes) larvae in pupal cases

Dineuticida dineutes

Gyrinophagus - parasitizes sisyrid (Sisyra) pupae
Sisyridivora - parasitizes sisyrid (Climacia) larvae and pupae in cocoons

Sisyridivora cavigena

Urolepis - parasitizes dipteran coelopids and ephydrids (Ephydra, Parydra, Hydrellia, Dimecoenia) pupae

Scelionidae (Proctotrupoidea)

Telenomus - parasitizes tabanid (Tabanus, Chyrsops) eggs
Thoron - parasitizes nepid (Nepa, Ranatra) eggs
Tiphodytes - parasitizes gerrid (Gerris, Trepobates, Limnoporus) eggs

Trichogrammatidae (Chalcidoidea)

Hydrophylita - parasitizes coenagrionid (Ischnura) eggs
Lathromera - parasitizes lestid (Lestes) eggs
Paracentrobia - parasitizes lestid (Lestes) eggs
Prestwichia - parasitizes nepid (Nepa, Ranatra ), dytiscid (Dytiscus) eggs
Trichogramma - parasitizes water mite (Hydracarina), sialid (Sialis), corydalid (Corydalus), and sciomyzid (Sepedon, Elgiva,Tetanocera) eggs

Last updated: April 5, 2008 (EB) - Last updated: April 5, 2008 (EB)