braconid

Small parasitic wasp closely related to the ichneumon flies, but differing from them mainly by having fewer wing veins. Braconids chiefly parasitize caterpillars, but also some beetle and fly larvae, so they are selectively used in biological control programmes.

Classification Braconids are in the family Braconidae, order Hymenoptera, class Insecta, phylum Arthropoda.

Apanteles glomeratus is a tiny black braconid that parasitizes the cabbage white butterfly. The female lays her eggs in the caterpillar. About autumn, masses of sulphur-yellow cocoons of the parasite can be seen attached to the skin casts of the dead (pupated) caterpillar.

The subfamily Aphidiinae includes members that particularly parasitize the wingless viviparous female generation of aphids. Normally only a single larval parasite matures within the body of the host. Bracon mellitor is a parasite of the boll weevil. The larval stages of B. mellitor feed on the weevil larvae.