The Egg Parasitoid Wasp is a minute wasp smaller than a grain of sand that lays its own eggs inside the eggs of over 200 pest moth and butterfly species, killing the host egg before the caterpillar can hatch. It is mass-produced in biological control programs and used widely in agriculture to suppress bollworms, armyworms, and other lepidopteran pests. Multiple wasp eggs can develop inside a single host egg.
Habitat
Agricultural fields, gardens, and natural areas throughout North America
Diet
Larvae: inside eggs of moths and butterflies. Adults: honeydew
How common
Common
Recent Egg Parasitoid Wasp sightings near you
Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.
Spot a Egg Parasitoid Wasp? Identify it instantly.
Point Huck at any plant or animal and get an instant ID, rarity, and field notes — building your personal nature collection as you go.
Get Huck — free