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Ichneumon Wasp

What is ichneumon wasp?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Family Ichneumonidae[1]
Order Hymenoptera[1]
Life cycle Parasitoid[1]
Hosts Insect larvae and pupae; other arthropods[2]
Ovipositor Long ovipositor[3]

Ichneumon wasps are parasitoid wasps in the family Ichneumonidae, order Hymenoptera. Their larvae develop on or inside other arthropods, and the host usually dies. They are not typically dangerous to humans, though some species can sting. The name can also refer to the broader superfamily Ichneumonoidea. [4]

Context

Ichneumon wasps are a family of parasitoid wasps in the order Hymenoptera [1]. Their larvae develop on or within other arthropods, often insect larvae or pupae, and the host usually dies [2]. The name can mean either the family Ichneumonidae or, sometimes, the superfamily Ichneumonoidea, which also includes Braconidae and Stephanidae [4]. They are sometimes incorrectly referred to as flies [3]. As a parasitic wasp, they play a role in controlling host populations [2].

Documented claims

  • Ichneumon wasp larvae feed on or within the bodies of other arthropods. [4]
  • Females lay eggs on or in a host insect or spider, and the host usually dies. [2]

Related

  • Paper WaspPaper wasps are a common type of wasp that readers may want to compare with ichneumon wasps.
  • Spider WaspSpider wasps are another solitary wasp group, useful for comparison.

Questions and answers

Can ichneumon wasps sting humans?

Some species can sting, but ichneumon wasps are not typically dangerous to humans [5].

What does the ichneumon wasp do?

Females lay eggs on or in a host insect or spider, and the larvae feed on or within the host, which usually dies [2].

Are ichneumon wasps rare?

Ichneumon wasps are a large and widespread family, though specific species may vary in abundance [1].

Sources

  1. Ichneumon | Description, Hymenoptera, Wasp, Parasitoid ... — britannica.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Ichneumon Wasp (Family Ichneumonidae) - UW-Milwaukee — uwm.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Ichneumon Wasp - Field Guide to Common Texas Insects — texasinsects.tamu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Ichneumonid Wasps | WSU Tree Fruit | Washington State University — treefruit.wsu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Ichneummonidae — bugswithmike.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Things