Skip to content
TrueNorthBriefQuick, clear answers for curious Canadians
Things

Parasitic Wasp

What is parasitic wasp?

· Sarah Mitchell

Key facts

Order Hymenoptera[4]
Common term parasitoid wasps[2]
Egg location in or on another insect[1]
Host other insects or arthropods[1]
Development inside or on the host body[6]
Host outcome host death[2]

A parasitic wasp is a wasp that lays its eggs in or on another insect or arthropod, and its young develop on or inside that host, often killing it. The term commonly refers to parasitoid wasps within the order Hymenoptera. Examples include Ichneumon wasps, fig wasps, and spider wasps.

Context

Parasitic wasps are parasitoids: their larvae feed on the host and ultimately kill it [6]. They are used in biological pest control [3]. Unlike social wasps, many parasitic wasps are solitary and do not form large colonies or nests [7]. They do not sting people [3].

Documented claims

  • Female parasitic wasps use an ovipositor to deposit eggs on or in a host body. [6]
  • Parasitic wasps are used in biological pest control. [3]

Related

  • Paper WaspPaper wasps are a common type of wasp that readers may want to compare with parasitic wasps.
  • Yellow Jacket WaspYellow jackets are another common wasp species that readers might confuse with parasitic wasps.

Questions and answers

Do parasitic wasps sting humans?

No, parasitic wasps do not sting people [3].

What is a parasitic wasp?

A parasitic wasp is a wasp that lays eggs in or on another insect or arthropod, and its young develop on or inside that host, often killing it [1].

Can you see parasitic wasps?

Yes, parasitic wasps are visible; many are small but can be observed with the naked eye [5].

Sources

  1. Parasitic Wasp - larva - Extension Entomology - Purdue University — extension.entm.purdue.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Parasitic Wasp - Field Guide to Common Texas Insects — texasinsects.tamu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Parasitic Wasps - VTechWorks - Virginia Tech — vtechworks.lib.vt.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Parasitoids - Integrated Pest Managementwww.canr.msu.edu › ipm › biocontrol › parasitoids — canr.msu.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  5. Parasitoid Wasps - UMD Extension - University of Maryland — extension.umd.edu (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  6. Body snatchers: eaten alive by parasitic wasps — nhm.ac.uk (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  7. Parasitoid Wasp Culturing and Assay to Study ... - PMC — pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)

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