Taxonomy and Phylogeny and Evolution of Parasitic Hymenoptera and Biological Control

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 January 2026 | Viewed by 1775

Special Issue Editors

College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Interests: taxonomy; systematic entomology; insect biodiversity; phylogeny and evolution; biological control; insect genomics; insect behaviors
Institute of Plant Protection, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu 610066, China
Interests: insect biodiversity; phylogeny and evolution; biological control; insect genomics

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Guest Editor
Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
Interests: insect genomics; molecular ecology; pest control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Parasitic wasps are among the most effective natural enemies of other arthropods, many of which are pests in agriculture and transmitters of diseases. These insects are integral to the biological control of harmful species, offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. However, the complex taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary relationships of parasitic Hymenoptera remain an area of active research, as they are crucial for understanding their ecological roles, evolutionary adaptations, and their potential applications in integrated pest management. This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest advancements in the taxonomy, phylogeny, and evolutionary biology of parasitic Hymenoptera, with a particular focus on their role in biological control.

Dr. Pu Tang
Dr. Deqiang Pu
Prof. Dr. Shu-Jun Wei
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • systematics entomology
  • insect diversity
  • evolutionary adaptations
  • biocontrol
  • ecological interactions
  • pest control strategies
  • parasitoid behavior

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1395 KB  
Article
Effects of Parasitism and Venom from the Endoparasitoid Brachymeria lasus on Immunity of the Host Galleria mellonella
by Lijia Peng, Bo Yuan, Jiqiang Song, Fang Wang, Qi Fang, Hongwei Yao and Gongyin Ye
Insects 2025, 16(8), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16080863 - 19 Aug 2025
Viewed by 396
Abstract
The pupal endoparasitoid B. lasus injects venom into its host G. mellonella during oviposition, yet knowledge about the venom remains limited. This study explores how parasitism and venom from B. lasus impair the host’s cellular and humoral immunity. At 12–24 h post-parasitization, parasitized [...] Read more.
The pupal endoparasitoid B. lasus injects venom into its host G. mellonella during oviposition, yet knowledge about the venom remains limited. This study explores how parasitism and venom from B. lasus impair the host’s cellular and humoral immunity. At 12–24 h post-parasitization, parasitized G. mellonella pupae had significantly lower total hemocyte counts and also exhibited higher mortality than non-parasitized controls. The proportion of plasmatocytes decreased, while the percentage of granulocytes increased. Parasitism also suppressed in vitro hemocyte spreading, with no significant difference in melanization between parasitized and control groups. Venom treatment significantly inhibited hemocyte spreading and increased cell mortality. Notably, venom-exposed hemocytes showed elevated reactive oxygen species levels and calcium ion concentrations, along with a significant decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, while caspase 3 activity remained unchanged. These results suggest that both B. lasus parasitism and its venom suppress the cellular immunity of G. mellonella and have strong hemocytotoxic effects. The findings emphasize the role of venom in disrupting host defenses for the development of parasitoid offspring. Full article
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8 pages, 2565 KB  
Article
First Record of Caloapenesia (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from China with Description of One New Species
by Chunhong Wang, Junhua He, Celso O. Azevedo and Xuexin Chen
Insects 2025, 16(5), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16050451 - 24 Apr 2025
Viewed by 544
Abstract
The genus Caloapenesia, only known from the Oriental region, comprises nineteen species, seventeen of which are recorded from Thailand and the Philippines, countries adjacent to China. During our examination of bethylid specimens from southern China, we discovered Caloapenesia xui sp. nov. from [...] Read more.
The genus Caloapenesia, only known from the Oriental region, comprises nineteen species, seventeen of which are recorded from Thailand and the Philippines, countries adjacent to China. During our examination of bethylid specimens from southern China, we discovered Caloapenesia xui sp. nov. from Guangdong Province, representing the northernmost record for the genus. The new species is described and illustrated, and an updated key to the males of Caloapenesia is provided. Full article
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20 pages, 19308 KB  
Article
The Genus Psenulus Kohl, 1897 (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) in China, with Two New Species and Two New Country Records
by Huifen Jiang, Qiang Li and Li Ma
Insects 2025, 16(4), 432; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16040432 - 19 Apr 2025
Viewed by 486
Abstract
The genus Psenulus from China is reviewed and two new species are described: Psenulus carinitibialis Jiang & Ma and Psenulus clypeoconvexus Jiang & Ma; two species are newly recorded from China: Psenulus bicinctus Turner, 1912 and Psenulus orinus van Lith, 1973. Additionally, the [...] Read more.
The genus Psenulus from China is reviewed and two new species are described: Psenulus carinitibialis Jiang & Ma and Psenulus clypeoconvexus Jiang & Ma; two species are newly recorded from China: Psenulus bicinctus Turner, 1912 and Psenulus orinus van Lith, 1973. Additionally, the intraspecific morphological variations are clarified and discussed. An identification key to the Chinese species is provided. Full article
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