Description: Most parasitic wasps are tiny and black.

Life cycle: Parasitic wasps insert their eggs inside the bodies of aphids, loopers, and other hosts. Larvae hatch inside their hosts, killing them and then cutting holes in their bodies to escape. Many generations occur each year.

Key benefits: Parasitic wasps attack aphids, scale, whiteflies, ants, leafminers, sawfly larvae, and many types of caterpillars. They also parasitize the eggs of such insects as codling moths, tomato hornworms, cabbage loopers, imported cabbageworms, and European corn borers.

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